Bringing family if you have a work visa
Most types of work visas allow you to support visas for your partner and dependent children, but there are some restrictions.
When you cannot support visas for your family
You cannot support a work, visitor or student visa for your partner or dependent child if you have any of the following visas:
- Fishing Crew Work Visa
- Working Holiday visa
- a limited visa under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme
- a work visa under the Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) scheme
- Silver Fern Job Search Work Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Visa
- Domestic Staff of a Diplomat Work Visa.
If you cannot support your partner or dependent children to apply for a visa, they can apply for a visa in their own right.
When you can support visas for your family
Your visa conditions will list if you can support a work, visitor or student visa for your family.
If you have an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) your job must meet certain criteria before you can support a family member's visa.
Visas you can support for your family
With your work visa, you can normally support the following visas for your partner and dependent children:
- a work visa for your partner
- a visitor visa for your partner or your children
- a student visa for your children.
Visas for your partner and children expire at the same time as your work visa.
Accredited Employer Work Visa holders
You may be able to support a visa for your partner or dependent child. If you can support a visa and the type of visa you can support will depend on your job and how much you earn.
Bringing family if you have an AEWV
Essential Skills Work Visa holders
If you have an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV), you may be able to support your partner's or dependent child's visa. The type of visa you can support will depend on how much you earn.