Grateful for the slow and steady growth and opportunity to help you find your clear path to building a new life in New Zealand. I am thinking of doing a live chat session every week where you can join in and bring any questions to hopefully get them answered, so you can keep moving forward towards your goals and get clarity on your next steps. Let me know in the comments if you would like that and think it would be helpful.

OPEN WORK VISA CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED TODAY 20 APRIL 2026 "Changes to employment conditions for open work visa holders Published 24 February 2026 Changes to employment conditions for people with open work visas came into effect from 20 April 2026. These changes are designed to provide clarity about what work is allowed under open work visas, helping migrants to better understand their rights and responsibilities. Clear and consistent visa conditions reduce uncertainty and support safer, fairer, and more compliant work practices for both migrants and employers. An open work visa lets you work for almost any employer, in any job or location in New Zealand, without needing a job offer. An employer-specific work visa, like the Accredited Employer Work Visa, links you to one employer and a set role. Employer-specific work visas will not be impacted by these changes. We recognise that not all migrants are familiar with New Zealand’s employment laws or business rules, and that changes to visa conditions can sometimes be difficult to navigate. Our focus is on education and helping people clearly understand their visa conditions. These changes do not apply to Student Visa holders. Two new types of employment conditions From Monday 20 April 2026, open work visas include 1 of 2 employment conditions. 1. Open work visas allowing any work Some open work visa holders will be able to undertake any work in New Zealand. This includes working for an employer, sole trading, or owning and operating a business. This employment condition applies to the following visas: Partner of a Worker Work Visa Partner of a Student Work Visa Partner of a Student Work Visa supported by a New Zealand Scholarship funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Post Study Work Visa Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa Partner of a Military Work Visa 2. Open work visas requiring work for an employer Other open work visa holders must work for an employer, either under an employment agreement or a contract for services. We consider a contract for services as employment.