Essential Skills Work Visa Holders Can Now Bring Families to New Zealand Under New Income Rules

By Staff Reporter
WELLINGTON | May 26, 2025

In a major immigration update, New Zealand now allows Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) holders to bring their partners and dependent children, provided they meet specific income thresholds. This marks a progressive shift in the country’s policy, offering greater support for migrant family reunification.

The change applies to both new and existing ESWV holders and is expected to benefit thousands of skilled workers currently employed in sectors such as construction, healthcare, agriculture, aged care, and information technology.

Family Sponsorship Now Linked to Income Level

Under the updated guidance, ESWV holders can sponsor a range of family visa types if their wages meet minimum thresholds. These include:

• Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa

• Partner of a Worker Work Visa

• Dependent Child Student Visa

• Child of a Worker Visitor Visa

New Zealand’s immigration authorities now tie family sponsorship rights directly to income level, replacing previously complex or unclear criteria with transparent thresholds.

Partner Sponsorship: What You Need to Earn

To sponsor a Partner of a Worker Work Visa (with open work rights), ESWV holders must earn at least NZD $26.85 per hour — equivalent to 80% of the country’s median wage.

Partners already holding a visa issued before 2 December 2024 may still face restrictions unless the ESWV holder:

• Earns NZD $59.32/hour, or

• Is working in a Green List occupation, and

• Meets specific job requirements listed in the Green List

However, if the primary visa holder now earns NZD $26.85/hour or more, their partner may apply to have existing work conditions removed, allowing them to work freely for any employer across New Zealand. This offers new economic freedom and employment flexibility for migrant families.

Sponsoring Children: Updated Income Criteria

To sponsor a dependent child, ESWV holders must meet the following income levels:

• NZD $55,844/year or more: Eligible to sponsor either a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa or a Dependent Child Student Visa

• NZD $43,322.76/year: Applies only until 9 March 2025, and only for parents who already held or applied for an ESWV before their child’s visa submission

These changes allow families to better plan their children’s education and settlement in New Zealand, aligning family needs with the worker’s ongoing employment.

If Your Salary Has Recently Increased

Workers who were previously ineligible to sponsor their families may now qualify if they’ve recently received a raise. The following income levels unlock new family visa options:

• NZD $26.85/hour or more: Sponsor your partner’s open work visa

• NZD $55,844/year or more: Sponsor student or visitor visas for your children

This links professional growth directly with family support rights and offers more motivation for skilled migrants to advance their careers in New Zealand.

Why This Policy Shift Matters

New Zealand’s decision to ease family sponsorship under the ESWV represents a key step in attracting and retaining global talent. By allowing skilled foreign workers to bring their families, the country is addressing long-standing concerns around isolation, work-life balance, and integration.

It also signals that immigration policy is moving toward a more family-centered and worker-friendly approach, especially at a time when New Zealand is actively recruiting skilled migrants to fill labor gaps across essential industries.

The new rules benefit not just workers, but also partners seeking employment and children looking for educational continuity in a country known for its quality of life, healthcare, and stability.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit supporting documentation online through the official Immigration New Zealand website. Key requirements include:

• Proof of income (such as employment contracts or payslips)

• Valid ESWV

• Identity documents for each family member

• Completed visa application forms

For detailed criteria and instructions, visit the official government page:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/once-you-have-a-visa/bringing-family-if-you-have-an-essential-skills-work-visa-eswv

Conclusion

Essential Skills Work Visa holders can now bring their families to New Zealand—a development that is both practical and compassionate. As long as income thresholds are met, the pathway is open for partners to work and for children to study or live with their parent in New Zealand. This change strengthens the country’s position as a welcoming destination for skilled migrants and their loved ones.