New Zealand: Work Rights Changes for Spouses and Partners of Certain Visa Holders
May 24, 2023

The New Zealand government has announced changes that will further impact the work rights of spouses and partners of Accredited Employer Work visa (AEWV) and Essential Skills (ES) visa holders. Effective from May 31, 2023, partners who apply for a new visa as dependents of AEWV or ES visa holders will be granted a visa with the condition that they can only work for an Accredited Employer, regardless of the role, and must be paid at least the median wage in New Zealand. Partners will no longer need a job offer or undergo a job check when applying for a Partner of a Worker visa. Changing Accredited Employers will not require a variation of conditions application. Partners of AEWV holders may be eligible for open work rights if the primary AEWV holder earns twice the median wage or holds a role included in the Green List. Partners of ineligible AEWV or ES visa holders must apply for their own work visas. Partners who do not wish to work in New Zealand can apply for a Visitor visa. These changes do not apply to partners of other work visa holders or holders of Partner of Worker work visas granted before May 31, 2023.
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].
Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions
Managing Director Diogo Kloper examines the challenges of hiring foreign talent in Brazil’s evolving energy sector and the role of compliance in supporting innovation.

Blog post
Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Immigration Consultant Katya Fedorenko and Paralegal Sasindie Ambawatte explore how upcoming changes to the UK's skilled worker visa scheme may affect recruitment and retention in the aviation sector.

Media mentions

Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses updates in the October 2025 US visa bulletin for employment-based green card applicants.

Video
Afzal Amin highlights a significant update for UAE Golden Visa holders: the Jebel Ali Free Zone authorities have replaced permanent access cards with permanent identity cards.

Blog post

Blog post
Associate Pauline Chomel and Immigration Consultant Pebbless Agyemang discuss Belgium’s new family reunification rules and their impact on applicants.

Media mentions
Senior Associate Oliver L. Ashworth and Director David Iannella discuss recent US immigration and visa changes and what German businesses and travelers should know.

Media mentions
Senior Manager Louise Senior highlights how UK hospitality employers face heightened risk as visa sponsors and why it is important for them to understand their responsibilities to avoid penalties.

Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the expansion of Nomadic to the Nordics, providing end-to-end support for short-term business travel and cross-border compliance.

Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Michael Salas Guzman discusses Costa Rica investment residency options and requirements for foreign investors, retirees and rentiers.

Media mentions
Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa Murtaza Khan discusses why immigration due diligence is important in GCC mergers.

Media mentions
Managing Director Diogo Kloper examines the challenges of hiring foreign talent in Brazil’s evolving energy sector and the role of compliance in supporting innovation.

Blog post
Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Immigration Consultant Katya Fedorenko and Paralegal Sasindie Ambawatte explore how upcoming changes to the UK's skilled worker visa scheme may affect recruitment and retention in the aviation sector.

Media mentions

Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses updates in the October 2025 US visa bulletin for employment-based green card applicants.

Video
Afzal Amin highlights a significant update for UAE Golden Visa holders: the Jebel Ali Free Zone authorities have replaced permanent access cards with permanent identity cards.

Blog post

Blog post
Associate Pauline Chomel and Immigration Consultant Pebbless Agyemang discuss Belgium’s new family reunification rules and their impact on applicants.

Media mentions
Senior Associate Oliver L. Ashworth and Director David Iannella discuss recent US immigration and visa changes and what German businesses and travelers should know.

Media mentions
Senior Manager Louise Senior highlights how UK hospitality employers face heightened risk as visa sponsors and why it is important for them to understand their responsibilities to avoid penalties.

Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the expansion of Nomadic to the Nordics, providing end-to-end support for short-term business travel and cross-border compliance.

Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Michael Salas Guzman discusses Costa Rica investment residency options and requirements for foreign investors, retirees and rentiers.

Media mentions
Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa Murtaza Khan discusses why immigration due diligence is important in GCC mergers.