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Due to closed borders during the pandemic, some visa categories had been suspended by the New Zealand government. This resulted in massive labour shortages.

To address the labour shortage and reconnect New Zealand with the world, the government has decided to now open two visa categories that will enable migrants to become residents.

On 12 October 2022, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced the reopening of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and Parents Residence category. Selections of expressions of interest (EOIs) will resume on 9 November 2022.

The long-term direction of the SMC is being reviewed, and there may be changes in the future. The changes will incorporate the Green List, which provides various pathways to the residence in New Zealand.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

The aim of resuming the SMC visa is to attract more migrant workers. Selections of the EOIs for the SMC Resident Visa will recommence on 9 November 2022. Initially, the EOI selection will be for 160 points & above. From 18 January 2023, EOIs will need at least 180 points to be selected.

The SMC visa provides a pathway to the residence and thus helps retain much-needed skills in New Zealand permanently.

Previously, due to a planning range, the number of applications was restricted. For example: In 2019, only 4% of SMC applications were processed. One of the proposed changes is to remove the planning range to enable the processing of all applications that meet the criteria.

The plan is to have a simplified points system with a fair & transparent eligibility threshold.

The proposed changes will enable highly skilled migrants a faster pathway to residence. It will benefit university lecturers & scientists who hold a PhD. Other professionals like teachers and registered tradespeople will have a clear route if they work for a certain period in New Zealand.

The two main advantages of the new system are that processing time will improve and there will be no cap limit on the number of people who can gain residence each year, that is if they meet the skills threshold.

Parent Category Visa

In 2020, a promise was made by the government to reduce the obstructions to accessing the Parent Category Visa, increase the number of visas granted each year under this category and reduce the income thresholds.

The Parent Resident Visa reopens on 12 October 2022 with reduced requirements for sponsors. It will now have a lower income threshold for sponsors of 1.5 times the median wage supporting one parent and 2 times the median wage for joint sponsors. Previously, the threshold was 2 times the median wage for a single sponsor and 3 times the median wage for joint sponsors.

Also, a new ballot system has been introduced. New EOIs, instead of being added to the existing queue, will go into a ballot. This will help reduce lengthy queues, and applicants will be eligible for selection within two years of the EOI submission.

Immigration New Zealand will resume selection from existing EOIs from 14 November 2022.

The number of Parent Resident Visas granted yearly is set to increase from 1000 to 2500. Furthermore, an additional 500 visas will be granted from the ballot, for which the EOI selection will start in August 2023.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.

Source: Link 1    Link 2   Link 3

Pursuing a study pathway, or a career thereafter and then settling abroad is a dream to many but only achievable by a few. The main hurdle faced is to get in touch with an adviser to have the right set of knowledge and guidance. While many of us across the globe aim to settle in the USA, Canada, or Australia, New Zealand has emerged as a pathway to building a life abroad that has a tremendous work-life balance. New Zealand is a country where one is provided an option for embarking on a journey that culminates in getting a residence visa by meeting the eligibility for a Green List occupation.

What is the Green List?

The Green List is a table of a limited number of highly skilled roles which are in high demand in New Zealand. People who opt for such roles and occupations are much appreciated by New Zealand employers as they always look out for skilled migrants who meet the eligibility for these Green List jobs.

To secure a job on the Green List  a skilled migrant professional needs to meet the stipulated eligibility criteria of qualification/skills/registration/experience as listed in the immigration instructions of the New Zealand government.  Moreover, Tier 1 Green List roles allow applicants to apply straight for a residence visa in New Zealand.

Green List Occupations

The occupations that come under Green List are as follows –

Construction Roles – The jobs tailored to Engineering, Project Management, and Quality Surveyor are high in demand in New Zealand.

Engineering Roles – Civil, Chemical, Structural, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Telecommunications, and Industrial are some of the core engineering domains that come under the Green List.

Science Roles & Primary Industries – New Zealand is in dire requirement of researchers in Food Technology, Environmental Science, etc. Researchers who belong to these domains and wish to settle in New Zealand can opt for these roles.

Health and Social Service Sector – Medical Practitioners like Surgeons, Psychologists, Vets, Registered Nurses, ECE, and Secondary Teachers can have great career prospects in New Zealand as these jobs are highly essential, and the country requires skilled professionals for such critical services.

Agriculture – People with experience in Diary Industry can leverage their experience and start a new professional in New Zealand. Dairy Cattle Farmers, Dairy Farm managers are some of the roles with decent job openings in New Zealand.

Trades – The number of skilled electricians, diesel motor mechanics, electricians, and plumbers is less in New Zealand. People associated with these professionals can try to build their careers in New Zealand.

This is not all, many other jobs can pave your way to a Green List profession. Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd. and get comprehensive support in terms of thorough immigration information, insights on available opportunities, and more.

Contact us today at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64093790219

New Zealand is a popular study-abroad destination because of its scenic beauty and top-ranking universities offering various interesting courses. Most international students want to gain work experience in New Zealand once their study programme is completed.

What is the New Zealand Post Study Work Visa

The NZ Post Study Work Visa allows students to work in the country after completing their studies. It is designed to support the attraction of international students in courses that deliver the skills needed in New Zealand’s growing economy.

Student Visa applications lodged on or before 11 May 2022

Previously, the Post Study Work Visa NZ allowed these students to work in any role, for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand. The duration of the visa was up to 3 years.

However, things have now changed. The Post Study Work Visa New Zealand will now depend on the qualification studied and the time spent studying in New Zealand.

Student Visa applications lodged after 11 May 2022

For these students, the post study duration will be equal to the time spent studying full-time in New Zealand.

• Masters (Level 9) & doctoral (Level 10) students:

They will continue to have will be eligible for 3 years open work visa i.e., they can work in any role and for any employer.

• Students pursuing degree Level 7 (Bachelor’s) and level 8:

These students will have to spend at least 30 weeks studying full-time in New Zealand and the visa duration will depend on the length of time spent studying in New Zealand.

The advantages are that these students can do consecutive courses to get a longer duration NZ Post Study Work Visa. Also, they will have open work rights allowing them to work in a role that is not in line with their qualification.

• Students pursuing non-degree Level 7 and below:

These students must complete their full qualification from New Zealand. Also, the qualification studies must be on the List of Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa.

Unfortunately, these students cannot extend the duration of their Post Study Work Visa NZ by doing consecutive courses. Bear in mind that they must also work in a role that is directly related to their qualification.

Funds

Anyone applying for a Post Study Work Visa NZ must show that they have NZD 5,000 as available funds

Partners & dependents of New Zealand Post Study Work Visa holders

NZ Post Study Work Visa holders can bring their partners & dependent children to New Zealand. One of the most frequently asked questions is if partners of NZ Post Study Work Visa holders can apply for a work visa.

Partners can apply for a visitor visa or an open work visa. Dependents can apply for a visitor visa. They can also study fee-free as domestic students in New Zealand.

If you want to bring your partner/ children to New Zealand then please provide your details by clicking here and we will help you with a partnership-based / dependent child visa.

Benefits of the changes made to the New Zealand Post Study Work Visa requirements

The changes to the NZ Post Study Work Visa requirements will give certainty to international students studying advanced qualifications. It will also align better with New Zealand’s skills & workforce needs.

The Government’s aim is to fill the skills shortages in New Zealand and have a higher productivity, higher-wage economy.

Gaining international work experience is beneficial in laying the foundation of a strong & bright career.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.

Sources:  Link 1      Link 2     Link 3

Most international students coming to New Zealand want to work after completing their studies to gain practical overseas work experience. The New Zealand Post Study Work Visa (PSWV) allows some international students to work in New Zealand after completing their studies.

Depending on the level of studies and the time the student has spent in New Zealand studying that course, Post Study Work Visa can allow work entitlement to international students for up to 3 years.

If you have applied for a Student Visa on or after 12 May 2022, you may qualify for a Post Study Work Visa under one of the following:

• if you have completed a Master’s degree or above, you may be granted a three years post-study work visa. This visa will allow you to work for any employer in any role.
• if you have completed a degree level 7 (Bachelor’s degree) or above qualification, you may be granted a post-study work visa equivalent to the duration of the course completed in New Zealand. You can work for any employer in any role.
• If you complete a qualification at non-degree level 7 or below, you may be granted a post-study work visa only if the qualification is eligible for a Post Study Work Visa. The duration of the visa will be the same as the time spent in New Zealand to obtain the qualification, and you will be required to work in a role that is related to your qualification.

The list of Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa contains twenty-one qualifications in construction and quantity surveying, highway engineering, electrical engineering, teaching and dairy farming.  The list has seven level 4 and 5 diplomas, eight-level 6 diplomas and six level 7 diplomas. A full list of these qualifications can be found here

Those who have applied for a Student Visa on or before 11 May 2022 are eligible for a Post Study Work Visa under the previous settings as long as the application for a post-study work visa was lodged before 11 May 2025.

Acceptable qualifications for a Post Study Work Visa before 12 May 2022 can be found here

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, for up-to-date immigration information so you can consider the range of opportunities available and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info  or call +64 09 3790219.

Source: Link 1

The Highly Paid Residence Visa category was introduced by Immigration New Zealand as a way of attracting highly skilled migrant workers to New Zealand.

This category is for those migrant workers who earn more than twice the median wage. To be eligible under this category, a migrant is required to have worked for 24 months.

The acceptable work experience will be counted from 29 September 2021. An applicant should show 24 months of work experience within 30 months before the visa application is submitted.

There can be small breaks in your employment. But you must still show you worked for the required 24 months within the 30 months before your visa application date. You can apply for this visa from September 2023.

To be eligible for the Highly Paid Residence Visa category, an applicant must have employment or an offer of employment from an accredited employer in a role that pays at least twice the median wage, that is, NZ $55.52 per hour.

In addition to the above, several general application requirements for this category are listed below.

The applicant must:

1. be aged 55 or younger.
2. meet the English language requirement.
3. meet the health and character requirements for residence.

If you meet the above requirements, you may be eligible for Residence under the Highly Paid Skilled category. This is a great opportunity as it enables you to reside permanently in New Zealand.

As this is a new application process, it is advisable to seek the assistance of an experienced Licensed Immigration Adviser to avoid disappointments due to a lack of knowledge of the application process.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info or call +64 09 3790219.

The Green List is a new list of occupations that qualify for a New Zealand residency pathway. It is shorter and more focused than the old Regional Skills Shortage List. Many (but not all) of the roles on the Long-Term Skills Shortage List are also on the Green List.

To qualify for a work visa under the Green List, an overseas applicant must have a job offer that matches that occupation’s description or requirements and prove that their overseas qualification meets the comparable New Zealand qualification standard for their occupation.

The Green List will make it easier for employers to hire and attract migrants for specified high-skilled, hard-to-fill occupations, with guaranteed residence pathways for eligible people.

Employers won’t need to provide proof of advertising for Green List occupations when progressing an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) job check application.

The Green List is about making it easier to attract globally in-demand workers, but it is not the only pathway to residence available. Other employers will still be able to access skilled migrants, and many will also have a path to NZ residence through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info  or call on +64 09 3790219.