Category: Updates

To be granted residence in New Zealand, most applicants must have an acceptable standard of health (ASH). This essentially means that an applicant must not have a health condition that is likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand’s health services.

The prior threshold for determining whether health conditions impose significant costs was $41,000, over:

• five years, or
• the predicted course of the condition.

From 2 September 2022, the threshold for determining conditions that may impose significant health costs has increased from $41,000 to $81,000.

Residence applications lodged before 4 September 2022 will be assessed at the previous cost threshold of $41,000. Applicants may be considered for medical waivers on a case-by-case basis.

To know more about New Zealand’s health requirements and how they applies to your unique situation, get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) offers Working Holiday Schemes (WHS) to young people, usually in the age-group of 18-30 years but 18-35 years in a few select countries. Working holiday schemes have cap limits which are now being changed.

INZ is adding one extra year’s worth of places to all capped Working Holiday Schemes for 2022. This means that those schemes that have already filled up for this year will once again re-open between 8 September and 1 December 2022.

The WHS that were previously closed this year will open on the following dates:

Working Holiday Scheme	Reopening date
Malaysia	8 September 2022
Argentina	15 September 2022
Chile	22 September 2022
Taiwan	29 September 2022
China	11 October 2022
Hong Kong	18 October 2022
Brazil	20 October 2022
Vietnam	25 October 2022
Mexico	27 October 2022
Philippines	1 November 2022
Hungary	3 November 2022
Slovakia	8 November 2022
Austria	10 November 2022
Poland	15 November 2022
Lithuania	17 November 2022
Peru	22 November 2022
Turkey	24 November 2022
Portugal	1 December 2022
Spain	To be scheduled

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.

New requirements for New Zealand’s Post Study Work Visa came into effect on 7 September 2022. These changes apply to anyone who has applied for a Student Visa after 11 May 2022.

Previously, Post Study Work Visa holders could apply for any job and work for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand. The visa conditions will now depend on the qualification the visa holder has gained in New Zealand.

Only one Post Study Work Visa may be granted to an applicant. Also, they will need to show that they have funds of NZD 5,000 available.

Visa Duration and Employment Conditions

The Post Study Work Visa will continue to be valid for up to three years. The duration of this visa will be in line with the time spent studying full-time in New Zealand for most people.

Eligibility criteria:

• Degree level 7 and above students: Must have spent at least 30 weeks studying fulltime in New Zealand
• Non-degree level 7 and below students: Must have completed their full qualification in New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will refer to the offer of place or a letter from the education provider to determine the duration of the Post Study Work Visa. Additional time taken by a student to finish a course will not be taken into account.

Masters and doctoral students:

• They will continue to be eligible for 3 years open post study work visas.
• Doctoral students will henceforth be eligible for the Post Study Work Visa after they submit their theses for examination
• Confirmation from the education provider will be required

For students pursuing degree level 7 and level 8:

• The Length of the post-study work visa will equal the time the applicant has spent studying full-time in New Zealand.
• Students need to have spent at least 30 weeks studying full-time in New Zealand.
• Can do consecutive courses to increase the length of post-study work visa
• Will be granted open work visas i.e. be able to work in any occupation, for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand

For non-degree level 7 and below:

• Students are required to have completed the full qualification in New Zealand
• No extra time will be gained by completing qualifications at this level consecutively
• Qualification should be on the list of Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa  (NOTE: This list is different to the Green List)
• Must work in a role directly relating to their completed qualification.

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.

In line with an earlier announcement by the NZ government, Green List Straight to Residence pathway will open at 10 am on 5 September 2022.

In another recent announcement, a few more digital technology roles will be added to the Green List Straight to Residence pathway by 10 October 2022. However, to get on this pathway, migrants, apart from meeting the qualification requirements specified for these roles, must also be paid an annual salary of at least NZ$ 120,000 (or NZ$57.69 per hour).

These roles are

• Analyst Programmer
• Developer Programmer
• Software Tester
• Software and Applications Programmers

Migrants employed in a role on the Green List may qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa or Work to Residence Visa. These occupations were also previously specified in the digital technology exception to the COVID-19 border restrictions.

The application fee and immigration levy will be between NZD 4,020 and NZD 4,890, depending on whether someone is applying from within New Zealand or another part of the world. These fees include Goods and Services Tax (GST) and exclude the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).

Contact the team at Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd. today at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219 to test your eligibility for residence under this category. You can also send us your query by clicking on this link and providing some basic relevant information about yourself, and we will get in touch with you.

As announced by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) earlier, the Green List Straight to Residence pathway opens at 10 AM on 5 September 2022.

Migrants employed in New Zealand in a role on the Green List may qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa or a Work to Residence Visa. These roles have registration, qualification, or experience requirements, and their partners will have open work rights. This residence pathway will be limited to migrants 55 years or younger, which is aligned with the Skilled Migrant Category requirements.

The eligibility criteria for the straight to residence, work to residence, and highly paid skilled residence categories have been covered in detail here.

The application fee and immigration levy will be between NZD $4,020 and NZD $4,890 depending on whether someone is applying from within New Zealand or another part of the world. These fees include Goods and Services Tax (GST) and exclude the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).

The Green List provides a fast-track to residence and work to residence pathway for highly skilled migrant workers in certain hard-to-fill roles.

The Green List straight to residence pathway opens on 5 September 2022 at 10.00 am.

There is a huge demand for health and medical practitioners in New Zealand.

Health & Medical Roles

Registration:

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has broadened the types of eligible registration and removed references to the scopes of practice.

5 September 2022 onwards, skill requirements for the Green List for health & medical roles managed by the Medical Council of New Zealand will require –

• provisional general, general, provisional vocational or vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) or
• a MCNZ letter of “eligibility for registration

The remaining health & medical roles will require registration with the relevant authorities.

Tier 1 Green List Straight to Residence pathway health roles include:

General Practitioner, Anaesthetist, Psychiatrist, Specialist Physicians not elsewhere classified (nec), Surgeon (General), Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon, Urologist, Otorhinolaryngologist, Dermatologist, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Ophthalmologist, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist, Radiation Oncologist, Resident Medical Officer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Organisational Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychologists nec.

Tier 2 Green List (Work to Residence pathway) health roles includes:

Anaesthetic Technician, Medical Diagnostic (Medical Imaging Technologist), Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Radiation Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Sonographer, Podiatrist, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health), Registered Nurse (Community Health), Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency), Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability), Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation), Registered Nurse (Medical), Registered Nurse (Medical Practice), Registered Nurse (Mental Health), Registered Nurse (Perioperative), Registered Nurse (Surgical), Registered Nurse (Paediatrics), Registered Nurses nec, Midwife.

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.

The New Zealand Government has announced sector agreements and some changes to the Working Holiday Scheme to help NZ employers fill skills gaps.

• Sector agreements allow a few exceptions to the median wage requirements when hiring skilled migrants on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
• NZ employers can continue hiring migrants holding open work visas such as students, working holiday makers, and partners with open work visas.

For New Zealand to become a higher-productivity, higher-wage economy, these sectors must be able to recruit migrant workers below the median wage.

These agreements allow these sectors time to attract & retain domestic workers, put effort into retaining, training & upskilling New Zealanders and invest in technology & new business models.

The new sector agreements will come into effect on 31 October 2022. They include pay rates, timeframes, and roles that have been developed in consultation with the sector representatives and government agencies.

NZ employers must continue using the existing rules to recruit migrant workers until 31 October 2022.

The operational details will be released later.

To view the Sector Agreements Factsheet, please click here

Sector Settings

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) was opened to applicants on 4 July 2022. Most migrants holding the AEWV will be paid the median wage (NZD 76.76 per hour) or more. The new sector settings allow limited exceptions. The job offers must meet the market rate.

1) Care

• Migrant workers in some roles holding an AEWV must be paid at least NZD 26.16 an hour (Level 3 rate in the Pay Equity Settlement)
• Migrant care workers earning NZD 28.25 per hour (level 4 rate) will be able to apply for the Work to Residence pathway after two years
• Lower wage thresholds are already in place for some care roles and will continue until 31 October 2022

Sector settings will apply from 31 October 2022 until at least October 2024.

2) Construction & Infrastructure

• Migrant workers in some roles holding an AEWV must be paid at least NZD 25 an hour (90% of the median wage)
• The wage threshold will be updated to align with changes in the median wage
• There is no cap on the number of workers that can be hired below the median wage

Sector settings will apply from 31 October 2022 until at least October 2024

3) Tourism & Hospitality

Seasonal Snow & Adventure Tourism

• Migrant workers in some roles holding an AEWV must be paid at least NZD 25 an hour (90% of the median wage). Until the sector agreement ends in 2025, the percentage will keep on increasing gradually.

Sector settings will apply from 31 October 2022 until 2025.

Other Tourism & Hospitality Roles

Many tourism & hospitality workers can already be paid NZD 25 per hour until April 2023.

This is a temporary exception and not a sector agreement. It was because the unusually low number of migrants in New Zealand with open work rights.

4) Seafood

Onshore Processing

• Workers in the specified roles holding an AEWV must be paid at least $24 per hour (86% of the median wage). The wage threshold will be updated to align with the changes in the median wage.
• A cap limit has been set for the visas:

600 for 2022-2023

600 for 2023-2024

• A Pacific Programme will replace the sector agreement from 2024

Sea-based Roles

• Workers holding a Fishing Crew Work Visa must be paid at least the minimum wage plus NZD 4 an hour. The wage threshold will be increased towards the median wage each year.
• Cap limit for visas: 940

5) Meat Processing

• Entry-level meat process workers can be paid NZD $24 an hour (86% of the median wage). The wage threshold will be updated to align with changes in the median wage.
• Cap limit for visas: 320

A Pacific Programme will replace the sector agreement from 2024

Stand-down Periods

• Most migrants holding an AEWV & paid less than the median wage for two years will have to wait for 12 months before reapplying for another AEWV role at that rate.
• However, they can immediately reapply for another AEWV if that role is paid the median wage or more or they can apply for another visa.
• Partners of AEWV holders earning less than the median wage will be able apply for visitor visas for the duration of their partner’s visa.
• Meat process workers and seafood process will not be able to get another AEWV for work paid below the median wage until the following season.

Working Holiday Scheme Visas

Working Holiday Visa holders have open work rights.

The Government will take the following three measures to help sectors that employ migrants holding Working Holiday Visas:

• Working Holiday Visas expiring between 26 August 2022 and 31 May 2023 (inclusive) for those already in New Zealand will be extended by six months from the date of expiry
• Working holidaymakers outside New Zealand will have more time to enter the country
• Working holiday scheme cap limits will be doubled

More details about changes to the Working Holiday Visa schemes can be found here

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.

The Government has announced details of the sector agreements with aged care, seafood, meat processing, construction, and adventure tourism industries, which will come into effect from October 2022.

These sector agreements are time-limited exemptions to the requirements to help address worker shortages and in exchange for sectors agreeing to workforce improvements. They were developed in consultation with key sector bodies, unions, and government agencies, and the settings include pay rates, timeframes, and relevant roles.

These agreements are based on wage data for work visa holders and designed to fill skills gaps as businesses work towards more productive and resilient ways of operating while transitioning and building the skills needed.

Lower thresholds are already in place for some care and construction roles, which will continue until the sector agreements come into force on 31 October 2022.

The “Sector Agreements Factsheet” can be seen by clicking the link for complete details.The Government will monitor the progress of the expectations from sectors. The monitoring details are still being worked through with MBIE and the sector agencies, but it could involve six-monthly meetings with sector and union representatives to share monitoring data updates.

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.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will open to applicants on 4 July 2022. The AEWV is a new temporary work visa that will replace the Essential Skills Work Visa and Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.

The last day for applying for an Essential Skills Work Visa is 3 July 2022. Employers must get accredited under the new system in order to hire migrant workers for up to 3 years on the AEWV. Applications for employer accreditation on 23 May 2022.

To know about the requirements for employer accreditation, click here.

As the second step in the 3-step process for hiring migrant workers, accredited employers must apply for a job check.

To know more about what is required for a job check and how to apply, please click here

Job check

In order to hire temporary migrant workers on the AEWV, the New Zealand employer must submit a job check.

An employer can include more than one role in the job check if:

• all roles are included in the same set of advertising
• roles have the same job description, are for the same employer in the same place and
• they are covered by the same proposed employment agreement with the same pay

If the terms of work vary between roles, separate job checks will be required. A job check approval will expire after 6 months.

Those accredited employers who pass the job check can then ask the migrant worker to apply for an AEWV from 4 July 2022.

Requirements for the Job Check:

• To pass the job check, all jobs must pay the market rate for the role.
• Most jobs must be advertised for at least 2 weeks and advertisements must include the pay range.
• Employers will have to state that they were unable to find suitable New Zealanders before offering the role to a migrant worker.
• Proof of advertising as part of the job check will not be required for roles that pay 200% of the median wage or are on the Green List
• The median wage has been increased from NZ$ 27.00 to NZ$ 27.76 per hour. The new median age will apply to job check applications from 20 June 2022 onwards and to AEWV applications from 4 July 2022 onwards.

Some roles that are exempt from the median wage threshold are in the construction & infrastructure, care workforce and tourism & hospitality sectors. More information about the exemption can be found here.

The benefits of Immigration Online

The recently improved Immigration Online system must be used for making job check applications.

The benefits of using the enhanced system include:

• Smart forms & new tools to enable applicants to provide correct & complete information
• Email notifications that provide updates & request further information from applicants
• Faster processing of applications
• The current status of applications can be viewed on the online dashboard

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

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, New Zealand had shut its borders to the rest of the world and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) had suspended visa processing.

New Zealand is now ready to completely reopen its borders to everyone from midnight of 31 July 2022 (technically 1 August 2022). As the country begins reconnecting with the world, INZ is restarting the processing of some visas.

Partner and Dependents

From 31 May 2022, INZ will resume processing of the following on-hand visa applications:

• Offshore partners & dependents of Work visa holders
• Offshore partners & dependents of Student Visa holders

People who are outside of New Zealand who applied for a visa before entry into the country was restricted in 2020 have two options:

1. Have their applications processed
2. Withdraw the application and request a refund, if eligible

Resuming visa processing basically means that applicants will not have to wait until the end of July when the New Zealand borders are fully open to reuniting with their loved ones. This resumption of processing will allow applicants to live together sooner in order to meet the requirements of future partnership applications.

INZ will email the instructions to the affected applicants or their representatives.

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.

Applications for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) open on 4 July 2022. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has already begun accepting applications for Employer Accreditation from 23 May 2022. 20 June 2022 onwards employers can start applying for the Job Check.

INZ has made the following changes to Employer Accreditation, Job Check and Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) immigration instructions:

• Clarification has been provided regarding when a job, that was approved as part of a job-check, can be reused by an employer.
• A longer duration will be granted to employer accreditation and Job Check applications approved before 4 July 2022.
• An explanation has been provided regarding Job Check applications for employment in foreign crew of fishing vessels not being approved.
• Clarification of qualification requirements for two occupations on the Green List: Environmental Research Scientist & Food Technologist
• Automated electronic decision making for the processing & approval of Employer Accreditation & Job Check Applications

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

The updated Immigration Online system has new features that make it easier to get things done.

It makes the process of applying for a visa easier by streamlining tasks that are done over and over again. This lets people focus on tasks that require judgement. Immigration Officers are no longer allocated an entire application, and allocation is no longer the first step as many others may assess an application simultaneously.

The processing steps commence as soon as the application is received.If immigration instructions are followed, the system may fully automate visa processing or trigger manual tasks for assessment.

The steps below show what needs to happen before an Immigration Officer looks at a Resident Visa application for 2021.

1. The improved Immigration Online system receives the application.
2. The applicant is asked to upload any supporting documents that are needed.
3. Completed identity checks with copies of receipts made and sent to the applicant’s Immigration Online account.
4. Checks with the NZ police and/or national security are completed.
5. Checks with the Immigration Health System are completed, and more health information is requested if required.
6. The case is assessed by an Immigration Officer, and if no more information is required, a decision is made on the application.

The steps for processing may be different for different types of visas on enhanced Immigration Online.

You can check the progress of your applications by logging in to your Immigration Online dashboard. Any requests for more information will also come through the dashboard.

A complete guide to enhanced immigration online can be found here.

Questions regarding application:

The status of an application can now be viewed at any moment via the Immigration Online dashboard. The Additional Documents field of the Immigration Online system is not to be used to ask questions about an application, as these will not be answered.  Information can be found on the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website or call the Immigration Contact Center for further information.

Update on the secondary applicant: indicate

Some applicants have specified that they want to include a secondary applicant in the 2021 Resident Visa application under Phase 2, but they didn’t. INZ will contact such applicants before the application can be processed further.

These updates are in preparation for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme to open applications for employer accreditation.

Employer accreditation applications will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 23 May 2022. On 4 July 2022, applications for the new AEWV visa will open.

For details about the AEWV, please click here. To better understand the above changes to the immigration instructions and to learn more about them, kindly get in touch Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd. at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.  Our experienced team of Licensed Immigration Advisers will be happy to guide you.

After being almost completely shut to the outside world since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic over two years ago, New Zealand is ready to completely reopen it borders to everyone from midnight of 31 July 2022 (technically 1 August 2022).

Important Dates:

• 4 July 2022 – All work visa categories including the new Accredited Employer Work Visa will open for applications
• 31 July 2022 midnight – Applications for student & visitor visas and maritime borders will reopen

The New Zealand Government is trying to rebalance the immigration system in order to support a more productive higher-wage economy. This will give employers more access to skilled workers, allow international students & visitors to enter New Zealand and permit reunions.

Work Visas

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

• 3 July 2022 – Essential Skills Work Visa closes to applications
• 4 July 2022 – Accredited Employer Work Visa will open for applications
• December 2022 – Partners of temporary migrant workers can apply for a Visitor visa or an AEWV if they want to work in New Zealand

The AEWV will be available mainly to workers earning over the median wage of NZ $27.76 per hour 4 July onwards.

By 2023, the NZ Government wants all employers to be accredited to hire migrant workers, even those with openwork rights (Eg. working holidaymakers and students)

Sector Arrangements
The NZ Government has introduced a Green List. This list will make it easier for employers to hire and attract migrants for high-skilled, hard-to-fill positions in the construction, engineering, trades, health and ICT sectors.

If an employer who wants to hire migrant workers on the AEWV and the role is on this list, then advertising for the job check is not required.

There are certain transition arrangements that will allow certain roles in the construction, care, tourism & hospitality sectors to be recruited at rates slightly lower than the median wage.

• For Green List Occupations, please click here
• For roles exempt from AEWV median wage threshold, please click here

Open Work Visas

On 9 May 2022, a special direction granted open work visas to those migrants already in New Zealand holding one of the following visas expiring between 9 May & 31 December 2022 (inclusive):

• Essential Skills Work Visa
• Post Study Work Visa
• Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
• Eligible Ukrainian nationals granted a temporary work visa on 10 March 2022

The new open work visa:

• This visa is valid from 9 May 2022 until two years from the visa expiry date of the previous visa
• It will allow the migrant to work for any employer anywhere in New Zealand and
• It will allow the holder to leave & re-enter New Zealand

Family/ Dependants:
New visas have been granted to the partners and dependent children of the new open work visa holder.

To be eligible for this visa, the family must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a visa based on their relationship with the work visa holder whose visa expired between 9 May & 31 December 2022 (inclusive) and
• Have been in New Zealand on 9 May 2022

Like the principal applicant, the visa will be valid from 9 May 2022 until two years from the visa expiry date. Also, the dependent family members who held work, student or visitor visas based on their relationship with the principal applicant will be granted the same type of visa.

Work to Residence Visa

On 9 May 2022, INZ extended the following work to residence visas by 6 months which were expiring between 9 May & 31 December 2022 under a special direction:

• Talent (Accredited Employer)
• Talent (Arts, Culture & Sports)
• Long Term Skill Shortage List
• Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Visa
• South Island Contribution

The visas have been extended for 6 months from the date of expiry of the previous visa

Family/ Dependants:

Visas of partners & dependent children expiring between 9 May & 31 December 2022 (inclusive) have also been extended by 6 months.

To be eligible for this visa, the family must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a visa based on their relationship with the work visa holder and
• Have been in New Zealand on 9 May 2022

Visa Conditions & Cost

Visa conditions, including those that have been varied, remain the same.
The visa holder is not charged for the visa extension.

• For changing the conditions of a temporary visa, please click here.

Online Records
INZ will email the eligible visa holders by the end of May 2022. Online records of the new visas & extensions will be updated by 25 May 2022.
For information about the Visa Verification Service, please click here

2021 Resident Visa applications

Those granted a new visa by the 9 May Special Direction can apply for the 2021 Resident visa if the visa they held before was eligible.

• To check your eligibility for the 2021 Resident Visa, click here

Working Holiday Schemes

Besides the border reopening date, the NZ Government has also brought forward the opening date of the following Working Holiday Schemes:

• South Korea: 10 May 2022 (previously 17 May)
• China: 19 May 2022 (previously 30 June)
• Taiwan: 25 May 2022 (previously 23 June)
• Argentina: 26 May 2022 (previously 30 August)
• Chile: 31 May 2022 (previously 6 September)

The opening date of the following Working Holiday Schemes has been pushed back:

• Luxembourg: 17 May 2022 (previously 10 May)
• Czech Republic: 2 June 2022 (previously 31 May)
• For information about Working Holiday Visas, please click here

Visitor Visas

Pacific Visitor Visas

Countries in the Pacific Islands Forum include:
Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Naru, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

16 May 2022 – Online applications for visitors from the Pacific Islands Forum reopens.

Visitor Visa applications are already open for Cook Islands & Niue.

Unlike before, applications from the Pacific will now have to apply online visa Immigration Online. To be granted a Visitor Visa, applicants must be able to prove their genuine intent of travel to New Zealand

Maritime Borders
New Zealand’s maritime border will also reopen on 31 July 2022, in line with the air border. Pre-departure covid tests & vaccination will be required for passengers & crew.

Students

As part of Immigration rebalance, policies have been changed to ensure that students who continue to stay in New Zealand after their studies fill the skill shortages.

• Changes have been made to post-study work visa duration.
• The funds required for Student Visa applications to support their stay in New Zealand has gone up.

Travel Updates

In order to travel to New Zealand, non-New Zealand citizens must hold a valid visa or New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

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.

There are 3 steps for hiring a migrant worker on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV):

• Employer accreditation
• Job check
• Visa application

Important Dates

• 23 May 2022 – Employers can start applying for accreditation
• 20 June 2022 – Employers can start applying for a job check
• 3 July 2022 – Last day to apply for the ESWV, from 4^th it closes
• 4 July 2022 – Applicants can start lodging AEWV visa applications

Once New Zealand employers are accredited with Immigration New Zealand (INZ), they can hire migrant workers on the new AEWV when no New Zealanders are available to do the job and there is a genuine skill or labour shortage.

Information regarding Job Check & Work Visa

Detailed information regarding the Job Check and Work visa is available on the INZ website. It covers the following points:

• The requirements employers will need to meet when applying for a job check & the supporting documents required
• If an employer should advertise the role and the advertising requirements
• The requirements for migrant workers applying for an AEWV

Pending Decisions

The NZ Government has not yet decided whether there will be any exemptions to the median wage rule. Also, no decision has been reached as to whether any additional restrictions will apply for some roles.

Information regarding the Job Check

Employers must advertise a job for at least 2 weeks before applying for a job check. This is for those roles where advertising is a requirement.

Until the employers are accredited under the new AEWV policy, they cannot apply for a job check.

AEWV Immigration Instructions

An outline of the immigration instructions for the Accredited Employer Work Visa can be found here

Click here for detailed information.

INZ Webinar

INZ is facilitating the understanding of this visa category by holding regular free webinars, which are also recorded and available on you tube.

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.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced soem more important travel updates. These are:

1. People from visa waiver countries and those who hold valid visitor visas will be able to enter New Zealand from 11.59 PM, 1^st May 2022.
2. An immigration officer may refuse a visitor visa on arrival in New Zealand to a person from a visa waiver country if the person has failed to comply with an order issued under section 11 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.
3. The following capped Working Holiday Schemes (WHS) have had their start dates altered:

South Korea	10th May 2022
Luxembourg	17th May 2022
China	19th May 2022
Taiwan	25th May 2022
Argentina	26th May 2022
Chile	31st May 2022

4. From 21^st April 2022, Citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom who qualify for the new WHS visa or extension of travel conditions under two recent special directions will be allowed to maintain their eligibility for the maximum visa entitlement of 23 months from the date of the first arrival.
5. Applicants who apply for Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa on or before 31^st December 2022 do not have to provide medical and police certificates. This is effective 7^th April 2022.
6. The following amendments have been made to the border exception for seafood processors, effective 27^th April 2022:
   1. Workers must be paid a minimum of $24 per hour
   2. There is an increase in the cap from 150 to 200 workers.

To gain a better understanding of the above changes to the immigration instructions and to learn more about them kindly get in touch with us.

Please do not hesitate to contact Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd. at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.  Our experienced team of Licensed Immigration Advisers will be happy to guide you.