Partner of a Worker — Work Visa

Reading the wage thresholds

Wage thresholds for AEWV-supporting partners are layered. Here’s the map by your supporting partner’s job classification:

ANZSCO classification	Wage threshold
Level 1–3 (skilled professional, technical, trade)	NZD $28.00/hr — 80% of median wage
Level 4–5, general	NZD $52.50/hr — 150% of median wage
Level 4–5, care workforce or transport sector agreement	NZD $28.00/hr or sector rate, whichever higher
Level 4–5, Green List occupation	NZD $35.00/hr
Grandfathered (supporting partner on this visa from 26 June 2024)	NZD $26.85/hr

The thresholds use the 2025 median wage as the reference point. INZ revises the median wage periodically; when the median moves, the percentage-derived thresholds move with it. The grandfather rule pins applicants at the prior threshold but only while the original supporting arrangement persists — a job change for the supporting partner typically resets the calculation.

When this visa is the wrong choice

If your supporting partner is a NZ citizen, NZ resident, or Australian citizen/permanent resident, you should be looking at the Partnership-based Work Visa instead (under the partnership category) — that’s a different visa with different evidence requirements and typically more favourable conditions. The Partner of a Worker Work Visa is specifically for partners of work-visa holders, not partners of citizens or residents.

Eligibility

Supporting partner's eligible work visa

Your supporting partner must hold a work visa from INZ's eligible list. Most AEWVs qualify (subject to wage thresholds — see below). Visas explicitly ineligible to support a partner include: work visas issued for 6 months or less (with the Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa as an exception), Fishing Crew, Working Holiday, Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE), Supplementary Seasonal Employment, Domestic Staff of a Diplomat visas, and the Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Visa.

AEWV ANZSCO Level 1–3 wage threshold

If your supporting partner holds an AEWV in an ANZSCO Level 1–3 role, the partner is eligible to support you at a minimum wage of NZD $28.00/hour (80% of the 2025 median wage). No further wage tier applies for Level 1–3 jobs.

AEWV ANZSCO Level 4–5 wage thresholds

For ANZSCO Level 4–5 jobs the wage rule is materially higher. The general rule: NZD $52.50/hour (150% of the 2025 median wage). Exceptions: care workforce or transport sector agreement roles qualify at NZD $28.00/hour or the sector agreement rate, whichever is higher; Green List Level 4–5 occupations qualify at NZD $35.00/hour.

Pre-26-June-2024 grandfather rule

Partners already supporting this visa on 26 June 2024 with an AEWV at ANZSCO Level 4–5 are grandfathered at the prior threshold of NZD $26.85/hour. The grandfather applies as long as the original support and visa arrangement remain in place — a change of employer or material change in the supporting partner's visa can reset the rule.

Genuine and stable relationship

You must evidence a genuine and stable partnership with your supporting partner — the same evidentiary standard as the partnership-based visa categories. INZ assesses across 8 dimensions: duration, commitment, children, public recognition, living arrangements, shared tasks, financial support, and shared property. Living together is required; flat-mate arrangements and long-distance relationships don't qualify.

Health and character

Standard work-visa health and character requirements. Chest X-ray if staying more than 6 months from a non-low-TB country. Police certificates if aged 17+ and total NZ time will reach 24 months. Convictions and prior immigration breaches affect eligibility — character issues should be raised at the consultation stage, not discovered at INZ.

Documents required

Applicant passport, valid for at least 3 months beyond planned departure from NZ

Visa photographs meeting INZ standards

Supporting partner's current work visa evidence (visa label or eVisa record)

Supporting partner's employment evidence — employment agreement, current payslips, IRD income summary — confirming the applicable wage threshold

If supporting partner is on AEWV: ANZSCO code evidence (position description, job-check approval) showing Level 1–3 vs Level 4–5 classification

Relationship evidence stack — living-together evidence (joint tenancy, utilities, shared mail), genuine-and-stable evidence (marriage certificate, joint accounts, joint assets), supporting evidence (photos, communications, letters)

Marriage or civil union certificate if applicable

Birth certificates for any shared children

Police certificates if aged 17+ and total NZ time will reach 24 months

Chest X-ray certificate if staying more than 6 months from a non-low-TB country

Medical certificate at INZ's request based on submitted health information

Certified English translations of any non-English documents

Fees & timeline

Fees

INZ application fee: From NZD $1,630.

ProVisas advisory fee: Fixed-fee per case where the supporting partner's visa and wage clearly qualify; time-based for complex matters (wage threshold borderline cases, grandfather rule application, contested relationship evidence). Specific fees disclosed at consultation and confirmed in your engagement letter.

INZ government fees are passed through at cost. We don't mark up government charges.

Typical timeline

80% processed within 6 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

My partner is on a Working Holiday Visa — can I get this visa?

No. Working Holiday Visas are explicitly on the ineligible-supporting-visa list. The Working Holiday Visa is a holiday-primary visa with limited work rights and isn't recognised as a basis for partner support. Your options would be: apply for a Partnership-based Work or Visitor visa (a different category, evidenced against the genuine-and-stable test), or apply independently for a Visitor, Student, or Work visa in your own right.

My AEWV partner earns NZD $30/hour at ANZSCO Level 4–5 — am I eligible?

Depends on the specific job. The general rule for Level 4–5 is NZD $52.50/hour. But if your partner's job is in the care workforce, transport sector agreement, or on the Green List, lower thresholds apply ($28/hr for care/transport with sector rates, $35/hr for Green List). If your partner was already supporting you on this visa on 26 June 2024, the grandfather rule applies at $26.85/hr. Talk to a licensed adviser about the specific job — the wage rule has more exceptions than the headline number suggests.

What work can I do on this visa?

Any legal employment, including self-employment without hiring employees. The work rights are broad — no employer-specific or ANZSCO-specific restrictions. This differs from the AEWV (which is tied to a specific accredited employer and Job Check role) and from the Working Holiday Visa (which restricts permanent positions and business ownership).

Can I study while on this visa?

Yes, but only up to 3 months in any 12-month period. Beyond 3 months of study, you'd need a Student Visa. The 3-month allowance is for incidental study (English language classes, professional development, short courses) — not for completing a degree or diploma.

Is this the same as the partnership-based Work Visa under the partnership visa category?

No — they're 2 separate visa categories. The Partner of a Worker Work Visa (this one) requires your supporting partner to hold an eligible NZ work visa. The Partnership-based Work Visa (under partnership-based visas) requires your supporting partner to hold NZ citizenship, NZ residence, or Australian citizenship/residence. The two visas have different supporting-partner requirements and different evidence stacks — choosing the right category depends on your supporting partner's status.

What happens when my partner's work visa changes?

Material changes to your supporting partner's situation can affect your visa. If your partner switches employers (and the new role doesn't meet the wage threshold), if the new role is in a different ANZSCO level, or if the supporting partner's visa is cancelled or expires, your Partner of a Worker visa is affected. Notify INZ of material changes — concealing changes is a separate compliance issue beyond the underlying eligibility question.

Related resources

guides

Partnership-Based Temporary Visa — NZ Application Guide

Genuine and stable partnership evidence is the load-bearing element of a partnership-based temporary visa. Required evidence categories, AEWV partner caveats, and why weak evidence is the most common decline reason.

Read article

policy updates

Important Update: Partner and Dependent Visas for AEWV Holders (ANZSCO Levels 4 & 5)

From 26 June 2024, AEWV holders at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5 without residency pathways can no longer sponsor partner and dependent child visas. Exemptions apply for Green List holders, sector agreements, and workers earning 1.5× median wage.