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Today saw a welcome announcement giving back open working rights to many (though not all) partners of workers.
If you are a Partner currently holding a work visa that limits you to working for an Accredited Employer work visa or who has so far not joined your partner in NZ then read on:
From 2 December OPEN WORK RIGHTS will be available to:
Partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) working in an ANZSCO Level 1-3 role and earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour (80% of the standard median wage):
Partners of AEWV holders earning at least $25.29 an hour if they were already supporting a partner for a work visa on 26 June 2024;
Partners of Essential Skills work visa holders earning at least $25.29 an hour.
If you are a worker in a Skill Level 4-5 role your partner will also be able to get an open visa if you have a pathway to residence i.e.:
you are earning at least $47.41 an hour (1.5 x median wage),
or earning at least $31.61 an hour in a role on the Green List and meeting the Green List requirements for that role, or
earning at least $25.29 an hour (80% of the median wage) and meeting the requirements of a role in the Transport or Care Sector Agreements (or the wage specified in the sector agreement, whichever is higher).
If you are currently on a partnership visa with restrictions and meet the new criteria, you will be eligible to apply for a Variation of Conditions to your visa from 2 December.
This is a very positive move as the restrictions on partner work visas have led to far too many migrant families having to survive off a single wage. This will restore the balance, remembering that immigration is a symbiotic relationship between the migrant and the receiving country.
As always, we are here to help you navigate the new rules. You are welcome to contact us to check your partner work rights.
Katy Armstrong
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