June 5th, 2023 at 03:18 am
New Zealand Implements Changes to Partner Work Visas
On May 31, 2023, these adjustments will reset the immigration system and help the economy pay better salaries. Learn about eligibility, new work conditions, exclusions for highly paid and Green List workers, and people who can’t receive visas to help their families.
Travelers with Accredited Employer Work Visas or Essential Skills Work Visas can now visit New Zealand with their partners.
On May 31, 2023, new immigration regulations will rebalance the system to encourage a more productive, higher-paying economy. But couples’ work visas won’t change.
What is a Partner of a Worker Work Visa?
With a Partner on an employee work visa, you can work in New Zealand if your partner is a citizen or resident of New Zealand. With this visa, you can stay in New Zealand for two years if you’ve been living with your spouse for more than a year.
- Length of stay: the same length as your partner’s work visa
- Price: From $700 NZD
- Time to process: 90% in 49 days
New Work Conditions for Partners
The changes to the rules for work visas only affect new applications. They won’t change the rules for people who already have work visas or who apply before May 31, 2023.
It’s important to know that these changes only apply to partners of people with an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV). They don’t apply to partners of people with other types of work visas, like the Post Study Work Visa.
Who can get a Work Visa for a Partner of a Worker and What They Need to Know
The Partner of a Worker Work Visa costs NZD 700 (roughly Rs 36,330) and takes an average of 49 days to process.
There are exceptions for migrants who didn’t meet the standards when they got their visa but now do because their pay went up or their job was added to the Green List.
To get a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, applicants must show proof that they are eligible, either with their application or through a request for a Change of Conditions.
After getting this visa, the person can:
- Go to New Zealand with their lover.
- Work in your own country.
- You can study for a maximum of 3 months.
One interesting thing about this visa is that the partner does not have to have a job offer, and the company does not have to do a job check. Partners with this visa can also change jobs without having to apply for a Change of Conditions. Partners don’t have to work a set number of hours every week.
Work Conditions for Partners of Migrant Workers
Partners who successfully apply for the Partner of a Worker Work Visa after May 31, 2023, may have to follow new work rules, such as:
- Employment was only allowed with an Accredited Employer.
- Not being able to work in jobs that are covered by capped sector deals.
- If you work in a job that isn’t covered by a sector agreement, you have to make at least the median wage at the time you get your visa or when you get a job offer, whichever comes first.
- For jobs covered by an uncapped sector agreement, the worker must be paid at least as much as the wage level. Also, partners in this group will not have to stop working for a certain amount of time.
Exceptions for Partners of Highly-Paid and Green List Workers
Some partners of people with an Accredited company Work Visa (AEWV) or Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) can still receive a work visa that lets them work in any job for any company in New Zealand without needing to make more than the median pay. A partner of:
- migrants who make at least twice as much as the average wage.
- Immigrants who work in a job on the Green List.
It’s important to remember that there are also exceptions for migrants who didn’t meet the standards when they first got their visa but now do because they got a pay raise or their job was added to the Green List.
When you apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa or ask for a Change of Conditions, you will need to show proof that you are eligible.
Ineligibility of Some AEWV and ESWV Holders
Sector-agreed AEWV holders who make less than the median pay cannot sponsor a partner work visa. ESWV holders who make less than the median income (or are less skilled if their visa application was submitted before July 27, 2020) cannot sponsor a companion work visa.
If these visa holders earn a rise to at least the median wage, they may be able to pay for their partner’s work visa.
To support a partner, you don’t require a new work visa unless the holder wants to check if the extra pay qualifies them for a longer visa.
This is because partners normally receive a visa for the same duration as their sponsor’s work visa.
Temporary workers’ partners who couldn’t secure work visas can look into alternative visa options. Visitor Visas are available for non-working partners.
Ineligible Visa Holders for Supporting Family Visas
If a person has one of the following visas, they cannot help their partner or dependent child get a work, visitor, or school visa:
- Work license for the Fishing Crew.
- Working holiday visa.
- Under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) or Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) systems, seasonal workers can get a limited visa.
- Silver Fern Job Search visa.
- Work permit for the staff of a diplomat.
Conclusion
In summary, New Zealand’s partner work visa modifications aim to improve immigration and raise salaries. Partners have new work requirements, but high-earners and Green Listers are exempt. These changes suggest the administration wants to help immigrants and local workers succeed.
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