The Partner of a Worker Work Visa, Explained
The Partner of a Worker Work Visa gives open work rights — any work, any job, anywhere in New Zealand. It costs from NZ$1,630, 80% of applications are decided within 4.5 weeks, and it lasts as long as the supporting partner's work visa. It does not lead to residence on its own, and whether you can be supported depends on what your partner earns.
Quick Facts
| Work rights | Open — any work, any job, anywhere in New Zealand |
| Exclusions | Cannot provide commercial sexual services; cannot employ others |
| Cost | From NZ$1,630 = NZ$570 partnership work visa fee + NZ$1,060 immigration levy |
| Processing | 80% within 4.5 weeks; 3 weeks average (as published 20 August 2026) |
| Duration | The same length as the supporting partner's eligible work visa |
| Leads to residence | No — it is temporary and tied to the partner's employment |
| Since 2 December 2024 | Granted without work conditions |
| Supporting partner must earn | NZ$28.00 / NZ$35.00 / NZ$52.50 an hour, depending on the job |
| Cannot be supported by | Working Holiday, RSE Limited, Fishing Crew and Supplementary Seasonal Employment visa holders |
| Short visas | Holders of a visa for 6 months or less generally cannot support a partner work visa |
Fees unchanged since 1 October 2024 and vary by fee band. Thresholds as re-indexed on 9 March 2026.
What the visa is
It is a work visa in your own name, granted on the basis of your relationship with someone who holds an eligible New Zealand work visa. INZ's own description of the work rights is direct: "You can do any work, in any job, anywhere in New Zealand."
That makes it one of a small number of New Zealand visas with genuinely open work rights, and it is often more flexible than the visa held by the partner who supports it. An Accredited Employer Work Visa holder is tied to one employer, one job and one location. Their partner, on this visa, is not.
Two exclusions apply. Holders cannot provide commercial sexual services, and cannot employ others. The second one has grown more significant — see the 20 April 2026 change below.
What it costs
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Partnership work visa fee | NZ$570 |
| Immigration levy | NZ$1,060 |
| International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy | Not charged |
| Total | From NZ$1,630 |
INZ publishes only the combined "from NZ$1,630". The split matters because the components behave differently: some applicants are exempt from the immigration levy while paying the fee, and the IVL does not apply to this visa at all.
There has been no general fee or levy increase in 2025 or 2026 — INZ's fee page still states rates as at 1 October 2024. Fees vary by fee band depending on where you apply from. See visa fees, levies and fee bands explained.
What your partner must earn to support you
The threshold is set by their job, not yours.
| Supporting partner's situation | Minimum they must earn |
|---|---|
| Any skill level, earning NZ$52.50 an hour or more | Qualifies |
| ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 | NZ$28.00 an hour |
| A job on the National Occupation List | NZ$28.00 an hour |
| ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, outside a sector agreement | NZ$52.50 an hour |
| Green List role meeting Green List requirements | NZ$35.00 an hour |
| Care workforce or transport sector agreement, ANZSCO 4/5 | NZ$28.00 an hour, or the sector-agreement wage if higher |
| Grandparented — supported a family visa before 26 June 2024 | NZ$26.85 an hour |
These figures are multiples of the immigration median wage, which rose to NZ$35.00 an hour on 9 March 2026: NZ$28.00 is 80%, NZ$35.00 is 100%, NZ$52.50 is 150%. They re-index when the median wage does, and the month that happens has drifted between February, August and March in recent years — so do not assume an annual anniversary.
If your partner already holds a visa and the threshold rises afterwards, they do not have to meet the new rate on that visa. That grandfathering rule is published by INZ.
Below the applicable threshold, a partner may only be eligible for a visitor visa, which does not permit work in New Zealand. See bringing family on a work visa for the full matrix, including the separate test for children.
Who cannot support a partner work visa
Some visas cannot support this application regardless of income:
- A visa for six months or less, unless it is a Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
- Working Holiday Visa
- RSE Limited Visa
- Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa
- Fishing Crew Work Visa
- Domestic Staff of a Diplomat Work Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Visa
- A lower-skilled job on an Accredited Employer Work Visa or an Essential Skills Work Visa
Seasonal and working holiday visas are excluded structurally, not by income. That is a deliberate design feature of those categories, and it is the reason seasonal workers cannot bring partners — see seasonal work visas compared.
The 2 December 2024 change
Since 2 December 2024, Partner of a Worker Work Visas have been granted without work conditions. Before that date, some were granted with conditions restricting the work the holder could do.
If you hold a conditioned visa issued before that date, you can apply to have the conditions removed where the principal partner earns at least NZ$28.00 an hour — or NZ$26.85 under the pre-26 June 2024 rules. That is a variation of conditions, which costs NZ$325 and does not change the visa's expiry date.
The 20 April 2026 restriction
From 20 April 2026, open work visa holders must work under an employment agreement or a contract for services, and cannot sole-trade, own or operate a business, or employ others. Existing holders are grandfathered until their visa expires.
This is the change that most alters what "open work rights" means in practice. Before it, an open work visa was often used to run a small business — a consultancy, a trade, a service. It no longer permits that. The restriction also covers Working Holiday Visa holders.
If self-employment is central to your plans, read open work visas in New Zealand before you commit to anything.
Step 1: Confirm your partner's visa can support the application
Check both things: that their visa type is not on the excluded list above, and that their pay meets the threshold for their job's skill level.
Step 2: Prepare relationship evidence
INZ requires evidence that you are living together in a genuine and stable partnership. This is the part applicants underestimate. Marriage certificates alone are not sufficient; INZ assesses the relationship as it actually exists. See evidence of a genuine and stable relationship.
You will also need to show sufficient funds, meet health and character requirements, and satisfy INZ that you intend to leave New Zealand when the visa expires.
Step 3: Apply, allowing 4.5 weeks
80% of applications are decided within 4.5 weeks, with a three-week average — fast by New Zealand standards. Those figures are published weekly by INZ without a timestamp, so check them on the day rather than relying on a number quoted here.
Note that partners of work visa holders apply separately and pay their own fee and levy. The rule allowing family to be included in a single application covers residence class visas, visitor visas, transit visas and variations of travel conditions — not work visas.
What the visa does not do
It does not lead to residence. It is a temporary visa tied to the partner's employment status. Residence for a partner runs through a different route entirely — either the supporting partner's own skilled residence application, which can include a partner, or the Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa where the partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
It does not survive the partner's visa. The duration is the same as the supporting partner's eligible work visa. If that visa ends early, this one is affected. If your partner loses their job, both positions change at once — see losing your job on a work visa.
It does not cover children. Dependent children apply for their own visas, and the parent has to meet a separate annual income threshold to support them. See dependent children of work visa holders.
Partner of a Worker vs Partner of a New Zealander
People search for one and mean the other. They are different visas with different requirements.
| Partner of a Worker Work Visa | Partner of a New Zealander | |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting partner | Holds an eligible NZ work visa | Is a NZ citizen or resident |
| Work rights | Open | Open |
| Duration | Same as the supporting partner's work visa | Set by the visa applied for |
| Leads to residence | No | There is a residence route |
| Fee | From NZ$1,630 | Differs by visa — the resident visa is from NZ$5,360 |
| Processing (80%) | 4.5 weeks | Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa: 7 months |
The processing gap is worth noticing. A Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa takes six weeks on average and four months for 80% of applications; the resident visa takes six months on average and seven months for 80%. This visa is decided in weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What work can I do on a Partner of a Worker Work Visa?
Any work, in any job, anywhere in New Zealand — INZ's own wording. Two exclusions apply: you cannot provide commercial sexual services, and you cannot employ others. From 20 April 2026 you must also work under an employment agreement or a contract for services, and cannot sole-trade or own or operate a business.
How much does the Partner of a Worker Work Visa cost?
From NZ$1,630, made up of a NZ$570 partnership work visa fee and a NZ$1,060 immigration levy. There is no International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy on this visa.
How long does it take?
80% of applications are decided within 4.5 weeks, with a three-week average, as published 20 August 2026. INZ updates its wait times weekly.
How much does my partner need to earn?
It depends on their job. NZ$52.50 an hour supports the application at any skill level. At ANZSCO skill levels 1–3, or in a National Occupation List job, the threshold is NZ$28.00 an hour. In a Green List role meeting Green List requirements it is NZ$35.00 an hour.
Can I bring my partner if I am on a Working Holiday Visa?
No. Working Holiday Visa holders cannot support a partner work visa. The same applies to RSE Limited, Fishing Crew, Supplementary Seasonal Employment and Domestic Staff of a Diplomat visa holders, and generally to anyone holding a visa for six months or less.
Does this visa lead to permanent residence?
No. It is temporary and tied to the supporting partner's employment. Residence comes either through the supporting partner's own skilled residence application, which can include a partner, or through a partner-of-a-New-Zealander route where the partner is a citizen or resident.
Can I start a business on this visa?
Not from 20 April 2026. Open work visa holders must work under an employment agreement or a contract for services and cannot sole-trade, own or operate a business, or employ others. Existing holders are grandfathered until their visa expires.
What happens if my partner and I separate?
The visa exists because of the relationship. A relationship breakdown affects it, and the consequences depend on your circumstances and timing — which makes it a question for a licensed immigration adviser or a New Zealand lawyer. See relationship breakdown and your NZ visa.
