Finally, partners of a Worker Work Visa can job hunt without the visa headache!
Partners of a Worker Work Visa with open work rights – effective from 2 December!
In 2024, Immigration New Zealand changed the policy around the eligibility of the Partner of a Worker Work Visa 5 times and currently a lot of partners of work visa holders continue to struggle to find employment in New Zealand due to the conditions of their visas. It has come to the point where the policy is separating migrant families apart as it is not sustainable for the families to continue living in NZ with only one income.
Finally, Immigration New Zealand has recognised their mistake and introducing new changes that will expand open work rights to more partners of migrant workers, starting 2 December 2024.
From 2 December, many partners of migrant workers will be eligible for open work rights, so they can work for any employer without the wage requirement.
From 2 December 2024, open work rights will be available to:
- All partners working in an ANZSCO Level 1-3 role and earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour (80% of the median wage).
- Partners of AEWV holders already earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour, if they were supporting a partner for a work visa as of 26 June 2024.
- Partners of Essential Skills work visa holders earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour.
For partners of AEWV holders working in ANZSCO Level 4-5 roles, they will be eligible if their sponsoring partners are:
- earning at least $47.41 an hour 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 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).
Current partner visa holders can apply to change their conditions if they meet the new requirements.
For more information, contact us at contact@uvisa.co.nz or 07 777 5035.
