New Zealand Revises Visa Regulations for Foreign Workers, Limits Family Sponsorship

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On June 26, 2024, New Zealand introduced modifications to its visa regulations, affecting specific groups of foreign workers and their families. These adjustments are designed to simplify the visa application process and better align it with the nation’s economic goals and immigration strategies.

A significant alteration is the restriction for individuals with an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, who now lack a direct pathway to residency, from sponsoring their partners and dependent children for work, visitor, or student visas in New Zealand. This change aims to align the AEWV scheme more closely with the prior Essential Skills Work Visa program.

It’s crucial to highlight that partners and dependent children still have the opportunity to apply independently for visas, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa or international student visas, provided they fulfill the necessary requirements. Moreover, the new regulations do not affect those who currently hold visas as partners or dependents, nor do they impact AEWV holders at ANZSCO level 4 and 5 with established residency pathways, including those on the Green List and under sector agreements.

The government of New Zealand has assured that any applications for partner or dependent child visas currently underway will be evaluated under the existing regulations at the time of submission, providing stability for those affected.

Should you have initiated a visa application for your family prior to June 26th, 2024, there may still be avenues to sponsor visas for your partner or dependent children under specific conditions. This is applicable if they previously received a visa based on their relationship with you, or if their application for a work, visitor, or student visa was pending before the new rules took effect and subsequently received approval.

For AEWV holders at ANZSCO skill levels 4 or 5 earning less than NZD USD 47.41 per hour, options remain to sponsor visas for your partner or dependent children. To sponsor a Worker Work Visa for your partner, you must demonstrate earnings of at least NZD USD 29.66 per hour. For sponsoring a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa or a Dependent Child Student Visa for your children, you need to show an annual income of at least NZD USD 43,322.76.

You may be eligible to support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa if you earn less than NZD USD 29.66 per hour. Furthermore, if your earnings reach at least NZD USD 59.32 per hour or your position is on the Green List and you fulfill the specific requirements of the role, you can also sponsor a work visa with open conditions. These modifications are a component of the New Zealand government’s comprehensive strategy to refine the visa application process and align it with the nation’s economic and immigration goals.