AEWV Partner Work Visa NZ: What Work Rights Partners of AEWV Holders Actually Get

If your partner holds an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), your situation is distinct from the standard "Partner of a New Zealander" pathway. You are applying for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, not a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa, and the work rights you receive depend heavily on what your AEWV-holding partner earns and what occupation they work in. This area of immigration policy has been through multiple significant changes since 2023 — and the most recent change took effect in April 2026.

This post explains where things stand now.

Why AEWV Partner Work Rights Are Different

When your partner holds an AEWV, their work is tied to a specific accredited employer. The government's position is that partner work rights should reflect the relative skill and earning level of the principal AEWV holder — the higher their wage and skill level, the more employment flexibility their partner receives.

This is fundamentally different from being the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, where open work rights have historically been granted without reference to the sponsor's income.

What Happened Between 2023 and 2024

In May 2023, INZ imposed sweeping restrictions on partner work rights. Before May 2023, partners of most skilled work visa holders received automatic open work rights. After May 2023, partners of AEWV holders were restricted to working only for accredited employers and were required to earn at least the median wage — then $29.66 per hour — in their own role.

Only partners of AEWV holders working in Green List occupations or earning at least twice the median wage retained automatic open work rights.

These restrictions proved burdensome for migrant families. In December 2024, INZ partially reversed course, restoring open work rights for specific cohorts of AEWV partners based on the principal holder's earnings and skill level.

The Rules from December 2024

Following the December 2024 changes, partners of AEWV holders became eligible for open work rights if the principal holder met specific wage thresholds:

• ANZSCO Level 1–3 roles: The AEWV holder must earn at least NZD $25.29 per hour (80% of the then-median wage) for the partner to be granted open work rights
• ANZSCO Level 4–5 roles: Higher thresholds applied. The AEWV holder needed to earn either $47.41 per hour (150% of median wage), or $31.61 per hour in a Green List role meeting all Green List requirements, or $25.29 per hour in the Transport or Care Sector Work to Residence pathways

The April 2026 Changes: Two Tiers of "Open" Work

From April 20, 2026, INZ introduced a formalized two-tier system across all open work visa types. The language "open work visa" no longer means a single uniform employment condition — it now means one of two distinct conditions:

Condition 1 — Fully Open: The visa holder can work as an employee, contractor, sole trader, or business owner. This applies to the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa and the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa.

Condition 2 — Employer-Restricted Open: The visa holder must work for an employer (under an employment agreement or contract for services). Self-employment, sole trading, and owning a business are not permitted. This condition applies to the Partner of a Worker Work Visa — the visa relevant to AEWV partners who meet the wage threshold for restored open rights.

Universal restriction: Neither Condition 1 nor Condition 2 permits the visa holder to employ staff. Even under the fully open Condition 1, you cannot hire employees to work for you.

This means that if you are the partner of an AEWV holder and you were previously working as a sole trader or freelancer on a partner work visa, the April 2026 changes may have materially affected your ability to continue operating in that way.

Section 49 Conditions and Your Sponsor's Eligibility

This is a separate issue that frequently surfaces for AEWV partners and partners of residents applying through any pathway.

Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 allows INZ to impose conditions on certain resident visas — for example, a requirement to remain employed in a specific occupation or region for a set period after residence is granted. These conditions are tied to the skilled migrant or work-to-residence pathway through which the resident obtained their visa.

If your New Zealand sponsor holds a resident visa with outstanding Section 49(1) conditions attached, they cannot support a partnership-based residence application until those conditions have been formally cleared. The conditions will appear on their eVisa. They must apply to INZ to have the conditions removed once the underlying obligations are fulfilled. There is no fee to request removal, but it requires a specific application and INZ confirmation.

For temporary visa applications (work or visitor), Section 49 conditions on the sponsor's visa are generally less of a blocking issue, but eligibility requirements still need to be confirmed for your specific situation.

What If Your Partner's AEWV Wage Falls Below the Threshold

If the AEWV holder earns below the wage threshold that would entitle you to open work rights, your options include:

• Applying for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with employer-restricted conditions (if the AEWV holder meets the minimum threshold for any work rights at all)
• Applying separately for a different work visa if you have an independent qualifying job offer or occupation
• Applying for a visitor visa if you are not eligible for work rights at all

AEWV holders earning below the median wage in certain lower-skilled sector agreement roles are entirely ineligible to support a work visa for their partner at all — they can support visitor visas only.

Median Wage Reference Table

Check the current INZ website for the active median wage rate, as this updates periodically.

Practical Steps

1. Confirm your partner's ANZSCO level and current hourly rate against the wage thresholds above
2. If they meet the threshold for open work rights, apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa — note that under the April 2026 rules, this visa will carry Condition 2 (employer-restricted, no self-employment)
3. If they have a resident visa, check their eVisa for any Section 49(1) conditions before they attempt to sponsor a residence application

The broader context of partner visa pathways — including the standard Partner of a New Zealander route for those whose partner is a citizen or resident rather than an AEWV holder — is covered in the New Zealand Partner Visa Guide.

See more New Zealand guides →