AEWV holders wanting to bring family to New Zealand

Background

This alert sets out further changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme for individuals wanting to bring family to New Zealand.

Update

From 26 June 2024, AEWV applicants with a role at ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 cannot support visas for their partner and/or dependent children. Family members wanting to travel with an AEWV holder will need to apply for a work, student, or visitor visa in their own right, provided they meet immigration requirements.

This change does not impact AEWV applicants who have a pathway to residency (including via the Green List, a sector agreement, or earning 1.5 times the median wage for the Skilled Migrant Category).

This change also does not impact family members who already hold a visa as a partner or dependent child of an AEWV holder, or who applied for their visa prior to 26 June 2024.

Our thoughts

This change is a further reflection of the government’s commitment to tightening immigration settings, particularly for low-skilled migrant workers. We expect more change to come.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions about the case or the topics discussed in this article, please contact our specialist Immigration team