AEWV Partner and Dependent Visas: 2024 Update

Effective 26 June 2024, Accredited Employer Work Visa holders at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5 without residency pathways can no longer sponsor partner and dependent child visas (including work, visitor, and student categories).

What changed

If you hold an AEWV at ANZSCO skill levels 4 or 5 and do not have a pathway to residence, you can no longer sponsor your partner or dependent children for visas in New Zealand. The modification reflects earlier AEWV reforms and mirrors the previous Essential Skills Work Visa framework.

Key points

• Partners and dependents remain eligible to apply independently for visas if they satisfy individual requirements
• The change only affects sponsorship, not independent visa applications
• Current visa holders are not affected by this change retroactively

Who is not affected

The policy does not apply to:

• Current visa holders whose visas were granted before 26 June 2024
• AEWV holders (levels 4–5) with residency access through Green List positions
• Those covered by sector agreements
• Workers earning 1.5× the median wage
• Applications submitted before the change date

What you should do

If you’re an AEWV holder at ANZSCO levels 4 or 5 and want to bring your family to NZ, understanding your options is critical. The exemption pathways (Green List, sector agreement, 1.5× median wage) are the main routes to family sponsorship for affected workers. Independent visa application by the partner/dependent is the alternative when no exemption applies, including a partner of a worker visa where the partner qualifies in their own right.