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Partner of a Worker Work Visa: Rules for AEWV Partners

The Partner of a Worker Work Visa lets the partner of an eligible work visa holder live and work in New Zealand for the same period as the worker's visa. For AEWV holders, INZ ties it to the job's skill level, pay and sector. INZ showed NZD 1,630 and 7 weeks (80%) on 9 October 2026.

When a person comes to New Zealand on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), the first family question is whether their partner can come, and whether the partner can work. The visa for a worker's partner is called the Partner of a Worker Work Visa. Since 2024 INZ has tied it to how much the worker earns and to the skill level and sector of their job, which has made the question harder than it used to be.

This guide explains how the visa works using Immigration New Zealand's visa page, its "Bringing family if you have a work visa" pages, including the page for AEWV holders, and its fee finder, all read on 9 October 2026. It reports the rules as INZ publishes them. It does not say whether any worker's job and pay meet them, or which family visa a particular household can have. Applying the rules to a person's own facts is immigration advice, and in New Zealand only a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer may give it.

INZ's pay figures below are quoted as printed on its pages on the day, with the percentages of the median wage INZ itself uses. Rates change, so INZ's pages are the reference.

What the visa is and what it allows

INZ's summary: apply if the applicant has "a partner who has an eligible work visa and can support your application", lives with that partner in a genuine and stable partnership, has enough money for living expenses, has plans to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay, and meets the other requirements. The applicant does not need a New Zealand job offer. Dependent children cannot be included in the application.

The visa lets the holder join the partner in New Zealand, work in New Zealand, study for up to three months in any 12-month period and travel in and out of New Zealand. The work right is the same as on other open work visas: any legal job, anywhere, for any employer, subject to holding any required occupational registration, with the same business-owner limit (an owner cannot employ other people, directly or indirectly).

INZ notes one wrinkle: a person who holds a current Partner of a Worker Work Visa with conditions can apply to change to an open work visa if their partner meets the requirements to support an open work visa. The requirements are those in the "Your supporting partner's visa" section of the visa page.

Length of stay: INZ says that if the application is approved, the visa will normally be for the same duration as the supporting partner's visa. Unlike the Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa, the summary box for this visa lists no residence option.

Who can apply

INZ's list says the applicant must have a partner who holds an eligible work visa and can support the application; both must be at least 18; the couple must be living together in a genuine and stable partnership; the applicant must have enough money for the stay, be in good health and of good character, and have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand. INZ says the couple must be living together when applying.

The supporting partner completes the Form for Partners Supporting Partnership-Based Temporary Entry Applications (INZ 1146). The relationship evidence rules are the general partnership rules: evidence from after both turned 18, showing how long the couple have been together and living together, shared finances and responsibilities, time together, recognition by others and anything else showing a genuine and stable relationship. The guide to partnership evidence covers them.

The applicant can apply at the same time as the partner applies for their own work visa. INZ says a visa will only be given after the partner's application is approved. The supporting partner must meet INZ's character requirements for supporting partners or be given a waiver; INZ may ask for police certificates; convictions for domestic violence or sexual offences mean the partner will not meet the requirements, and INZ considers whether a waiver is available.

Which work visas can support a partner

INZ lists work visas that cannot support this visa. Under the Partner of a Worker Work Visa page, a partner cannot support the application if they hold: a visa for six months or less (unless it is a Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa), a Fishing Crew Work Visa, a Working Holiday Visa, a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa, a Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa, a Domestic Staff of a Diplomat Work Visa, a lower skilled job on an Accredited Employer Work Visa or Essential Skills Work Visa, or a Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Visa.

INZ's "Bringing family if you have a work visa" page adds the seasonal AEWVs, the Peak Seasonal Visa and the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, to the list of visas that cannot support a visitor, student or work visa for family. It also notes that someone holding a Specific Purpose Work Visa for some purposes may have to meet extra requirements, and that anyone who cannot support family can have family apply for a visa in their own right.

For most other current work visas, INZ says the holder can support this visa. For AEWV and Essential Skills Work Visa holders there are extra requirements, described next.

AEWV holders: skill level, pay and sector

For an AEWV holder, INZ states four scenarios on its Partner of a Worker Work Visa page. They use ANZSCO skill levels, where 1 is most skilled and 5 is least skilled.

AEWV for a level 4 or 5 job that is part of a care workforce or transport sector agreement. The partner must earn at least NZD 28 an hour (80% of the median wage) or the wage specified in the sector agreement for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa or Transport Work to Residence Visa, whichever is higher, and meet the other job requirements for those visas, although they do not need the 24 months of work experience. INZ's AEWV family page puts the care workforce figure at NZD 28.25 an hour for a level 4 or 5 job.

AEWV for a level 4 or 5 job not in a sector agreement. The partner must earn at least NZD 52.50 an hour (150% of the median wage), or at least NZD 35 an hour in a Green List job while meeting the Green List requirements for that job.

AEWV for other jobs. For an ANZSCO level 1, 2 or 3 job, the partner must earn at least NZD 28 an hour (80% of the median wage).

Legacy case. If the partner has an AEWV in a level 4 or 5 job and was already supporting a Partner of a Worker Work Visa on 26 June 2024, they must earn at least NZD 26.85 an hour.

INZ's AEWV family page presents the same rules by scenario and says that where more than one scenario applies, the one most favourable to the worker's situation is used. It adds that a worker earning less than NZD 28.00 an hour in a level 1 to 3 job can support only a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa, and that a worker in a Green List job meeting the Green List requirements can support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa, and can support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa if paid at least NZD 35.00 an hour. The page also says some National Occupation List occupations used for an AEWV follow the level 1 to 3 pay test.

This is a pay-by-job-type table, not a test of the partner. Which row a particular worker's job falls in is a factual question INZ decides.

Children: a separate set of visas with their own pay test

The Partner of a Worker Work Visa cannot include dependent children. INZ says a worker with a work visa can normally support a visitor visa or student visa for dependent children instead, and that visas for the partner and children expire at the same time as the worker's visa.

For AEWV holders, INZ's AEWV family page ties children's visas to income. A worker who earns at least NZD 58,240 a year can support a Dependent Child Student Visa or a Child of Worker Visitor Visa in the scenarios for level 1 to 3 jobs, National Occupation List jobs and care workforce level 4 and 5 jobs; a worker earning at least NZD 52.50 an hour can support both partner and child visas; and a worker in a Green List job meeting the Green List requirements can support the child visas. A lower threshold, NZD 43,322.76 a year, applies if on or before 9 March 2025 the child had been approved for, or had applied for, a visa based on the relationship and the worker held or had applied for an AEWV that was later approved. INZ says that where both partners hold AEWVs, their incomes can be combined to meet the minimum income threshold for supporting dependent children.

If a worker cannot support a family visa, INZ says the partner and children can apply for a visa in their own right, and points to its visa-finding tool.

Money, intentions, leaving and health

Money. The applicant must have enough money to live on while in New Zealand or have an acceptable sponsor. Unlike some visas, INZ says the applicant does not have to give evidence of this unless it asks, though evidence it may ask for includes bank or credit card statements, bank drafts or traveller's cheques; a sponsor completes the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) with supporting documents. The applicant or sponsor pays for health care, unless the person is eligible for public health care; INZ recommends full medical insurance and has separate rules for pregnancy.

Leaving. INZ says the applicant must plan to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay and may be asked on arrival to show it, by a ticket out of New Zealand, or by documents showing enough money to buy one, in addition to the money needed to live on. Evidence is only needed if INZ asks, and if it is not needed that is recorded on the eVisa. Every time the holder travels to New Zealand they need a ticket out or proof of funds for one, unless the visa states "Return/onward travel not required".

Health. The applicant must be in good health and may be asked for a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both. As on INZ's other temporary visas, a stay under six months does not normally need an X-ray and under 12 months does not normally need a medical certificate, subject to the tuberculosis rules for stays over six months. Results must be less than three months old.

Character. Police certificates, less than six months old, are required for applicants aged 17 or older whose total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer, from countries of citizenship and countries where more than five years were spent since turning 17.

Fee, timing and documents

INZ's fee finder, queried on 9 October 2026, showed NZD 1,630 for an application from within New Zealand, with 80% completed within 7 weeks. For a UK passport holder applying from the United Kingdom it showed NZD 767 and 7 weeks. Indian and Philippine passport holders applying from their own countries should check their fee in INZ's fee finder. INZ states that the cost is a processing charge that is not refunded if the application is declined, with a non-refundable immigration levy included.

Documents INZ lists: a passport copy or equivalent and one photo (two if applying on paper); X-ray, medical and police evidence if required; documents showing the relationship; the completed INZ 1146 from the partner; INZ 1025 if there is a sponsor; and certified translations of police and medical certificates not in English. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the planned departure. Some Chinese and Hong Kong and Macao applicants applying on paper must add supplementary forms (INZ 1027 and INZ 1220).

A person already in New Zealand needs a valid visa while waiting; INZ says that where a temporary visa will expire while a decision is pending it will normally issue an Interim Visa. The guide to interim visas explains what that allows.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio lists licensed immigration advisers so you can compare them and contact one directly. Every listing shows the adviser's licence number, which you can check on the Immigration Advisers Authority's public register before you book. We don't assess cases and don't tell anyone which visa or pathway fits them; that is the adviser's job.

Questions people ask

Can the partner of an AEWV holder work in New Zealand?

INZ says a worker's partner may be able to apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, which allows work, but whether the AEWV holder can support it depends on their job's skill level, pay and sector. INZ publishes the pay figures for each scenario.

How much does the Partner of a Worker Work Visa cost?

INZ's fee finder showed NZD 1,630 for an application from within New Zealand and NZD 767 for a UK passport holder applying from the United Kingdom on 9 October 2026. INZ does not refund the cost if an application is declined.

How long does the visa last?

INZ says it will normally be the same duration as the supporting partner's visa.

Can dependent children be included?

No. INZ says children cannot be included in this visa. A worker may be able to support a Dependent Child Student Visa or Child of Worker Visitor Visa, depending on the work visa and pay.

What pay does an AEWV holder need to support a partner's work visa?

INZ's figures on 9 October 2026 were NZD 28 an hour for ANZSCO level 1 to 3 jobs; NZD 52.50 an hour for level 4 or 5 jobs outside a sector agreement, or NZD 35 in a Green List job meeting its requirements; and the higher of NZD 28 or the sector wage for care workforce and transport level 4 or 5 jobs.

Does the applicant need a job offer?

No. INZ says a New Zealand job offer is not needed to apply.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa: How It Works — The Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa lets the partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident live and work in New Zealand for up to 3 years. INZ showed NZD 1,630 for an application made from New Zealand and 80% of applications completed within 6.5 weeks on 9 October 2026.
  • Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa: How It Works — The Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa is for people whose partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident and who have lived with that partner in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months. INZ showed NZD 5,360 and 80% of applications completed within 7 months on 9 October 2026.
  • NZ Partnership Evidence: What INZ Says It Asks For — INZ defines a partnership as two people living together in a marriage, civil union or de facto relationship, and publishes lists of evidence of living together and of a genuine, stable relationship. For the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa, it also offers an optional timeline and checklist (INZ 11975).
  • Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): The 2026 Rules — The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa. The job must be full-time (30+ hours), with an accredited employer holding an approved job check, and paid at least the required rate. INZ showed a fee of NZD 1,540 and 80% of applications within 5 weeks on 9 October 2026. The longest continuous stay is 5 years, or 3 years for skill level 4 or 5 jobs.
  • Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa: How It Works — The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger who have worked 24 months in the 30 before applying in one of nine listed care jobs, paid at least the care workforce wage rate in place at the start, and who hold or are offered a care job with an accredited employer. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 on 9 October 2026.
  • Transport Work to Residence Visa: How the Rules Work — The Transport Work to Residence Visa is a resident visa for people aged 55 or younger with 24 months of New Zealand work in an approved transport job in the 30 months before applying, paid at least the median wage (or NZD 28 an hour for bus drivers) that applied when the count began. INZ showed a fee of NZD 6,450 on 9 October 2026.
  • NZ Interim Visas: When They Start and What They Allow — INZ normally grants an Interim Visa automatically, for no fee, if a temporary visa expires while a new temporary visa application is being assessed. It starts the day after the old visa expires, lasts up to 6 months, ends if the holder leaves New Zealand, and its work and study conditions depend on the old and new visa types.