Starting June 26, 2024, significant changes are underway for holders of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in roles categorized under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) levels 4 and 5. Under the new regulations, these visa holders will no longer have the ability to sponsor work, visitor, or student visa applications for their partners and dependent children, unless they meet specific criteria.
However, partners and dependent children can still apply for their own visas independently, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa or an international student visa, provided they satisfy the respective eligibility criteria.
This adjustment by the government is part of broader reforms to the AEWV scheme introduced earlier this year, aiming to align it more closely with the previous Essential Skills Work Visa settings.
It’s important to note that these changes will not affect individuals who currently hold visas as partners or dependent children, nor will they impact AEWV holders employed in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles with a clear pathway to residency, such as those on the Green List or covered by sector agreements with residence pathways. Additionally, individuals earning at least 1.5 times the median wage threshold for the Skilled Migrant Category are also exempt from these changes.
For those who have applications for partner or dependent child visas already in progress, their applications will continue to be processed under the requirements in place at the time of their application.
Under the revised guidelines, AEWV holders must meet specific income thresholds to be eligible to support visa applications for their partners or dependent children. The type of visa that can be supported depends on various factors including whether the occupation is on the Green List, income levels, and the ANZSCO skill level of the job.
For those who have already supported visas for their families before June 26, 2024, their occupations do not need to meet the ANZSCO skill level requirements.
