Bringing family on an AEWV
A guide to supporting a spouse and dependent children to come to New Zealand where holding an AEWV, and the requirements as to pay, skills and the types of visa supported.
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Supporting family members where holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
A person holdingAccredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), that person may support visas for a spouse and dependent children, depending on the job and the level of income.
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The types of visa family members may be supported for
A person holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) may support:
- a visitor visa for a spouse
- a work visa for a spouse
- a visitor visa for dependent children
- a student visa for dependent children.
The type of visa that may be supported for a spouse and dependent children will depend on:
- the level of income
- the occupation’s skill level
- whether the job is on the list of occupations under theNew Zealand’s National Occupation List (NOL)recognised for the AEWV
- whether the job is on the list of approved transport jobs for the Transport Work to Residence Visa
- whether the job is on the list of approved care sector jobs for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
- whether the job is on the Green List and whether the person meets the job’s Green List requirements
- whether the person supported a visa for family members before 26/06/2024.
Note:
ANZSCOclassifies jobs by skill level. ANZSCO skill levels run from 1 to 5, where 1 is the most highly skilled level and 5 the less skilled level.
The NOL is replacing ANZSCO. Some NOL occupations may now be used for the AEWV.
When a visa may be supported for family members
A person holding an AEWV must have a job meeting certain requirements before they may support a visa for a family member.
Workers need to check which situation applies to them and their job.
Note:
Where more than 1 situation applies, use the one most favourable to your situation.
For example, where a person works in an ANZSCO level 5 job, and the job is on the Green List, that person may support family members. Check the situation “Where the job is on the Green List” for which visas may be supported.
Where income is at least NZD 52.50 an hour
A person with income of at least NZD 52.50 an hour (1.5 times the median wage) may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where the job is at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3
This case includes where the job is at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 but is recognised at a higher level under ANZSCO for the AEWV.
Where income is below NZD 28.00 an hour, the person may only support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is NZD 28.00 an hour or more (80% of the median wage), the person may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is at least NZD 58,240 a year, the person may support:
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is at least NZD 43,322.76 a year, the person may support a Dependent Child Student Visa or a Child of Worker Visitor Visa where, on or before 09/03/2025:
- the dependent child had a visa approved, or had filed a visa application based on their relationship with that person, and
- that person held an AEWV or had filed an AEWV application that was subsequently approved.
Where the job is on the list of National Occupation List (NOL) occupations used for the AEWV
Where income is below NZD 28.00 an hour, the person may only support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is NZD 28.00 an hour or more (80% of the median wage), the person may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
- Where income is at least NZD 58,240 a year, the person may support:
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where the job is on the Green List
Where the job is on the Green List and the person meets the job’s Green List requirements, the person may support:
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where the job is on the Green List, the person meets the job’s Green List requirements, and the minimum rate of pay is NZD 35.00 an hour, they may also support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa.
Where the job is an approved care sector job
Workers need to check whether they may support a visa for family members while building up work experience on an AEWV in order to apply for a Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa.
Where the job is at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3
Check the section for those whose job is at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 on this page.
Where the job is at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5
Where income is at least NZD 28.25 an hour, the person may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is at least NZD 58,240 a year, the person may support:
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is at least NZD 43,322.76 a year, the person may support a Dependent Child Student Visa or a Child of Worker Visitor Visa where, on or before 09/03/2025:
- the dependent child had a visa approved, or had filed a visa application based on their relationship with that person, and
- that person held an AEWV or had filed an AEWV application that was subsequently approved.
Where the job is an approved transport job
Workers need to check whether they may support a visa for family members while building up work experience on an AEWV in order to apply for a Transport Work to Residence Visa.
Where the job is at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3
Check the section for those whose job is at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 on this page.
Where the job is at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5
Where the person meets Immigration New Zealand’s “acceptable employment” requirements, they may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
To meet the acceptable employment requirements, the person’s job must:
- pay at least NZD 35.00 an hour
- be with an accredited employer
- be full-time (at least 30 hours a week)
- be ongoing employment, or a fixed-term job lasting at least 12 months from the date of application, and
- be a genuine job or a genuine job offer, for example the person did not pay the employer to obtain the job offer.
Where income is at least NZD 58,240 a year and the person meets the acceptable employment requirements, they may support:
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where the job has been removed from the list of approved transport jobs
Workers may support a visa for family members where the job:
- was listed on the list of approved transport roles before 07/04/2024 and the person meets the requirements for work experience from the job to count
- meets Immigration New Zealand’s “acceptable employment” requirements.
To meet the “acceptable employment” requirements, the person’s job must:
- pay at least NZD 35.00 an hour
- be with an accredited employer
- be full-time (at least 30 hours a week)
- be ongoing employment, or a fixed-term job lasting at least 12 months from the date of application, and
- be a genuine job or a genuine job offer, for example the person did not pay the employer to obtain the job offer.
Where these requirements are met, the person may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is at least NZD 58,240 a year and the person meets the acceptable employment requirements, they may support:
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Where a visa was supported for family members between 26/06/2024 and 01/12/2024
Workers may continue to support visas for a spouse and dependent children.
Where a spouse or children need to apply for a new visa, the worker must meet 1 of the current requirements to support a new visa.
Where a spouse was granted a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with an employment condition
Immigration New Zealand may have granted a spouse a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with an employment condition before 02/12/2024. A work visa with a condition means the spouse must meet certain rules about employment.
They must:
- work for an accredited employer
- be paid at least the rate of pay applying to their job, unless they work in a job covered by an uncapped sector agreement.
A spouse may apply to have the employment conditions removed from the visa where the worker’s income is at least NZD 28.00 an hour.
Note:
Where a spouse has a Partner of a Worker Work Visa application being processed on or after 02/12/2024, their application will be assessed against the current requirements.
Where a visa was supported for family members before 26/06/2024
Workers may continue to support visas for a spouse and dependent children.
Where a spouse or dependent children need to apply for a new visa
Workers may support a new application for a spouse or dependent children. The type of visa that may be supported depends on the level of income. The type of visa does not depend on the job’s ANZSCO skill level.
Where income is below NZD 26.85 an hour, the person may only support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is NZD 26.85 an hour or more (80% of the median wage), the person may support:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.
Where income is at least NZD 43,322.76 a year, the person may support:
- Dependent Child Student Visa
- Child of Worker Visitor Visa.
Example:
Rachel holds an AEWV in the role of Transport Conductor (ANZSCO skill level 5). She earns NZD 35 an hour and supported a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with conditions for her husband in March 2024. She may continue to support a visa for her husband. Her husband may apply to have the employment conditions removed from the Partner of a Worker Work Visa.
Lou held an Essential Skills Work Visa in the role of Cook (ANZSCO skill level 4) and earned NZD 29.66 an hour. He has supported visas for his wife and child since August 2022. Lou applied for and was granted an AEWV after 10/12/2024. Because Lou earns more than NZD 26.85 an hour, he may continue to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa for his wife and a Dependent Child Student Visa for his child. His wife is eligible for a work visa without conditions.
Where a spouse was granted a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with an employment condition
Immigration New Zealandmay have granted a spouse a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with an employment condition before 26/06/2024. A work visa with a condition means the spouse needs to meet certain rules about employment.
They must:
- work for an accredited employer
- be paid at least the rate of pay applying to their job, unless they work in a job covered by an uncapped sector agreement.
A spouse may apply to have the employment conditions removed from the visa where the worker’s income is at least NZD 26.85 an hour.
Where a worker does not meet 1 of these situations, they cannot support a visa for a spouse and children. They may apply for a visa in their own right.
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