WF3.1 Who is eligible for a special work visa (04/07/2022)

1. Partners (see E4.1.20) of people granted work visas (including visas granted under Entrepreneur Work Visa Category instructions) allowing a stay in New Zealand of more than six months may apply for and be granted a multiple entry work visa under these instructions, unless their partner has been granted a work visa under any one of the following instructions:
   1. Essential Skills where the employment has been assessed as being paid below the median wage (see WK3.5.1), or lower-skilled if the visa application was made before 27 July 2020, unless WF3.1.1 below applies; or
   2. Foreign crew of fishing vessels (see WJ); or
   3. a Working Holiday Scheme (see WI2); or
   4. Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Instructions (see WH1); or
   5. Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) Instructions (see WH3); or
   6. Silver Fern Job Search Instructions (see WL2); or
   7. Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Instructions (see WR5);
   8. domestic staff of diplomatic, consular, or official staff (see WI4).
   9. Accredited Employer (see WA4) where the remuneration of the employment has been assessed as below the median wage (see WA3.15(b)).
2. Work visas will be granted for the same period as the work visa held by the applicant's partner subject to the generic requirements at E4.5 being met.
3. Despite (a) above, partners of people granted a work visa under the Migrant Exploitation Protection work visa (MEPV) instructions who hold a visa based on their relationship to the MEPV holder, may apply for and be granted a work visa under these instructions.
4. Partners of people granted work to residence visas must meet health and character requirements for residence class visa applications as set out at A4 and A5.15 to A5.25.
5. Applicants under these instructions are not required to produce a job offer.
6. Any work visas granted under these instructions may be endorsed with conditions that allow work for any employer.

WF3.1.1 Holders of Essential Skills work visas based on employment assessed as being paid below the median wage who are able to support work visas for their partner

1. The applicant (who is the partner of the holder of an Essential Skills work visa whose employment has been assessed as being paid below the median wage (see WK3.5.1), or lower-skilled if the visa application was made before 27 July 2020, may be granted a work visa under these instructions if:
   1. the applicant held a visa on the basis of their relationship to the Essential Skills work visa holder on 28 August 2017; and
   2. that Essential Skills work visa holder has not been required to spend 1 year outside New Zealand (subject to a stand-down period)(see WK3.20.5).
2. The applicant (who is the partner of the holder of an Essential Skills work visa whose employment has been assessed as being paid below the median wage, or lower-skilled if the visa application was made before 27 July 2020), may be granted a work visa under these instructions if the Essential Skills work visa holder:
   1. previously held a student visa; and
   2. was eligible to support a partner for a work visa (WF4.1) at the time they held the student visa; and
   3. held a post-study work visa (WD) based on that student visa; and
   4. supported the applicant for a visa based on the relationship while holding a post-study work visa.

Effective 04/07/2022