Immigration New Zealand has announced changes to the employment conditions attached to open work visas. These changes take effect on 20th April 2026.
An open work visa allows you to work in almost any job, for almost any employer, anywhere in New Zealand. However, what has never been clearly stated in the immigration instructions is whether an open work visa also allows you to work for yourself.
This has created ongoing confusion for migrants, including partners of New Zealanders, who often arrive in New Zealand on a work visa without having a job offer sorted in advance.
The new rules formally clarify what types of work are allowed.
Two types of open work visa
From 20 April 2026, open work visas will include one of two employment conditions.
- Open work visas allowing any work
Some open work visas will have conditions that explicitly allow any lawful work, including self-employment.
If you hold one of these visas, you may:
- work for an employer
- freelance
- contract
- operate as a sole trader
- run a business
This applies to:
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a Student Work Visa
- Post-Study Work Visa
- Partner of a Military Work Visa
For partners of New Zealanders, this is important clarification. Many people relocating to New Zealand initially:
- take short-term contracts
- consult or freelance
- test the job market before committing to permanent employment
These arrangements are now clearly permitted. Along with setting up your own business.
A key limitation – you cannot employ staff
All open work visas share an important restriction.
If you own a business while holding an open work visa, you cannot employ other people, either directly or indirectly.
In practice, this means you can run your own business, but you must do the work yourself.
- Open work visas requiring work for an employer
Other open work visas will require the visa holder to work for an employer.
These visa holders must work under:
- an employment agreement, or
- a contract for services (which INZ treats as employment).
This category includes:
- Working Holiday Visas
- Victims of Domestic Violence Work Visa
- Victims of People Trafficking Work Visa
- Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
- Asylum Seeker Work Visa
- Victims of Trafficking Work Visa
It’s worth noting that Working Holiday Visa holders cannot operate a business or be self-employed.
Rules that apply to all open work visas
Regardless of which category applies, all open work visa holders must:
- meet their visa conditions
- comply with New Zealand employment and business laws
In addition, open work visa holders cannot:
- employ other workers (either directly or indirectly)
- provide commercial sexual services, or run or invest in a business providing commercial sexual services
Transitional arrangements
Immigration New Zealand has also introduced a transitional approach.
If a person has already been working in a way that was not permitted under their visa (other than prohibited activities), they may continue doing so until their current visa expires. This allows time to understand the new conditions and make changes before applying for another visa.
Future open work visas (from 20th April 2026) will be granted with the new work right conditions.
What this means for partners of New Zealanders and partners of AEWV holders
For many couples relocating to New Zealand, this confirms they have flexibility with their working options during the settling-in period and over the course of their visa, and removes uncertainty around whether certain types of work breach visa conditions.
Need help with a Partner of a New Zealander visa?
If you are planning to apply, or you want to understand how a work visa fits with residence eligibility, you can start with my eligibility assessment.
