From 21 January 2025, only spouses of certain categories of international students and international workers will be able to apply for a family OWP.
Doctoral and Master’s programs lasting 16 months or longer. And also, if the spouses of international students have professions from the list approved by the Ministry of Immigration.
Family OWPs will also be issued to spouses of international workers who have closed work permits and work in:
- EER 0 or 1 professions;
- Certain TEER 2 or 3 professions in sectors with labor shortages or related to government priorities.
You can find the full list of these professions
It is important to note that at the time the spouse applies for an OWP, the foreign worker with a closed work permit must have at least 16 months of validity left on their current work permit. Dependent children of foreign workers will no longer be able to obtain a study permit.
Open work permits that were approved under the previous measures and that have not expired remain valid.
You can read more about the changes that have come into force
