In June 2023, Immigration New Zealand launched an accredited employer checker and announced four Skilled Migrant Visa changes. These Skilled Migrant Visa changes come into effect on 9 October 2023.

Please find the details below.

1. INZ launched an accredited employer checker tool

Migrants applying for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, Straight to Residence Visa or Partner of a Worker Work Visa must work for an accredited employer.

In June, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) made it easier for migrants to find accredited employers. INZ added a searchable tool to their website that enables migrants to check if an employer is accredited.

To use the tool, migrants need information to identify the employer, which may be the employer’s:

• New Zealand Business Number (NZBN), or
• Company name or trading name

The tool is updated with accredited employers once a week. INZ has said that some employers opt out of getting added to the search tool’s list, so migrants are advised to ask employers who don’t appear on the list if they’re accredited.

2. Change is coming to the Skilled Migrant Visa in October

On 21 June 2023, New Zealand’s Minister of Immigration announced four upcoming changes to the Skilled Migrant Visa. These changes come into effect on 9 October 2023.

Simplified points system:

Under the current system, migrants must score 100 points or more to submit an Expression of Interest and 180 points or more to receive an invitation to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.

Under the new system, migrants must get at least 6 points to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa. The points system will award points for:

• New Zealand occupational registration, or
• an eligible qualification, or
• income from a job or job offer,
• and skilled work in New Zealand.

Migrants can only claim points for one of the first three categories, but they can combine those points with points for skilled work.

Skilled job or job offer requirements:

Under the current system, Skilled Migrant Visa applicants must have skilled employment or a job offer for skilled employment. This employment or job offer can be from any New Zealand employer.

From October, the skilled job or job offer must be from an accredited New Zealand employer.

No limit on the number of migrants who can get New Zealand residence

There won’t be a limit on the number of people who can obtain New Zealand residency under the Skilled Migrant Visa category from October 2023. All migrants who meet the visa’s requirements and whose visa applications are accepted will obtain New Zealand residence.

A new Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa

Migrants who hold a visa when applying for the new Skilled Migrant Visa will get a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa when their visa expires.

The Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will enable visa holders to stay in New Zealand while their Skilled Migrant Visa application is processed. Migrants with Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visas can travel in and out of New Zealand.

Migrants can also apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa instead to remain on a valid work visa in New Zealand.

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