AEWV Partner Work Visa: Family Eligibility, Wage Thresholds, and Open Work Rights

The ability to bring a partner to New Zealand — with the right to work — is often a deciding factor in whether a skilled professional accepts a job offer. The AEWV does allow for partner sponsorship, but the wage thresholds that determine whether the partner receives open work rights or restricted work rights are set against the immigration median wage, which was updated to NZD $35.00 per hour in March 2026. That update changed the calculus for thousands of workers who were previously above the threshold and are now below it.

Understanding the partner work visa rules before accepting a job offer — not after arriving — is essential for families planning a move to New Zealand.

How Partner Eligibility Works Under the AEWV

Partners of AEWV holders can apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa. The type of work rights the partner receives depends on two factors: the NOL skill level of the principal applicant's role, and the principal applicant's hourly rate.

Open work rights allow the partner to work for any employer in any role in New Zealand. This is the most valuable outcome for families, because it means the partner can find their own employment independently of the principal applicant's employer.

Restricted work rights (or no work rights) limit the partner to working in a shortage occupation, or in some cases provide no work right at all.

The Wage Thresholds as of March 2026

For workers in NOL Level 1, 2, or 3 roles: To support a partner with open work rights, the principal applicant must earn at least NZD $28.00 per hour (80% of the $35.00 median wage).

For workers in NOL Level 4 or 5 roles: To support a partner with open work rights, the principal applicant must earn at least NZD $52.50 per hour (1.5x the $35.00 median wage).

The gap between these two thresholds is significant. A Level 4 role — which includes many trades, hospitality, agriculture, and operational positions — requires a much higher wage to unlock the same partner rights as a Level 3 role. For workers in Level 4 positions earning between NZD $35 and $52 per hour, the partner either receives restricted work rights or must qualify independently through their own skills.

The March 2026 Update and Its Impact on Existing Workers

Before March 9, 2026, the relevant thresholds were based on the $33.56 median wage (August 2025 rate):

• Level 1–3 open work rights: $26.85/hour (80% of $33.56)
• Level 4–5 open work rights: $50.34/hour (1.5x $33.56)

Workers who were earning exactly $50.34 to $52.49/hour and had been relying on this to support their partner's open work rights found themselves below the new threshold after March 9, 2026.

This matters in two ways:

1. For new applications lodged after March 9, the new thresholds apply from the date of submission
2. For partners whose work visas are up for renewal, the principal's current wage must meet the current threshold at the time of renewal

Workers near the threshold should check their current hourly rate against both the 80% and 1.5x median wage thresholds. If a NZD $2 to $5 per hour pay increase would move them above a threshold that affects their partner's work rights, raising this with their employer before renewal time is the most straightforward path.

What Open Work Rights Mean in Practice

A partner holding a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with open work rights can:

• Apply for any job in New Zealand without an employer needing to be accredited for them
• Work in any industry and any role
• Change jobs without notifying INZ
• Work part-time or full-time as they choose

This effectively treats the partner as a temporary resident for employment purposes. The partner visa is linked to the principal applicant's AEWV — if the principal's AEWV is cancelled or expires, the partner visa is also affected.

Restricted Work Rights: The Alternative

Partners of Level 1–3 workers earning below $28.00/hour, and partners of all Level 4–5 workers earning below $52.50/hour, may receive a partner visa with restricted work rights. This limits the partner to roles in shortage occupations — a narrower set of options, though the list is significant and includes many healthcare, education, and trades roles.

Partners with no prior New Zealand work history who receive restricted rights can still build a professional life in New Zealand — but they have less flexibility in choosing their first employer or role.

Dependent Children

Dependent children of AEWV holders can accompany or join the principal applicant in New Zealand. Each child needs their own visa application, with associated fees and medical requirements.

Children of temporary visa holders can attend New Zealand state schools. The per-child visa fee and medical examination costs add meaningfully to the total family migration cost — a family of four (principal, partner, two children) will pay well over NZD $6,000 in government fees and ancillary costs before settling into a New Zealand address.

The Five-Year vs. Three-Year Visa and Family Planning

If the principal applicant's role is at NOL Level 4 or 5 and their visa duration is three years, the partner visa is also valid for three years (or less, aligned to the principal's departure date). This affects family schooling decisions and long-term planning.

Workers who anticipate that their role might be reclassified to Level 1–3 in the next NOL update — which happens annually — should track these updates, because a reclassification can extend both the principal's visa duration and simplify the partner sponsorship threshold.

If the principal applicant is on a five-year visa (Level 1–3 role or 1.5x median wage role), the partner visa is also typically granted for a five-year period, providing more stability for the family.

What to Check Before Accepting a Job Offer

Before signing an employment agreement, run through these questions:

• What NOL skill level is this role? (Check the National Occupation List)
• Does my hourly rate meet the 80% threshold (Level 1–3) or the 1.5x threshold (Level 4–5) for partner open work rights?
• If not, is there a realistic pathway to a pay increase before my partner's visa is issued or renewed?
• Is the role on the Green List, and if so at which tier — because this affects whether the family can plan for permanent residence within two years or must use the SMC points pathway?

The New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa Guide includes a full family sponsorship section with worked examples showing how different income levels and skill levels interact, a wage threshold reference table updated for 2026, and guidance on negotiating family-friendly terms into your employment offer before committing to a move.

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