New Zealand | Updates to median wage and interim visa work rights

The New Zealand government will soon implement updates to income thresholds for migrants supporting a partner or parent as well as regarding work rights for people on interim visas.

Key Points:

• Beginning Feb. 28, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders who want to support a partner will be required to meet an increased wage threshold of NZ$26.85 an hour (about US$15). Income thresholds for sponsors under the parent category will increase to NZ$33.56 an hour.
• These changes are based off Statistics New Zealand’s publication of median hourly earnings for the previous year’s June quarter and is intended to ensure migrants who are supporting a partner or parent have the financial means to do so.
• In addition, further changes will come into effect in April regarding work rights for people on interim visas while they are awaiting the outcome of an AEWV application.
• AEWV applicants will be allowed to have interim work rights if they apply while holding any type of work visa or from a student visa that permits work during term time.
• The changes also enable time spent on an interim visa that allows work to be considered when calculating a migrant’s total continuous stay under an AEWV.

Additional Information: As BAL reported, a number of changes have been announced recently for AEWVs, and changes to the median wage and work rights for people on interim visas correspond with government reforms to make immigration settings more flexible and responsive to the differing needs of businesses in certain sectors and regions. Immigration New Zealand is expected to roll out additional changes over the course of 2025 as a result. BAL will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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