Under the revised policy, holders of an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, without a direct pathway to residency, are no longer eligible to sponsor their partners and dependent children for visas pertaining to work, visitors, or students in New Zealand. This change aligns the AEWV scheme more closely with the earlier Essential Skills Work Visa program.

As of June 26, 2024, New Zealand has introduced updates to its visa regulations affecting specific foreign workers and their families. These changes are designed to simplify the visa application process and better reflect the nation’s economic and immigration objectives.

Individuals holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, without a clear pathway to permanent residency, are no longer able to sponsor 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 former Essential Skills Work Visa program.

Nevertheless, it’s crucial to highlight that partners and dependent children still have the option to apply for their own visas, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa or international student visas, provided they fulfill the relevant requirements. Moreover, the updated regulations do not affect individuals who are already visa holders as partners or dependents, nor do they impact AEWV holders in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 positions with established pathways to residency, such as those covered under the Green List and sector agreements.

The New Zealand Government has assured that ongoing applications for partner or dependent child visas will be evaluated according to the regulations that were in effect at the time of application, ensuring consistency for applicants affected by the changes.

If you had already submitted your family’s visa application before June 26, 2024, you might still qualify to sponsor a visa for your partner or dependent child under specific circumstances. This includes cases where they already possessed a visa based on their relationship with you, or if their application for a work, visitor, or student visa was initiated before the rule adjustment and subsequently approved.

For AEWV holders in ANZSCO skill levels 4 or 5 earning less than NZD 47.41 per hour, there may still be an opportunity to sponsor visas for partners or dependent children. To sponsor a Worker Work Visa for your partner, you must demonstrate earnings of at least NZD 29.66 per hour. For a child applying for a Worker Visitor Visa or a Dependent Child Student Visa, you’ll need to provide proof of annual earnings of at least NZD 43,322.76.

If your earnings are below NZD 29.66 per hour, you may still qualify to support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa. Moreover, if you earn at least NZD 59.32 per hour or if your occupation is listed on the Green List and you meet its specific criteria, you could sponsor a work visa with open conditions.

These adjustments form part of a wider initiative by the New Zealand government to streamline the visa application process and ensure its alignment with the nation’s economic and immigration objectives.

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