When it comes to exploring new opportunities abroad, New Zealand is an attractive destination for many seasonal workers. The New Zealand Seasonal Work Visa allows you to experience life in one of the world’s most stunning countries while earning a living. But what if you want to bring your family along on this adventure?
Can you bring your spouse and children with you on the Seasonal Work Visa? Unfortunately, the answer is no, but there are alternative pathways to bring your family members, and we’ll dive into those options too.
In this article, we’ll break down the rules and exceptions surrounding bringing your family to New Zealand while you work under the Seasonal Work Visa. Let’s get started!
The Seasonal Work Visa: What It Covers
Before we discuss whether family members can accompany you, let’s take a quick look at the New Zealand Seasonal Work Visa itself. This visa is designed for foreign workers who wish to fill temporary labor shortages during peak seasons, especially in industries like agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and adventure sports.
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There are two main types of Seasonal Work Visas:
• Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV): For skilled workers with at least three seasons of experience in relevant industries.
• Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV): For entry-level or lower-skilled workers who have at least one season of experience in the past three years.
The visa typically allows you to stay and work in New Zealand for a limited time — anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on your role and visa type. However, there are specific conditions when it comes to bringing family members along.
Can You Bring Your Family on the Seasonal Work Visa?
Unfortunately, the New Zealand Seasonal Work Visa is for individual workers only, and you cannot bring your family members, such as your spouse or children, as dependents on this visa. The visa is strictly for the applicant who meets the eligibility criteria for seasonal work in New Zealand.
This means that while you can enjoy working in New Zealand and exploring the beautiful country, your family cannot join you on the Seasonal Work Visa under the same application.
Why Can't You Bring Your Family?
The main reason you can’t bring your family with you on a Seasonal Work Visa is that this visa is designed to fill temporary labor shortages in sectors like agriculture and tourism. The visa is primarily for workers who will be employed for a limited period, and the terms are set for individuals who will be working independently during their stay.
New Zealand immigration policies are structured around ensuring that workers on temporary visas do not overstay or transition into longer-term visas without meeting the required criteria. As such, the Seasonal Work Visa is not designed to accommodate families, as it’s a short-term work opportunity rather than a pathway for long-term settlement or residency.
What Are the Options for Bringing Your Family?
Although the Seasonal Work Visa doesn’t allow family members to join you, there are alternative routes through which you can bring your spouse and children to New Zealand. Here are some options:
1. Partner’s Visa
If you are married or in a de facto relationship, your partner may be eligible to apply for a Partner of a Worker Visa. This visa allows your spouse to live and work in New Zealand for the duration of your visa. However, this depends on your relationship status and meeting the immigration requirements.
Your partner can apply for this visa while you’re working in New Zealand on your Seasonal Work Visa. But keep in mind that the processing time for such visas can vary, and the application will need to be approved separately from your visa.
2. Visitor Visa for Family Members
If your spouse or children want to visit you in New Zealand, they can apply for a Visitor Visa. This visa allows family members to stay with you for a limited time, but they will not be able to work during their stay. A visitor visa is typically valid for up to 6 months, but it’s important to note that it’s a temporary solution.
While on a Visitor Visa, your family can explore New Zealand, but they will need to return home once their visa expires. This is a good option if you want to have your loved ones visit during your time in New Zealand, but it doesn’t allow them to join you permanently.
3. Student Visa for Children
If you plan to stay in New Zealand for an extended period, you might consider applying for a Student Visa for your children. This will allow them to study in New Zealand while you work, and in some cases, they can attend school as domestic students.
However, the Student Visa is a separate application and comes with specific requirements, such as enrollment in a New Zealand-based school or educational institution. Your child will also need to meet health and character requirements, and tuition fees may apply.
4. Family Reunification Through Long-Term Residency
Once you have transitioned to a more permanent visa — such as a Skilled Migrant Visa or another residency visa — you can apply to bring your family members to New Zealand as part of your residency process. However, this option typically requires you to meet more stringent requirements, such as a job offer in New Zealand, a higher level of income, or long-term employment in a New Zealand-based role.
While the Seasonal Work Visa doesn’t allow family members to join you, transitioning to a residency visa gives you a pathway to reunite with your family in the long run.
Can Family Members Visit You?
While your immediate family members (such as your spouse or children) cannot join you on a Seasonal Work Visa, they may be able to visit you on a Visitor Visa. If they are granted a visitor visa, they can spend time with you while you are working, but they will not be permitted to work or engage in any employment.
The Visitor Visa is a good option if your family wants to spend some time with you during your stay in New Zealand. It allows them to enjoy the country’s beauty, but they need to return home once their visa expires.
What About Family Members After You Apply for Permanent Residency?
Once you’ve transitioned from a temporary Seasonal Work Visa to a more permanent work visa or even residency, you can apply to bring your family as dependents. However, this will depend on the type of visa or residency pathway you follow.
For instance, if you qualify for a Skilled Migrant Visa (which allows you to apply for permanent residency), your spouse and children can be included in the application as dependents.
Conclusion
While the New Zealand Seasonal Work Visa doesn’t allow you to bring your family with you, there are alternative options for your spouse and children to join you, either through a Partner Visa, Visitor Visa, or other means. If you’re looking to settle in New Zealand permanently, there are pathways that will allow you to bring your family along, but it requires transitioning to a more long-term visa.
In the meantime, it’s important to ensure you’re fully prepared for the visa application process, and one of the best ways to do that is by submitting a well-crafted, SEO-optimized CV and cover letter. Your CV is the first thing employers see, so it needs to stand out!
At Work Across Borders, we specialize in creating CVs and cover letters that will help you secure a job and make your application process smooth and easy. Contact us today for personalized assistance with crafting your professional documents!
+94786875750 ( send us a WhatsApp message only)
workacrossborders@gmail.com
There are two main types of Seasonal Work Visas:
• Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV): For skilled workers with at least three seasons of experience in relevant industries.
• Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV): For entry-level or lower-skilled workers who have at least one season of experience in the past three years.
The visa typically allows you to stay and work in New Zealand for a limited time — anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on your role and visa type. However, there are specific conditions when it comes to bringing family members along.
Can You Bring Your Family on the Seasonal Work Visa?
Unfortunately, the New Zealand Seasonal Work Visa is for individual workers only, and you cannot bring your family members, such as your spouse or children, as dependents on this visa. The visa is strictly for the applicant who meets the eligibility criteria for seasonal work in New Zealand.
This means that while you can enjoy working in New Zealand and exploring the beautiful country, your family cannot join you on the Seasonal Work Visa under the same application.
Why Can't You Bring Your Family?
The main reason you can’t bring your family with you on a Seasonal Work Visa is that this visa is designed to fill temporary labor shortages in sectors like agriculture and tourism. The visa is primarily for workers who will be employed for a limited period, and the terms are set for individuals who will be working independently during their stay.
New Zealand immigration policies are structured around ensuring that workers on temporary visas do not overstay or transition into longer-term visas without meeting the required criteria. As such, the Seasonal Work Visa is not designed to accommodate families, as it’s a short-term work opportunity rather than a pathway for long-term settlement or residency.
What Are the Options for Bringing Your Family?
Although the Seasonal Work Visa doesn’t allow family members to join you, there are alternative routes through which you can bring your spouse and children to New Zealand. Here are some options:
1. Partner’s Visa
If you are married or in a de facto relationship, your partner may be eligible to apply for a Partner of a Worker Visa. This visa allows your spouse to live and work in New Zealand for the duration of your visa. However, this depends on your relationship status and meeting the immigration requirements.
Your partner can apply for this visa while you’re working in New Zealand on your Seasonal Work Visa. But keep in mind that the processing time for such visas can vary, and the application will need to be approved separately from your visa.
2. Visitor Visa for Family Members
If your spouse or children want to visit you in New Zealand, they can apply for a Visitor Visa. This visa allows family members to stay with you for a limited time, but they will not be able to work during their stay. A visitor visa is typically valid for up to 6 months, but it’s important to note that it’s a temporary solution.
While on a Visitor Visa, your family can explore New Zealand, but they will need to return home once their visa expires. This is a good option if you want to have your loved ones visit during your time in New Zealand, but it doesn’t allow them to join you permanently.
3. Student Visa for Children
If you plan to stay in New Zealand for an extended period, you might consider applying for a Student Visa for your children. This will allow them to study in New Zealand while you work, and in some cases, they can attend school as domestic students.
However, the Student Visa is a separate application and comes with specific requirements, such as enrollment in a New Zealand-based school or educational institution. Your child will also need to meet health and character requirements, and tuition fees may apply.
4. Family Reunification Through Long-Term Residency
Once you have transitioned to a more permanent visa — such as a Skilled Migrant Visa or another residency visa — you can apply to bring your family members to New Zealand as part of your residency process. However, this option typically requires you to meet more stringent requirements, such as a job offer in New Zealand, a higher level of income, or long-term employment in a New Zealand-based role.
While the Seasonal Work Visa doesn’t allow family members to join you, transitioning to a residency visa gives you a pathway to reunite with your family in the long run.
Can Family Members Visit You?
While your immediate family members (such as your spouse or children) cannot join you on a Seasonal Work Visa, they may be able to visit you on a Visitor Visa. If they are granted a visitor visa, they can spend time with you while you are working, but they will not be permitted to work or engage in any employment.
The Visitor Visa is a good option if your family wants to spend some time with you during your stay in New Zealand. It allows them to enjoy the country’s beauty, but they need to return home once their visa expires.
What About Family Members After You Apply for Permanent Residency?
Once you’ve transitioned from a temporary Seasonal Work Visa to a more permanent work visa or even residency, you can apply to bring your family as dependents. However, this will depend on the type of visa or residency pathway you follow.
For instance, if you qualify for a Skilled Migrant Visa (which allows you to apply for permanent residency), your spouse and children can be included in the application as dependents.
Conclusion
While the New Zealand Seasonal Work Visa doesn’t allow you to bring your family with you, there are alternative options for your spouse and children to join you, either through a Partner Visa, Visitor Visa, or other means. If you’re looking to settle in New Zealand permanently, there are pathways that will allow you to bring your family along, but it requires transitioning to a more long-term visa.
In the meantime, it’s important to ensure you’re fully prepared for the visa application process, and one of the best ways to do that is by submitting a well-crafted, SEO-optimized CV and cover letter. Your CV is the first thing employers see, so it needs to stand out!
At Work Across Borders, we specialize in creating CVs and cover letters that will help you secure a job and make your application process smooth and easy. Contact us today for personalized assistance with crafting your professional documents!
+94786875750 ( send us a WhatsApp message only)
workacrossborders@gmail.com
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