• Insights

New Zealand: New Change of Conditions Process and Extension of Automatic Work Rights for Temporary Work Visa Holders’ Partners

December 15, 2022

insight-news-default

Country / Territory

  • New ZealandNew Zealand

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

At a Glance

  • Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Essential Skills Visa holders can now apply to change the conditions of their visa to reflect changes in employers, occupations or job locations under their current visa instead of applying for a new visa.

  • These changes will result in fewer administrative steps and a slightly faster processing time compared to the prior process of filing a new Work Visa application to change such conditions.

  • Additionally, the automatic work rights of dependent spouses or partners of temporary work visa holders has been extended until April 2023.

The situation

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced several changes, one that will ease the change of conditions process for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Essential Skills Visa holders, and another that extends the policy that grants the automatic work rights of spouses and partners of temporary work visa holders until April 2023.

A closer look

CHANGE DETAILS IMPACT
AEWV Variation of Conditions
    • AEWV holders can now update their information regarding their employer, role (including promotions with their current employer in some instances), or location of their role by applying for a Variation of Conditions application.
    • The new employer must be an Accredited Employer and have a Job Check application approved prior to the filing of the Variation of Conditions application.
    • The new Job Check must meet standard requirements (including labour market testing and market rate requirements).
    • AEWV holders are not subject to labour market testing if their role is on the Green List (and the applicant meets the requirements of the list), or if they earn at least double the median wage. The median wage will increase from NZD 27.76 per hour to NZD 29.66 per hour starting February 2023.

    • Eligible applicants holders benefit from being able to change employers, roles or job locations without re-applying for a new AEWV.
    • This means fewer administrative requirements and a slightly faster processing time (around one month), compared to a new AEWV application which can take up to 25 business days.
    • Employers seeking to hire AEWV holders must have the required Accreditations and must comply with the necessary Job Check requirements, if needed for the role.
Essential Skills Visa Variation of Conditions
    • Essential Skills Visa holders can now apply to change any role or location through a Variation of Conditions application (rather than applying for a new Essential Skills Visa). Previously, an Essential Skills visa holder was only able to change their role or location if their new job was on the Essential Skills in Demand list and the visa holder met the requirements.
    • Employers of applicants changing their job or location must complete labour market testing for the role and provide a letter of support confirming labour market testing was completed.
    • Essential Skills visa holders are not subject to labour market testing if their role is on the Essential Skills in Demand List (and the applicant meets the related requirements).
Extended automatic work rights for partners of migrant workers
    • INZ previously announced that spouses and partners of temporary work visa holders would be granted Visitor Visas from December 2022, where the primary applicant was not sponsored for a role on the Green List, or not have a salary of over double the median wage.
    • However, the New Zealand government has announced that this policy change has been deferred to April 2023 to provide greater certainty to migrant partners of their ability to work in New Zealand in high skilled roles. Further updates will be announced in early 2023.
    • Dependent spouses or partners of temporary work visa holders will continue to be automatically work authorized in New Zealand until April 2023.
    • Those seeking to work in New Zealand after that time must ensure that they obtain their own work authorization unless they qualify for the automatic dependent visa with full work rights.

Background

  • Addressing skills shortages. The New Zealand government continues to implement relaxed immigration rules to address skills shortages in the country.
  • Improving the AEWV process. The New Zealand government continues to improve the AEWV process in an effort to refine details such as processing times, requirements and related applications, to make the program more attractive.

Looking ahead

The New Zealand government will likely continue to improve the AEWV program, such as implementing less administratively burdensome procedures for cancellations or process requirements for high-volume employers. We will report on related developments.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

Country / Territory

  • New ZealandNew Zealand

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions

Bloomberg Law: Justices’ Migrant TPS Ruling Undercuts Pending Court Challenges

Partner Daniel Pierce discussed the implications of the US Supreme Court's latest Temporary Protected Status ruling.

Learn more

Blog post

The EU Pay Transparency Directive: What Global Mobility Leaders Need to Know

In this blog, Senior Counsel Jo Antoon explores what multinational employers need to know about pay transparency, cross-border workers and mobility-related compensation differences as implementation unfolds across the EU. 

Learn more

Media mentions

The PIE: UK Unis Must Treat Compliance as “Strategic Institutional Risk”

Immigration Supervisor Sanjay Parmar discussed how recent UK Basic Compliance Assessment changes are driving universities toward more data-led, proactive compliance management.

Learn more

Blog post

UK Immigration Reforms and Their Impact on the Engineering Talent Pipeline

In this blog, Fragomen’s Nadine Barnole, Jonathan Hill, Anastasia Vasiljeva and Nicole Williams examine how higher Skilled Worker salary thresholds, rising sponsorship costs and proposed Graduate Route changes are making it harder for employers to attract and retain international engineering talent.

Learn more

Media mentions

Irish Examiner: Updates to Non-EU Work Permits Will Help Firms Fill Critical Roles

Practice Leader Colm Collins explains how Ireland's employment permit updates can help employers address workforce shortages while strengthening the country's ability to attract global talent.

Learn more

Blog post

Understanding EU-Turkey Association Rights for Workers and Families in Germany

Senior Associate Arta Djahanschiri and Associate Iris Barthel discuss how EU-Turkey Association Law, including Association Council Decision No. 1/80, can provide Turkish employees and their family members in Germany with residence and labor market rights that may extend beyond protections available under the German Residence Act.

Learn more

Media mentions

Konfederacja Lewiatan: Ekspertyza przedstawiająca skutki zmian legislacyjnych oraz ich praktyczne konsekwencje dla osób objętych ochroną czasową

Poland Immigration Strategy Director Tomasz Rogala and Senior Associate Tomasz Rdzanek explain Polish legislative changes affecting residence rights, employment authorization and long-term immigration pathways.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Media mentions

Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel: Internationale Rekrutierung ist eine Compliancefrage

Partner Marius Tollenaere and Associate Jamela Sharrock examine how employers in Germany can strengthen immigration compliance by embedding it into every stage of the employment lifecycle.

Learn more

Podcast

EB5: What Prospective Applicants Need to Know NOW!

In this episode of The Immigration Conversation, Partner Chad Blocker, Senior Counsel Mitchell Wexler and Associate Alex Kim discuss what prospective EB-5 applicants should know now, including source-of-funds documentation, project selection, concurrent filing, retrogression and upcoming program deadlines.

Learn more

Blog post

New EU Social Security Coordination Rules: What Employers Need to Know

In this blog, Partner Jo Antoons and Senior Manager Marina Ocariz discuss the EU’s provisional agreement on revised social security coordination rules and what employers should know about the expected changes to A1 certificate requirements, posted worker rules and short-term cross-border work compliance.

Learn more

Blog post

Approaching EB-5 Grandfathering Deadline: What Investors Need to Know Before September 30, 2026

In this blog, Partner Rahul Soni explains the EB-5 grandfathering provisions under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and why prospective investors should consider filing before the September 30, 2026 deadline to help preserve statutory protections and reduce exposure to future program uncertainty.

Learn more

Video

Do You Need a Visa for Thailand? Tourist Visa Rules Explained

In this video, Practice Leader Kate Praphakornphiphat explains the key requirements, documents, fees and processing time for a Thailand tourist visa, as well as stay duration and extension options for short-term travel. 

Learn more

Media mentions

Bloomberg Law: Justices’ Migrant TPS Ruling Undercuts Pending Court Challenges

Partner Daniel Pierce discussed the implications of the US Supreme Court's latest Temporary Protected Status ruling.

Learn more

Blog post

The EU Pay Transparency Directive: What Global Mobility Leaders Need to Know

In this blog, Senior Counsel Jo Antoon explores what multinational employers need to know about pay transparency, cross-border workers and mobility-related compensation differences as implementation unfolds across the EU. 

Learn more

Media mentions

The PIE: UK Unis Must Treat Compliance as “Strategic Institutional Risk”

Immigration Supervisor Sanjay Parmar discussed how recent UK Basic Compliance Assessment changes are driving universities toward more data-led, proactive compliance management.

Learn more

Blog post

UK Immigration Reforms and Their Impact on the Engineering Talent Pipeline

In this blog, Fragomen’s Nadine Barnole, Jonathan Hill, Anastasia Vasiljeva and Nicole Williams examine how higher Skilled Worker salary thresholds, rising sponsorship costs and proposed Graduate Route changes are making it harder for employers to attract and retain international engineering talent.

Learn more

Media mentions

Irish Examiner: Updates to Non-EU Work Permits Will Help Firms Fill Critical Roles

Practice Leader Colm Collins explains how Ireland's employment permit updates can help employers address workforce shortages while strengthening the country's ability to attract global talent.

Learn more

Blog post

Understanding EU-Turkey Association Rights for Workers and Families in Germany

Senior Associate Arta Djahanschiri and Associate Iris Barthel discuss how EU-Turkey Association Law, including Association Council Decision No. 1/80, can provide Turkish employees and their family members in Germany with residence and labor market rights that may extend beyond protections available under the German Residence Act.

Learn more

Media mentions

Konfederacja Lewiatan: Ekspertyza przedstawiająca skutki zmian legislacyjnych oraz ich praktyczne konsekwencje dla osób objętych ochroną czasową

Poland Immigration Strategy Director Tomasz Rogala and Senior Associate Tomasz Rdzanek explain Polish legislative changes affecting residence rights, employment authorization and long-term immigration pathways.

Learn more
Generic Insights

Media mentions

Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel: Internationale Rekrutierung ist eine Compliancefrage

Partner Marius Tollenaere and Associate Jamela Sharrock examine how employers in Germany can strengthen immigration compliance by embedding it into every stage of the employment lifecycle.

Learn more

Podcast

EB5: What Prospective Applicants Need to Know NOW!

In this episode of The Immigration Conversation, Partner Chad Blocker, Senior Counsel Mitchell Wexler and Associate Alex Kim discuss what prospective EB-5 applicants should know now, including source-of-funds documentation, project selection, concurrent filing, retrogression and upcoming program deadlines.

Learn more

Blog post

New EU Social Security Coordination Rules: What Employers Need to Know

In this blog, Partner Jo Antoons and Senior Manager Marina Ocariz discuss the EU’s provisional agreement on revised social security coordination rules and what employers should know about the expected changes to A1 certificate requirements, posted worker rules and short-term cross-border work compliance.

Learn more

Blog post

Approaching EB-5 Grandfathering Deadline: What Investors Need to Know Before September 30, 2026

In this blog, Partner Rahul Soni explains the EB-5 grandfathering provisions under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 and why prospective investors should consider filing before the September 30, 2026 deadline to help preserve statutory protections and reduce exposure to future program uncertainty.

Learn more

Video

Do You Need a Visa for Thailand? Tourist Visa Rules Explained

In this video, Practice Leader Kate Praphakornphiphat explains the key requirements, documents, fees and processing time for a Thailand tourist visa, as well as stay duration and extension options for short-term travel. 

Learn more
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Travel and Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle EastNavigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapCenter for Strategy and Applied InsightsVietnamese ImmigrationView More
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Travel and Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle East
  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Center for Strategy and Applied Insights
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • View More

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMediaClient Portal
Important Updates
Important Updates
July 2, 2026 | QatarQatar: Amendments to Labor Law
July 3, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: New Mandatory Pre-Arrival and Pre-Departure Customs Declaration Requirement Implemented
July 3, 2026 | VenezuelaVenezuela: Government Operations and Travel Disruptions Following Earthquakes
July 2, 2026 | DenmarkDenmark: Positive Lists Updated
July 2, 2026 | KuwaitKuwait: Restrictions Implemented for Nationality Law
July 2, 2026 | QatarQatar: Amendments to Labor Law
July 3, 2026 | South AfricaSouth Africa: New Mandatory Pre-Arrival and Pre-Departure Customs Declaration Requirement Implemented
July 3, 2026 | VenezuelaVenezuela: Government Operations and Travel Disruptions Following Earthquakes
July 2, 2026 | DenmarkDenmark: Positive Lists Updated
July 2, 2026 | KuwaitKuwait: Restrictions Implemented for Nationality Law
July 2, 2026 | QatarQatar: Amendments to Labor Law
Subscribe

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • AI Transparency Statement
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • AI Transparency Statement
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Twitter

© 2026 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.