APEO/NZPEO EOR Expert Review 2026
APEO/NZPEO is a regional EOR operating in Australia & New Zealand with strong local expertise and a local team onsite in both markets.
For an in-depth take on Australia PEO (APEO) and New Zealand PEO (NZPEO), read through our review of the PEO’s services. We go beyond the information found on the company’s website to provide an in-depth scorecard and a cost breakdown for their services. Then, we compare their results with other Employer of Record (EOR) and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) companies so that you can make an informed decision.
APEO and NZPEO at a Glance
If you need an EOR, EOR-sponsored visas, remote payroll services or HR support, APEO and NZPEO can help. The company is headquartered in Sydney, Australia and was created in 2018 with the goal of helping businesses expand into Australia and New Zealand. However, the team has over 20 years of experience in the EOR industry.
Today, there are two branches of the company. Australia PEO (APEO) caters to businesses that need payroll and HR support for expanding into Australia. New Zealand PEO (NZPEO) is targeted toward companies that want to move into New Zealand.
APEO and NZPEO are uniquely suited to support visa sponsorship for your qualified candidates. They claim a 100% success rate for visa approvals and a two-week timeline for preparing the application. That’s one of their core differences to much larger Global PEO companies.
For EOR services, they have over 200 years of combined experience and serve clients from 16 different countries. They run their EOR business through their own infrastructure. While this often leads to slightly higher prices for EOR services, it’s fair to say that this also equates to better customer service and a single point of contact. Additionally, it’s easier to ensure your legal compliance when a single entity is in charge of all of your HR and payroll services rather than subcontracting to a local third-party.
With a score of 4.3, we recommend APEO and ZPE for companies that need EOR, visa, payroll, and HR services in New Zealand or Australia.
Key Services Offered by APEO/NZPEO
Australia & New Zealand Employer of Record
The major draw for APEO and NZPEO is the EOR services. This global EOR provider is available in Australia and New Zealand to serve as the employer of record for your employees. Basically, this means you can hire workers and expand your operations without having to set up a full physical presence in the country.
By working with a global EOR, you can reduce the time and cost involved in hiring workers. This option is especially effective for companies that are looking for temporary workers in Australia or New Zealand.
As the EOR provider, APEO and NZPEO can handle all of your payroll and HR activities. They can ensure your company is in legal compliance and overcome local regulatory hurdles. Superannuation, benefits, and taxes are managed by the PEO, so you can focus on running your company.
The process begins when you approve the EOR’s proposal. Then, APEO/NZPEO requires to sign an EOR contract via electronic signature. An employee contract is created for your approval. Once you approve, it can be sent to the employee. Then, all employee onboarding happens through the PEO’s convenient online portal.
Payroll & HR Services
Unless you are an expert in New Zealand and Australia employment law, it pays to work with experienced HR experts. APEO and NZPEO have trained HR professionals on staff to ensure your paid leave, employee handbook, and HR policies comply with local laws and regulations.
In addition to having a dedicated account manager, this global PEO offers timesheet capabilities and workers’ compensation. All of the HR functions are handled in a convenient, cloud-based portal. From employee handbooks to a wealth of employee contract templates, APEO and NZPEO can tackle all of your HR-related services.
In addition to HR services, this PEO provider can take care of your payroll as well. Each payroll cycle, they can calculate your superannuation contributions, leave balances, and payroll taxes. Employees can log directly into the system, ensuring that payroll is calculated quickly and accurately.
Immigration & Work Permit Sponsorship
Besides EOR services, APEO and NZPEO can also help you complete EOR-sponsored visas. The Australia PEO branch has a 100% approval rate and only requires two weeks to wrap up paperwork. In New Zealand, NZPEO can walk you through a variety of the available EOR-sponsored visa options.
With the help of APEO, you can make sure your workers are sponsored and approved for a 482 visa. APEO already has an On-Hire Labour Agreement (OHLA), so they can sponsor visas for in-demand skills. Depending on the worker’s skills, they may be able to receive approval for up to four years of living and working in Australia.
If you’re expanding into New Zealand, NZPEO has slightly different visa options. Essential Skills Visas, Specific Purpose Work Visas, and Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visas are typically the best options. While an Essential Skills Visa focuses on workers with unique skillsets, a Specific Purpose Work Visa is for offshore companies that may temporarily need workers in New Zealand. With the Talent Work Visa, NZPEO can sponsor international workers.
Whether you use APEO or NZPEO, your company can enjoy a smooth, seamless process. The PEO will ensure your worker is qualified for the visa and handle all of the paperwork processing. They understand the complexity of local immigration laws, so your company can get the workers it needs without a lot of stress.
Country Coverage: Owned Entities vs Partner Network
As a small regional EOR, APEO/NZPEO operates through their own legal entities in both Australia and New Zealand. They do not offer EOR services outside of these two countries.
🇦🇺 Australia
- Entity Name: Australia PEO Pty Ltd.
- Business Registration Number: 40 627 296 875
- Incorporation Date: 04 Jul 2018
🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Entity Name: Australia PEO Pty Ltd.
- Business Registration Number: 8670967
- Incorporation Date: 23 Mar 2023
Pros and Cons of Using APEO/NZPEO as Your EOR
Companies turn to Australia PEO and New Zealand PEO because of their knowledge of local laws and regulations. These providers can ensure your company is in full legal compliance with leave regulations, payroll taxes, and HR requirements. They will handle your end-to-end payroll processes, so you don’t have to worry about calculating taxes or dealing with workers’ compensation.
Thanks to their on-site, local presence, you can get instant support when you run into a problem.
When you need help, you don’t have to worry about talking to a dozen customer service reps before you find someone who knows what they’re doing. At APEO and NZPEO, each company has a dedicated account manager. This means you can enjoy excellent customer support and personalized services from someone who understands your company inside and out.
Navigating immigration and visas is a major headache for growing businesses. One of the areas APEO and NZPEO really excel in is with its visa support. It can sponsor an Australian 482 visa and boasts a 100% success rate. Whether you want to hire in New Zealand, Australia, or both, this PEO can handle all of the paperwork and administrative hurdles so that you don’t have to.
It’s worth emphasizing this benefit for an important reason: There is no other EOR provider in all of Australia that currently sponsors this visa. If visa sponsorship is what you need, APEO is your best option.
APEO and NZPEO own their own local entities. This means they don’t use a middleman for your EOR services. APEO and NZPEO are the only parties responsible for your local employment law compliance. If there is a problem, you only have to turn to one party to get help.
Although it’s convenient to have an on-site PEO, it can pose problems when the countries in question are New Zealand and Australia. Very few corporate headquarters are in the same time zone, making it harder to call and get help at a reasonable hour. For example, New York City is 14 hours behind Sydney. APEO is open from 8 AM to 6 PM, so many client companies can end up playing phone tag between time zones instead of getting the help they need.
While some EORs offer services in a dozen countries or more, APEO and NZPEO don’t. They offer an excellent quality of EOR services in Australia and New Zealand, but their services don’t extend to any other nations.
Beyond this, they currently only work with clients who come from 16 different countries. While this might seem like a lot, there are currently 193 member states in the United Nations, so this PEO is handling clients from just a fraction of the globe.
Other EOR providers offer a far more extensive list of integrations than APEO and NZPEO. If you have a large tech stack, it is unlikely that every software or app can be integrated into APEO or NZPEO’s systems.
How APEO/NZPEO Is Scoring: Our Data-Driven Analysis
While APEO and NZPEO are only available in two areas, they are an exceptionally well-rounded EOR company. This organization offers transparent prices, easy contract cancellations, visa support, and a long history of providing top-notch services. While the time zone difference can be draining if you’re located abroad, the local support is worth the effort.
4.2 /5.0
✓ Dedicated EOR services in Australia and New Zealand
✓ Strong local payroll, HR, and employment administration
✓ Visa and immigration support available in core markets
✗ No EOR coverage outside AU/NZ
✗ Not suitable for multi-country expansion strategies
3.0 /5.0
✓ Clear pricing communicated upfront
✓ Setup fee and monthly fee clearly defined
✓ Deposit fees charged at industry-standard levels
✓ FX fees disclosed in advance where applicable
✗ No self-serve public pricing calculator
4.4 /5.0
✓ Fair contract terms with no long-term lock-ins
✓ Services can be cancelled even if the master agreement runs 12 months
✓ No ongoing service fees once an employee is offboarded
✗ Payroll pre-funding applies as standard
4.3 /5.0
✓ Local, in-country teams based in Australia and New Zealand
✓ Strong knowledge of local labor law and payroll practices
✓ High-touch support model suited for compliance-sensitive hires
✗ Time-zone differences can slow communication for US or EU-based clients
4.6 /5.0
✓ Leverages Employment Hero as the underlying HR and payroll platform
✓ Strong employee and employer self-service experience
✓ Clean UI and reliable payroll workflows
✓ Avoids building a weak in-house tool by using a mature HRIS
✗ Platform depth depends on Employment Hero’s ecosystem
4.5 /5.0
Final Verdict: Our Recommendation on APEO/NZPEO
Compare APEO/NZPEO with Others
Written by
Courtney Pocock is a Copywriter & EOR/PEO Researcher at Employsome with 15+ years of experience writing for the HR, corporate, and financial sectors. She has a strong interest in global business expansion and Employer of Record / PEO topics, focusing on news that matters to business owners and decision-makers. Courtney covers industry updates, regulatory changes, and practical guides to help leaders navigate international hiring with confidence.
Our content is created for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide any legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain separate advice from industry-specific professionals who may better understand your business’s needs. Read our Editorial Guidelines for further information on how our content is created.