New Zealand introduces open work rights for partners of migrant workers

New Zealand will change its immigration rules on December 2, 2024 to allow more partners of migrant workers to work without restrictions.

This policy aims to address labor shortages and improve workforce retention in various sectors.

According to this announcement from Immigration New Zealand (INZ), the government is making changes to offer more partners of migrant workers open work rights, allowing them to work for any employer.

This will help families stay together and attract and retain the workers New Zealand needs to fill the gaps in sectors facing skills and labor shortages.

Eligibility Criteria

As of December 2, 2024, open work permissions are available for:

all Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) partners who work in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level 1-3 role and earn a minimum of NZD$25.29 per hour (80 percent of the standard average wage)
partners of AEWV holders earning at least $25.29 per hour if they were already supporting a partner for a work visa as of June 26, 2024
all Essential Skills partners work on a visa and earn a minimum of $25.29 per hour.

In addition, open work rights will be available to partners of AEWV holders working in an ANZSCO Level 4-5 role:

earn at least $47.41 per hour (150 percent of the standard average wage), or

earn at least $31.61 per hour in a Green List role and meet the Green List requirements for that role, or

earn a minimum of $25.29 per hour (80 percent of the average standard wage) and meet the requirements of a role in the Transport or Healthcare Sector Agreements (or the wage set out in the Sector Agreement, whichever is higher).

The immigration service further reports this “Current holders of partner work visas with specific employment conditions will be able to apply to change their visa conditions to switch to open work rights, if their partner meets any of the above situations.”

If you meet the above criteria, you can apply for a change of conditions or a new work visa from December 2, 2024.

What you need to know

ANZSCO stands for the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. It categorizes jobs into groups based on similar duties and responsibilities.

Each position must be linked to one ANZSCO profession, including a description of the role, duties, level of responsibility and focus. Although the matching profession must be closely related to your position, it does not have to be an exact match. Each occupation is identified by a six-digit ANZSCO code found before the occupation title.

There are two versions of the ANZSCO list available: version 1.2 and version 1.3. You must use the correct version based on the visa you are applying for.

Policy updates on exploitation

TravelBiz also reports that New Zealand will also review its visa policy from October 31 to combat migrant exploitation. This includes ending the second Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa (MEPV), which was available to workers who reported exploitation.

Government support for the changes

These immigration changes are intended to fill labor shortages in various industries. By allowing partners of knowledge migrants to work, the government wants to retain talent and promote economic growth.

Reports indicate that Act Party immigration spokeswoman Parmjeet Parmar noted this will help employers retain key staff. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford emphasized the importance of restoring labor rights for those who contribute to the economy.

With these changes, New Zealand is positioning itself as a more attractive destination for skilled workers and their families.