Migrant workers in New Zealand have usually been able to support their partners for a work visa. This lets them come into New Zealand and earn additional money for the family, and it is usually followed by a student visa for their children to reunite the family here.

From 2 December onwards, new rules will be introduced that will help make it easier for migrant workers to support their partners for a work visa. These work visas usually have open work rights (although they may have other conditions on them) so the partner does not need to worry about accreditation.

The rules are different if the migrant worker is in an ANZSCO level 1 to 3 role, or in a level 4 to 5 role. ANZSCO is a method of grading occupations via skill level, where 1 is for highly skilled roles.

Supporting a partnership-based work visa on an ANZSCO 1 to 3 role:

• You must be paid at least 80% of the median wage (currently $25.29 per hour); or
• If the partner is already on a partnership-based work visa since 26 June 2024, they will be eligible to apply again if they are paid $25.29 per hour.

Supporting a partnership-based work visa on an ANZSCO 4 to 5 role:

• You must be paid at least 150% of the median wage (currently $47.41 per hour); or
• Working in a role on the Green List, meet the Green List requirements for that role, and be paid at least $31.61 per hour; or
• If your role is covered by the Transport or Care Sector Agreement, be paid at least 80% of the median wage (currently $25.29 per hour) or the wage specified in the Sector Agreement, whichever is higher.

Please also note that if you are still on the old Essential Skills work visa, you are still able to support your partner regardless of your role’s skill level as long as you are paid at least $25.29 per hour.

If you are already on a partnership-based work visa and it was not an open work visa, you may be able to apply for a variation of conditions to have those restrictions removed. Once the update goes live on 2 December, if the above changes apply to your situation, you can be upgraded to an open work visa.

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