Standardization and Bifurcation of Open Work Visa Employment Conditions

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

CountryNew Zealand

Operative dateApril 20, 2026

CategoryWork / post-study / family / humanitarian

Policy toolRights and conditions of stay / self-employment restriction / regulatory fine-tuning

Affected groupOpen work visa holders (partners, post-study, working holiday, vulnerable/protection categories)

Policy effect

Immigration New Zealand implemented a formal restructuring of employment conditions attached to open work visas. From this date, all newly granted open work visas are issued with one of two explicit employment condition profiles: Allowing Any Work (permits working for any employer, self-employment/sole trading, or owning/operating a business for partner and post-study work visa holders) or Requiring Work for an Employer (restricts holders to direct employment or a contract for services, prohibiting running a proprietary business or self-employment for working holiday visas, migrant exploitation protection, domestic violence, trafficking, and asylum seeker work visas).

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

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. This employment condition applies to the following visas: Victims of Domestic Violence Work Visa Victims of People Trafficking Work Visa Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa Asylum Seeker Work Visa All working holiday visas Conditions that apply to all open work visas Regardless of the specific employment condition, if you have an open work visa you must meet the conditions of your visa and comply with New Zealand’s employment and business laws. On any open work visa, you cannot employ other people—either directly, or indirectly through a business you operate as an owner (including where the business is the named employer). If you have an open work visa you cannot provide commercial sexual services, or run or invest in a business that provides commercial sexual services. Transitional arrangements and support If you have an open work visa and have been doing work that is not permitted under your visa (excluding providing commercial sexual services), you may continue until your …

Immigration New ZealandImmigration New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)Open official source

Retrieved from https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/upcoming-changes-to-employment-conditions-for-open-work-visa-holders

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp-1b6a210d7fe706b8510d. Something wrong? Flag this record.

Standardization and Bifurcation of Open Work Visa Employment Conditions

Policy effect

Official source excerpt

Review method

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2026