Change to Work, student or visitor visa applications for partners and dependent children of AEWV Holders.

Immigration instructions have been changed to prevent Accredited Employer work visa (AEWV) holders in ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 roles from supporting work, student or visitor visa applications for their partners and dependent children.

If you and your partner and Dependent Children are here on valid visas currently, you can still get Conditional Visas for Partners and Student visas for Dependent Children.

Partners and dependent children can still apply for their own work, student, or visitor visa if they meet immigration instructions in their own right. This change came into effect on 26 June 2024. 

These changes do not impact:

• people who already hold visas as a partner or dependent child of an AEWV holder
• people who have applications in progress as the partner or dependent child of an AEWV holder that were received before 26 June 2024, as long as that application is approved
• AEWV holders in ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 roles 
• AEWV holders in ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 roles with a pathway to residence, such as through the Green List, a Sector Agreement or those earning at least 1.5 times the Skilled Migrant Category median wage

NZ’s attractiveness for Wealthy Migrants

New Zealand has been named one of the world’s top safe havens for millionaires, at a time when many of the world’s wealthiest people are choosing to uproot their lives and move their assets overseas.

An unprecedented 128,000 millionaires are expected to relocate worldwide this year, eclipsing the previous record of 120,000 set in 2023,”as the world grapples with a perfect storm of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and social upheaval, millionaires are voting with their feet in record numbers.

The UAE is expected to attract the most millionaires, defined as individuals with liquid investable wealth of at least US$1 million (NZ$1.63 million). Some 6700 wealthy migrants are expected to settle in the Emirates by the end of the year, with large inflows from the UK and Europe.

The USA, Singapore, Canada and Australia also made the top five in the list of the top countries globally for millionaire migration, which is a leading indicator of the overall health of a country and its economy.

New Zealand did not make this list but was named among the world’s leading “safe havens”, which the firm defined as a sovereign state with high levels of safety and security that remains largely shielded from the world’s political and economic problems.

The so-called Safe Haven 8 - which also includes Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, the UAE, Malta and Monaco - are all popular destinations for migrating millionaires, the report said. Foreign-born migrants account for more than 40% of the millionaire populations in these countries.

Each country in the Safe Haven 8 has positively transformed its economy by encouraging wealthy people to move there and is classified as a high-income market by the World Bank. The eight countries also rank highly in terms of safety and security, with relatively low homicide rates.

Millionaires may also be attracted to their well-developed banking and wealth management systems, solid basis for investing in global stock markets, quality education and healthcare, high standard of living and popularity with retirees.

New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa scheme gives wealthy investors residence in Aotearoa. Holders of the Active Investor Plus Visa must invest at least $5 million in New Zealand.

The report said Australia was a particularly attractive safe haven as it “has one of the best healthcare systems in the world and offers excellent safety and security when compared to most other major developed countries worldwide”.

Australia’s low population density, which makes it less reliant on other countries for resources and trade and enables it to be more eco-friendly, were also said to be major advantages.

The UAE’s zero income tax, golden visas, opportunities for luxury living and strategic location were said to make it the number one destination for migrating millionaires overall.

Migrating millionaires are a vital source of forex (foreign exchange) revenue as they tend to bring their money with them when they move to a country. Also, around 20% of them are entrepreneurs and company founders who may start new businesses and therefore create local jobs in their new country, and this percentage rises to over 60% for centi-millionaires and billionaires.

China is on track to lose the most millionaires over the coming year, with a predicted exodus of 15,200 high net worth individuals this year, followed by the UK and India.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483