New Zealand revives open work rights to partners of high-skilled migrants

'This change allows partners to work for any employer and take on work without restrictions'

BY Dexter Tilo 03 Dec 2024

Partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders in higher-skilled roles are now eligible for open work rights, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced on Monday.

"This change allows partners to work for any employer and take on work without restrictions or unnecessary red tape," Stanford said in a statement.

"It also extends to partners of AEWV holders in lower-skilled roles, provided those workers are on a pathway to residency."

Eligibility for open work rights

According to Immigration NZ, those eligible for open work rights include:

All partners of AEWV holders working in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations 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
All partners of Essential Skills work visa holders earning at least $25.29 an hour.

They are also available to partners of AEWV holders working in an ANZSCO Level 4-5 role:

Earning at least $47.41 an hour (150% of the standard median wage)
Earning at least $31.61 an hour in a role on the Green List and meeting the Green List requirements for that role
Earning at least $25.29 an hour (80% of the standard 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)

The government implemented the changes in a bid to attract and retain the workers and skills it needs, after the previous government restricted the settings.

"This is another step towards restoring balance to the immigration system. Getting our work visa settings right is crucial as we rebuild the economy and get our country back on track," Stanford said.