All the latest visa and immigration news from New Zealand.
Partner Work Visa changes coming in April 2023
In December 2022, Immigration New Zealand was set to implement partner work visa changes.
However, on 5 December 2022, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced that New Zealand had deferred the changes to April 2023.
This amended implementation date is now fast approaching.
What changes is Immigration New Zealand implementing?
Currently, the partners of migrants with Accredited Employer Work Visas can apply for a visa based on their relationship to the visa holder. Successful applicants have open work rights in New Zealand. That means the visa holders is able to work in New Zealand for any employer.
However, once the changes to the partner work visas come into effect:
- partners will only be eligible for Visitor Visas, and
- must qualify independently for an AEWV to be able to work in New Zealand.
Why this big shift?
The main reason for the change to the partner work visas is that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) wants to focus on bringing critical skills into the country.
“A key feature of the rebalance is a focus on building the skills that New Zealand needs, as opposed to the old system, which had a focus on large volumes of low wage labour in some sectors. This is a shift, but it will be better for the New Zealand economy, and it will reduce the unacceptable levels of migrant exploitation that the old settings facilitated”, Minister Woods explained in his press release.
Minister Woods added, “The number of partners of temporary migrant workers coming to New Zealand grew significantly in the years prior to COVID-19, as did temporary migrant worker numbers. While partners of temporary migrant workers work in a variety of roles across New Zealand, they tend to be concentrated in lower-paying sectors.”
In conclusion, Minister Woods said, “Given the aim of the rebalance, it is important that we ensure the integrity of the system by recruiting for genuine skill shortages for both the primary applicants and their partners.”
What should you do?
Migrant couples where one partner wishes to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa must do so as soon as possible.
Once the changes come into effect, INZ will apply the legislation changes to any new visa applications it receives.
Get started today!
If you have a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer, book a consultation call with us today.
Our team will work with you to compile your visa application and submit it as quickly as possible.
You’ll be in good hands!
Our advisors, Katrin Maja O’Flynn and Maike Versfeld, are registered and licensed with New Zealand’s Immigration Adviser Authority (IAA).
Don’t just take our word for it. Read what our clients have had to say about working with us on Google.
- Published in Family Immigration, Latest posts, News, Working in New Zealand
Green List and Employer Accreditation changes announced
On 12 December 2022, New Zealand announced changes to the Green List and Employer Accreditation.
The Green List is getting more occupations under the Straight to Residence pathway and more professions in general. Eligible accredited employers are getting an extension on their accreditation.
Expansion of the Green List
From 15 December 2022, New Zealand is moving registered nurses, midwives, and all medical doctors from the Work to Residence to the Straight to Residence Green List pathway.
Under Work to Residence, professionals need 24 months of work experience in New Zealand, while it’s not necessary under Straight to Residence.
In March 2023, more changes are coming:
- New Zealand will add auditors to the Straight to Residence Green List pathway.
- New Zealand will add the following professions to the Work to Residence Green List pathway:
- Civil construction supervisors
- Gasfitters
- Drainlayers
- Skilled crane operators
- Skilled civil machine operators
- Halal slaughterers
- Skilled motor mechanics
- Skilled telecommunications technicians
- All secondary school teachers (in addition to the specialisations already on the Green List)
- Primary school teachers
What are the Green List pathways?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has three residence pathways:
- Work to Residence
- Straight to Residence
- Highly Paid Residence
Visa applicants must have an occupation on the Green List to qualify for either of the first two pathways.
Accredited Employer Work Visa employer accreditation extension
Employers with accreditation who made their first application by 4 July 2023 will get an automatic extension of their accreditation by 12 months.
This extension will be a once-off, but Immigration New Zealand hopes it provides employers with certainty that they’ll continue to have access to skilled labour with the additional cost and administrative burden of reapplying for accreditation.
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- Published in Latest posts, News, Working in New Zealand
The Parent Resident Visa is open again!
As of 12 October 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is accepting new Expressions of Interest for the Parent Resident Visa.
New Zealanders and their parents have welcomed this news, especially since INZ has reduced the sponsor requirements and increased the number of visas.
When do applications open?
Migrants who want to apply for a Parent Resident Visa must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
INZ started accepting EOIs on Wednesday, 12 October. Any EOIs that INZ receives from this date go into a ballot, from where INZ will make a random selection. The first selection happens in August 2023 and every three months after that.
Migrants whose EOIs get selected and get invitations to apply can submit applications for the Parent Resident Visa.
What about Expressions of Interest submitted before the Parent Resident Visa closed?
The Parent Resident Visa temporarily closed in 2019, with plans to reopen it in 2020. Unfortunately, COVID hit, which meant it didn’t happen.
At the time of the closure, many migrants already had EOIs in the system for the Parent Resident Visa.
Immigration New Zealand is keeping those EOIs and will select EOIs from the pool in the date order they were received. These selections will start on 14 November 2022 and happen every three months after that.
At this time, INZ can’t tell how long it’ll take them to select all existing EOIs. However, INZ has said they’ll publish accurate timeframes as soon as possible.
Migrants who no longer want to apply for a Parent Resident Visa can withdraw their EOI. Migrants will also get the opportunity to update their EOI if necessary.
What are the changes for sponsors?
Immigration New Zealand has lowered the income requirements for sponsors, i.e., the adult children of applicants.
INZ also allows two adult children, rather than just an adult child and their partner, to combine their income to sponsor parents.
Furthermore, a sponsor only needs to earn 1.5 times the New Zealand median wage instead of twice the median wage. This limit increased by half the median wage for each joint sponsor or additional parent.
These reduced requirements apply to EOIs already in the queue and EOIs submitted from 12 October 2022.
How many visas are available?
Immigration New Zealand has increased the number of Parent Resident Visas available each year from 1,000 to 2,500.
There’s no hurry to submit an EOI right away!
Immigration New Zealand has advised that migrants wait until closer to August 2023 to submit their Expressions of Interest. EOIs stay in the queue for two years, so submitting an EOI closer to August will mean it’s in the queue longer if it’s not selected the first time.
In the meantime, follow us to stay on top of immigration news
You can keep up to date with immigration news out of New Zealand by following us on Facebook or LinkedIn. We also share informative and educational articles about immigrating to New Zealand.
- Published in Family Immigration, Latest posts, News
We’re excited to announce that we’re working with a New Zealand recruitment firm to find candidates for five job openings at a leading New Zealand engineering consultancy in the power industry.
These candidates must meet the job requirements and New Zealand’s work visa requirements.
The openings are for the following jobs:
- Principal/Senior Communications & Control Engineer
- Principal/Senior Primary Design Engineer
- Senior Protection and Secondary Design Engineer
- Power System Analysis (PSA) Engineer
- Senior Power System Analysis (PSA) Engineer
Keep on reading for the description and requirements of each role.
If you’re interested in a position, please book a consultation call with our licensed advisor Katrin Maja O’Flynn. Katrin will talk you through the immigration assessment process and explain the way forward.
1. Principal/Senior Communications & Control Engineer
The Principal/Senior Communications & Control Engineer uses their specialist knowledge to design and deliver solutions and provide technical guidance to others.
Commercial responsibilities involve quoting, planning, and managing projects, ensuring that they are delivered on time, within budget and to the agreed standards of quality.
Required Experience:
Ten years of industry experience, preferably with engineering consultancy experience.
Responsibilities:
The technical activities carried out by the Communications & Control Engineer are likely to include:
- Project evaluation, scoping, specification and quoting
- Research, design, solutions development, feasibility study and assessment
- Research, strategy development and creation of technology roadmaps, as they apply to the power industry
- Engineering of solutions for telecommunication and IT aspects within the power industry, including:
- Fiber optic networks
- Radio network design for point-to-point and multipoint applications
- Mobile radio and telemetry solutions
- AC reticulation and DC system design
- Earthing and lightning protection
- Cabling networks
- CCTV and security system
- Synchronisation and timing techniques
- SCADA systems, processes, architecture and protocols
- LAN, WAN, internetworking and development of IP topology and architectures, substation hardened networking and industrial networking solutions
- Digital power line carrier
- Communication solutions for protection signalling service requirements
- Definition and design of architecture for multi-layered service-oriented networked solutions, applicable to critical infrastructure
- Awareness and familiarity with cyber security methodologies, architectures, standards and industry best practices applicable to the power industry
- Familiarity with products and FCAPS techniques, applied to NMS and OSS infrastructure requirements
- An awareness and knowledge of IoT, data analytics and their application to the power industry
The project management and commercial aspects of the work involve:
- Managing projects and attending regular meetings, to discuss the best way to move projects forward
- Participating in conference calls and meetings, to discuss products, action plans and team performance
- Attending briefings on new networks and new products
- Managing resources, including budgets, physical resources and project members
- Preparing high-quality written reports and presentations, for management and customer review
- Identifying business development opportunities and assisting in tendering, quoting and customer development
- Ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed standards of quality
Key Result Areas:
- Technical quality of design deliverables
- Project performance: Time and budget
- Engineering design and judgement
- Project performance: Client expectations
Key Skills and Personal Qualities:
- Technical ability and knowledge
- A very good understanding of protection and secondary design
- Organisational skills
- Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills quickly
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Skilled technical authoring and a good aptitude for report writing
- The ability to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision
- The capability to concentrate under pressure, to meet tight deadlines
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Business/commercial awareness
- The ability to work well within a team and individually
- The ability to innovate and identify both business and technical opportunities, while carrying out day-to-day duties
- Excellent project and people management skills
2. Principal/Senior Primary Design Engineer
The Primary Design Engineer shall demonstrate experience and sound judgement in both commercial and technical responsibilities.
The technical aspect of the role includes using specialist knowledge to design and deliver solutions, as well as providing technical guidance to other markets and teams.
Commercial responsibilities involve quoting, planning and managing projects, ensuring that they are delivered on time, within budget and to the agreed standards of quality.
Required Experience:
Candidates shall either have at least ten years of experience (Principal) or at least six years of experience (Senior) working in primary design, preferably in New Zealand or Australia.
Alternatively, candidates may demonstrate suitable experience from an equivalent utility sector overseas.
Previous experience in a design consultancy is also an advantage.
Responsibilities:
The technical activities carried out by the Primary Design Engineer are likely to include:
- Acting as the lead designer for primary aspects of a huge variety of projects
- Liaising with civil/structural resources, suppliers and subcontractors, to deliver the design required for our extensive range of clients
- Travelling to meet suppliers, customers and colleagues
- Negotiating project scope, product and technical solution requirements with customers
- Providing technical guidance to colleagues, junior engineers and other teams
- Attending conferences and seminars, to network and keep up to date with the latest developments in the sector
- Liaising with internal and external customers
- Working to tight timescales, as part of a high-performing team
- Arranging process meetings
- Rewriting or modifying processes, to ensure that all aspects of the service run smoothly and to schedule
- Technical writing and authoring of comprehensive reports for a variety of audiences and topics, including technical solutions, strategic papers, concept/detailed design reports, technical roadmaps, asset plans and briefing papers
The commercial aspects of the work involve:
- Managing projects and attending regular meetings, to discuss the best way to move projects forward
- Taking financial and commercial ownership of all project aspects allocated to you
- Participating in conference calls and meetings, to discuss products, action plans and team performance
- Attending briefings on new networks and new products
- Managing resources, including budgets, physical resources and project members
- Preparing high-quality written reports and presentations, for management and customer review
- Identifying business development opportunities and assisting in tendering, quoting and customer development
- Ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed standards of quality
Key Skills and Personal Qualities:
You will need to show:
- Technical ability and knowledge
- An excellent understanding of primary electrical design
- Organisational skills
- Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills quickly
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Skilled technical authoring and a good aptitude for report writing
- The ability to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision
- The capability to concentrate under pressure, to meet tight deadlines
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Business/commercial awareness
- The ability to work well within a team and individually
- The ability to innovate and identify both business and technical opportunities, while carrying out day-to-day duties
- Excellent project and people management skills.
3. Senior Protection and Secondary Design Engineer
The Senior Protection and Secondary Design Engineer shall demonstrate experience and sound judgement, in both commercial and technical responsibilities.
The technical aspect of the role includes using specialist knowledge to design and deliver solutions and providing technical guidance to others.
Commercial responsibilities involve quoting, planning and managing projects, ensuring that they are delivered on time, within budget and to the agreed standards of quality.
Required Experience:
Candidates shall have at least six years of experience working in protection and secondary systems design, preferably in New Zealand or Australia.
Alternatively, candidates may demonstrate suitable experience from an equivalent utility sector overseas.
Previous experience in a design consultancy and/or New Zealand distribution company is also an advantage.
Responsibilities:
The technical activities carried out by the Protection and Secondary Design Engineer are likely to include:
- Travelling to meet suppliers, customers and colleagues, based in other offices
- Negotiating project scope, product and technical solution requirements with customers
- Providing technical guidance to colleagues and other teams
- Attending conferences and seminars, to network and keep up to date with the latest developments in the sector
- Liaising with internal and external customers
- Analysing and interpreting data, to refine and improve power systems performance
- Working to tight timescales, as part of a high-performing team
- Arranging process meeting
- Rewriting or modifying processes, to ensure that all aspects of the service run smoothly and to schedule
- Technical writing and authoring of comprehensive reports, for a variety of audiences and topics, including technical solutions, strategic papers, concept/detailed design reports, technical roadmaps, asset plans and briefing papers
The commercial aspects of the work involve:
- Managing projects and attending regular meetings, to discuss the best way to move projects forward
- Participating in conference calls and meetings, to discuss products, action plans and team performance
- Attending briefings on new networks and new products
- Managing resources, including budgets, physical resources and project members
- Preparing high-quality written reports and presentations, for management and customer review
- Identifying business development opportunities and assisting in tendering, quoting and customer development
- Ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed standards of quality
Key Skills and Personal Qualities:
You will need to show:
- Technical ability and knowledge
- A very good understanding of protection and secondary design
- Organisational skills
- Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills quickly
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Skilled technical authoring and a good aptitude for report writing
- The ability to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision
- The capability to concentrate under pressure, to meet tight deadlines
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Business/commercial awareness
- The ability to work well within a team and individually
- The ability to innovate and identify both business and technical opportunities, while carrying out day-to-day duties
- Excellent project and people management skills
4. Power System Analysis (PSA) Engineer
The Power System Analysis (PSA) Engineer shall assist with analysis work underpinning generator connections. The role includes but is not limited to the following tasks:
- Project evaluation, scoping, specification and quoting
- Engineering of solutions for generation aspects of the power system
- Modelling and analysis of the power system, with knowledge of the following techniques:
- Load-flow and short circuit assessment
- Analytic techniques, including PV and QV analysis, for determination of power system limits
- Dynamic RMS simulations, for transient and voltage stability
- Generator control systems modelling, including AVR, PSS, OEL, UEL and speed governors
- Knowledge of scripting techniques (for instance, Python), within industry standard tools, such as PSS/E and PowerFactory, would be an advantage
- Experience in the use of Siemens PSS/E and DIgSILENT PowerFactory, to undertake system studies, would be highly advantageous
- Communicating results and solutions to our clients
Work experience:
Candidates shall have at least five years’ experience working in the power systems sector, preferably in New Zealand or Australia.
Alternatively, candidates may demonstrate suitable experience from an equivalent utility sector overseas.
Responsibilities:
The technical activities carried out by the Power Systems Analysis Engineer are likely to include:
- Travelling to meet suppliers, customers and colleagues, based in other offices around New Zealand and Australia
- Providing technical guidance to colleagues and other teams
- Liaising with internal and external customers
- Analysing and interpreting data, to refine and improve power systems performance
- Working to tight timescales, as part of a high-performing team
- Technical writing and authoring of comprehensive reports in English, for a variety of audiences and topics, including technical solutions, strategic papers, and concept/detailed design reports.
The management aspects of the work involve:
- Managing projects and attending regular meetings, to discuss the best way to move projects forward
- Participating in conference calls and meetings, to discuss products, action plans and team performance
- Managing resources, including budgets, physical resources and project members;
- Identifying business development opportunities and assisting in tendering, quoting and customer development
- Ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed standards of quality
Key Skills and Personal Qualities:
You will need to show:
- Technical ability and knowledge
- A good understanding of power systems analysis techniques, using a range of industry-standard tools
- Experience with power system analysis tools, such as DIgSILENT PowerFactory and PSS/E
- Organisational skills
- Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills quickly
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Skilled technical authoring and a good aptitude for report writing
- The ability to work efficiently and effectively, with minimal supervision
- The capability to concentrate under pressure, to meet tight deadlines
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Business/commercial awareness
- The ability to work well within a team and individually
- An ability to innovate and identify both business and technical opportunities, while carrying out day-to-day duties
5. Senior Power System Analysis (PSA) Engineer
The Senior Power System Analysis Engineer role includes but is not limited to the following tasks:
- Project evaluation, scoping, specification and quoting
- Engineering of solutions for generation aspects of the power system
- Modelling and analysis of the power system, with knowledge of the following techniques:
- Load-flow and short circuit assessment
- Analytic techniques, including PV and QV analysis, for determination of power system limits
- Dynamic RMS simulations, for transient and voltage stability
- Generator control systems modelling, including AVR, PSS, OEL, UEL and speed governors
- Knowledge of scripting techniques (for instance, Python), within industry standard tools, such as PSS/E and PowerFactory, would be an advantage
- Experience in the use of Siemens PSS/E and DIgSILENT PowerFactory, to undertake system studies, would be highly advantageous
- Communicating results and solutions to our clients
Work experience:
Candidates shall have at least six years of experience working in the power systems sector, preferably in New Zealand or Australia.
Alternatively, candidates may demonstrate suitable experience from an equivalent utility sector overseas.
Responsibilities:
The technical activities carried out by the Senior Power Systems Analysis Engineer are likely to include:
- Travelling to meet suppliers, customers and colleagues, based in other offices around New Zealand and Australia
- Providing technical guidance to colleagues and other teams
- Liaising with internal and external customers
- Analysing and interpreting data, to refine and improve power systems performance
- Working to tight timescales, as part of a high-performing team
- Technical writing and authoring of comprehensive reports in English, for a variety of audiences and topics, including technical solutions, strategic papers, concept/detailed design reports
The management aspects of the work involve:
- Managing projects and attending regular meetings, to discuss the best way to move projects forward
- Participating in conference calls and meetings, to discuss products, action plans and team performance
- Managing resources, including budgets, physical resources and project members
- Identifying business development opportunities and assisting in tendering, quoting and customer development
- Ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed standards of quality
Key Skills and Personal Qualities:
You will need to show:
- Expert level knowledge of PSS/E and PSCAD software tools, including advanced automation techniques using Python
- In-depth knowledge of the Australian National Electricity Rules (NER) S5.2.5
- Prior experience with generator connection studies in the National Electricity Market (NEM), including preparation of documentation
- Technical ability and knowledge
- A good understanding of power systems analysis techniques, using a range of industry-standard tools
- Experience with power system analysis tools, such as DIgSILENT and PowerFactory
- Organisational skills
- Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills quickly
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Skilled technical authoring and a good aptitude for report writing
- The ability to work efficiently and effectively, with minimal supervision
- The capability to concentrate under pressure, to meet tight deadlines
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Business/commercial awareness
- The ability to work well within a team and individually
- An ability to innovate and identify both business and technical opportunities, while carrying out day-to-day duties
Don’t forget to book your consultation call!
To learn more and to find out if you qualify for a New Zealand work visa, book a consultation call with our licensed advisor.
Please use the I have a job offer for New Zealand – Consultation option on her Calendly.
Our advisor will assess your eligibility to apply for a New Zealand work visa, talk you through your visa options, and explain how the process works. Our consultation calls are 30 minutes, and it’s a once-off 49€ fee.
Our team looks forward to hearing from you!
- Published in Latest posts, News, Work Visas for New Zealand, Working in New Zealand
Immigration News: July 2022
The wait is finally over – at 11.59pm on 31 July, New Zealand fully reopens to travellers! Student visa applications are also reopening at the same time.
Continue reading to learn more about these and other changes happening in July.
Visitor visa applications reopen!
From 11.59 pm on 31 July (NZST), applications for Visitor Visas will reopen.
Except for New Zealand and Australian citizens, all travellers to New Zealand will need a visa or New Zealand Electronic Authority (NZeTA) to enter the country.
Fee increases for group visitor visas
When visitor visa applications reopen, group visitor fees will increase:
- Approved Destination Status (China) will be NZ$90 per person, up from NZ$45
- Other group visitor visas will be NZ$110, up from NZ$65
Student visa applications also reopen!
Student visa applications reopen at the same time as visitor visa applications. New Zealand is ready to rebuild its high-value international education sector!
Fees and levies increase for student visas
Immigration New Zealand is introducing increases in immigration fees and levies for student visas. The cost for a student visa will be:
- NZ$375 for Band A (New Zealand)
- NZ$315 for Band B (Pacific)
- NZ$395 for Band C (Rest of World)
The amount students need for living costs while in New Zealand will also increase to:
- NZ$20,000 for a year of tertiary education, English language students and other non-compulsory education
- NZ$17,000 a year for students in compulsory education (Years 1 to 13 at a school)
- NZ$5,000 for applicants for post-study work visas.
The 2021 Resident Visa category is closing
New Zealand created the 2021 Resident Visa in September last year to “recognise the contribution migrants made during COVID-19”.
The 2021 Resident visa was a one-off, simplified pathway, primarily for migrants already in New Zealand but for some who still had to immigrate, too.
The deadline for applications is now fast approaching. Immigration New Zealand will stop accepting new applications for the 2021 Resident Visa at 11:59 pm on 31 July (NZST).
Skilled migrants eligible for a 2021 Resident Visa are encouraged to submit their applications before the closing date.
Stay up to date with the latest news from New Zealand
Keep up to date on future announcements from Immigration New Zealand by following us on Facebook or LinkedIn. We post news as it happens!
- Published in Latest posts, News, Work Visas for New Zealand
New Zealand launches new investor migrant visa
On Wednesday, 20 July, New Zealand’s Minister for Economic and Regional Development, Stuart Nash, announced the launch of the new Active Investor Plus Visa.
The Active Investor Plus Visa is designed to encourage direct investment in high-growth New Zealand companies and replaces the existing Investor 1 and 2 Resident visas.
Why is New Zealand launching the Active Investor Plus Visa?
The New Zealand Government has made the latest change to New Zealand’s investor visa settings to attract experienced, high-value investors who’ll bring growth opportunities to local businesses.
The Active Investor Plus Visa will require applicants to commit to direct investments of NZ$5 million or more, and only 50% of that can be invested in listed equities. The minimum amount required for indirect investments will be $15 million.
“We want to encourage active investment into New Zealand, which generates more high-skilled jobs and economic growth compared to passive investment. This new visa category will also leverage the skills, experience and networks of migrants who will bring their access to global networks and global markets to help Kiwi companies grow faster and smarter,” Minister Nash said.
He added, “Overall, the visa changes are a win-win for New Zealand and migrant investors. Investors secure an opportunity to invest in smart and innovative New Zealand businesses that have the potential to be globally successful, and Kiwi businesses gain valuable skills, connections, and capital. This will make New Zealand more competitive in the international marketplace and take our businesses to the next level.”
What else is there to know about the new investor visa?
With the Active Investor Plus visa, New Zealand is improving the flexibility for investors by allowing them to invest over three years and maintain their investments up to the end of a fourth year.
Investors will have to spend at least 117 days, or around a month per year, in New Zealand over the four-year investment period. This requirement increased from 88 days in the existing investor category to ensure that investors actively get hands-on with local companies to help them grow.
When do applications open?
Immigration New Zealand will start accepting applications for the Active Investor Plus Visa on 19 September 2022.
It’s the end of Investor 1 and 2 visas
Unfortunately, the Active Investor Plus Visa launch spells the end of new applications for the existing Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas.
After 27 July 2022, Immigration New Zealand will no longer accept applications under these categories.
Applications submitted before that date won’t be affected by the closure, and Immigration New Zealand will assess those applications under current visa settings.
Stay up to date with the latest news from New Zealand
Join our newsletter to be the first to know about immigration and visa changes. You only need to submit your email address and we promise to never share your details!
- Published in Latest posts, News
New Accredited Employer Work Visa goes into effect on 4 July 2022
New Zealand is introducing the new Accredited Employer Work Visa on 4 July 2022.
With this visa, Immigration New Zealand is streamlining the immigration process while also addressing skills shortages in the country.
Here’s everything you should know:
1. The Accredited Employer Work Visa streamlines the immigration system
New Zealand is excited about its “rebalanced immigration system” that’ll incentivise and attract highly skilled migrants while simplifying the immigration processes for businesses.
At the centre of this rebalanced immigration system is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The AEWV streamlines the system by replacing six work visas that were previously available:
- Essential Skills Work Visa
- Essential Skills Work Visa — Approved in principle
- Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa,
- Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
- Silver Fern Job Search Visa (closed to new applications on 7 October 2019)
- Silver Fern Practical Experience Visa
There is no need to panic if you live and work in New Zealand on any of these visas. You can continue doing so until your visa expires or you no longer meet its conditions.
If you want to live and work in New Zealand after your visa expires, you may apply for the AEWV if you meet the requirements. If you don’t, you’ll have to explore other visa options.
2. There is a new Green List of occupations under the AEWV
Immigration New Zealand has issued a new skills shortage list called the Green List with 85 hard-to-fill roles in critical sectors of New Zealand’s economy.
You don’t have to work in a Green List occupation to apply for an AEWV, but it does offer three distinct advantages:
2.1. The Green List offers a fast track to residence
Migrants who qualify can come to New Zealand on an AEWV and apply for residence from September 2022.
Occupations on the Green List that offer a fast track to residence are in the following sectors:
- Construction
- Engineering
- Health and social services
- Primary industries and sciences
- ICT, electronics, and telecommunications
2.2. The Green List also offers a work-to-residence pathway
The Green List offers a work-to-residence pathway to skilled workers with occupations in:
- Health and social services
- Trades
- Agriculture
AEWV holders who qualify for work-to-residence cannot apply for residency immediately but can do so after two years of working in New Zealand.
2.3. PLUS, employers hiring for Green List occupations don’t have to advertise for the job check
New Zealand employers who want to hire a migrant on an AEWV in an occupation on the Green List do not have to advertise for the job check. The proviso is that the criteria for the role must at least match the occupation’s minimum requirements as it appears on the Green List.
3. The AEWV is valid for up to three years, and you must earn at least the median wage
You’ll get a visa valid for the duration of your employment, up to a maximum of three years, if your application for an AEWV is successful. To get the visa, you must earn at least the New Zealand median wage of NZ$27.76.
However, applicants from specific sectors, including construction and infrastructure, tourism and hospitality and the aged care sector, will be exempt from the minimum salary requirement.
Immigration New Zealand will issue two-year work visas for these exception categories instead.
After holding the visa for two years, migrants will have to spend 12 consecutive months outside of New Zealand before being allowed to apply for another AEWV.
4. Most dependent spouses or partners must apply for an AEWV in their own right to work in New Zealand
Your dependent spouse or partner will get a visitor visa to enter New Zealand. Most spouses and partners who then want to work in New Zealand must apply for an AEWV in their own right. These applications open from December 2022.
5. There are three steps to the AEWV process
To hire workers from overseas under the AEWV, New Zealand employers must have accreditation and pass a job check unless it’s an occupation on the Green List.
The job check is in place to ensure there aren’t suitable New Zealanders to fill the role that the employer is advertising.
Without accreditation and a job check, the employer can’t hire from overseas, and you can’t apply for an AEWV.
The three steps to the AEWV are thus as follows:
- The employer applies for accreditation, and Immigration New Zealand checks their credentials
- The job check, which is the assessment of the job details and any job advertising
- Your AEWV application, during which Immigration New Zealand assesses your credentials
Employer accreditation opened on 23 May, and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) estimated it would take 10 working days to process accreditation applications. Job check applications open on 20 June, and INZ expects to process those applications in 10 working days.
Contact us if you need help applying for an AEWV
There will surely be a rush of applications for the Accredited Employer Work Visa as soon as it opens on the 4th of July.
While Immigration New Zealand has said that it’ll process applications within 30 days, there is no telling if it’ll be possible to stick to this timeline.
Our advice to you is thus to submit your application as soon as possible! You can get started by booking an obligation-free consultation call with our licensed advisor to determine if you qualify for the AEWV.
- Published in Latest posts, News, Work Visas for New Zealand, Working in New Zealand
Immigration News: May 2022
On 11 May 2022, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand would reopen to all tourists and visa holders at 11:59 pm on 31 July 2022. That is two months sooner than initially planned!
The announcement also included details of the New Zealand Government’s “rebalanced immigration system” to address the country’s immediate skill shortages and speed up the economic recovery from COVID-19.
1. New Zealand fully reopens on 1 August!
New Zealand closed its borders to the world in 2020 and started to gradually reopen to different visa and visitor categories earlier this year.
On the 1st of August or 11:59 pm on 31 July, New Zealand is finally reopening completely for all visitors and visa holders!
Prime Minister Ardern rightly said that this announcement is welcome news for families, businesses and New Zealand’s migrant communities.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash added that bringing the final border opening date forward allows New Zealand to fully reconnect to the world in time for the country’s traditional peak visitor season.
“Our wider tourism sector is on the way to recovery. We will be fully open to the world in mid-winter, traditionally our quietest period for visitors. Bringing forward the date allows prospective travellers to apply for visitor visas well ahead of time before taking the next step to book a flight or a cruise for future travel,” Minister Nash said.
2. Change ahead for international students once New Zealand reopens
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the full reopening of the border is a significant milestone for the educational sector, which can now start to rebuild sustainably. The focus was on volume in the past, but that will change with the focus shifting to value.
To facilitate this shift, Immigration New Zealand will implement these changes:
- Students in non-degree level courses will not get post-study work rights except where they are studying and working in specified shortages and skilled occupations.
- For degree-level and other eligible international students, the length of time they can work after their students will mirror the time they study in New Zealand. Masters and PhD students will retain the right to work in New Zealand for up to three years after their studies.
- Students will also not be able to apply for a second post-study visa in New Zealand.
3. Simplified immigration processes and a new occupation list to benefit skilled migrants and employers
The New Zealand Government has announced a “rebalanced immigration system” that’ll incentivise and attract highly-skilled migrants and simplify immigration processes for businesses.
The cornerstone of this rebalanced immigration is the new Green List that features 85 hard-to-fill roles in construction, engineering, trades, healthcare and tech.
The other key component is the new Accredited Employer Work Visa that comes into effect on 4 July 2022.
“Through the Accredited Employer Work Visa, employers won’t need to provide as much information, can use their own recruitment processes to prove no New Zealanders are available for work, and Immigration New Zealand will endeavour to have these visas processed within 30 days once an employer is accredited,” Prime Minister Ardern said.
One of the critical requirements of the Accredited Employer Work Visa will be that the visa applicant earns at least the median wage. The current median wage is NZD27.76 an hour, and it’s updated once a year.
The wage requirement does affect some industries more than others, but the New Zealand Government is working closely with those sectors to assist with the transition.
Individual workers are also affected, but Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi announced that the Government would extend the visas of around 20,000 visa holders already in the country to ensure skilled workers stay in New Zealand. This extension will be specifically for visa holders with visas expiring before 2023. They’ll either get a six-month extension or a new two-year visa with open work conditions.
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- Published in Latest posts, News, Work Visas for New Zealand, Working in New Zealand
New Zealand is opening sooner to Australians and travellers from visa-waiver countries!
On 16 March, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand is bringing forward the date for opening the borders to Australians and arrivals from visa-waiver countries.
This announcement comes after New Zealand also brought forward the date for allowing New Zealanders and other eligible travellers through the country’s borders.
Australians welcome from 12 April, and borders are opening to visa-waiver travellers from 1 May
In New Zealand’s original 5-stage border reopening plan, its borders would’ve opened to Australians and travellers from visa-waiver countries in July.
Now the borders will open to these groups of people two months earlier than planned!
Australians can once again travel to New Zealand from Tuesday, 12 April at 11.59pm, while vaccinated travellers from visa-waiver countries are welcome from Sunday, 1 May at 11.59pm.
“Reopening in time for the upcoming Australian school holidays will help spur our economic recovery in the short term and is good news for the winter ski season,” said Prime Minister Ardern.
She added, “In a world still battling COVID-19, travellers will be discerning about where they go in the short term. Our strong health response, including the lowest death rate in the OECD over the past two years and our high rates of vaccination, alongside our reputation as a beautiful place to visit, will be an asset in this market. I am proud that New Zealand is a country which is able to provide a safe place for tourists to return to due to our strong health response to COVID-19.”
New Zealand’s also welcoming temporary visa holders and international students from 12 April
As per New Zealand’s original 5-stage plan, its borders will reopen to current offshore temporary visa holders and international students on 12 April:
- Temporary work and student visa holders who still meet their visa requirements — this includes people currently outside New Zealand and those who leave and want to return
- Up to 5000 international students to study in semester 2
The rest of the border reopening plan also remains as is
Immigration New Zealand has announced no other changes to date. That means the following:
- From July: New Zealand’s borders will open to Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders.
- From October: The border reopens, and standard visa processing resumes for all categories, including visitor and student visas, unless the visa is closed or paused.
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Two big border announcements from the New Zealand government!
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins made two big announcements on 28 February 2022.
The first announcement was that New Zealand is removing self-isolation requirements for vaccinated travellers. The other announcement was that New Zealand is bringing forward stage two of the border reopening plan.
All self-isolation requirements removed from 2 March for fully vaccinated travellers
The New Zealand government has decided to drop the requirement for self-isolation for fully vaccinated travellers upon arrival in New Zealand after consultation with the Strategic COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Group and the Director General of Health.
This decision means that all New Zealanders coming home and tourists entering the country will be able to step off the plan and enter the community immediately, and it takes effect on Wednesday, 2 March.
Travellers must still have a negative pre-departure PCR test, though, and undertake two rapid antigen tests on arrival and also at day 5 or 6. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will have to report it and isolate for the same period as a community case (at least 10 days).
“Caution has served us well during the past two years and as we continue to move through the Omicron outbreak and peak, we will continue to remove restrictions when advised it is safe to do so – as we always said we would,” Minister Hipkins said.
New Zealand is bringing forward stage two of the border reopening plan
New Zealand released a 5-stage border reopening plan on 3 February 2022.
The first stage of the plan kicked off on 27 February. The second stage, that’ll allow travel to New Zealand from anywhere in the world for fully vaccinated New Zealanders and eligible travellers, was scheduled for 13 March.
The New Zealand government has now confirmed that it’ll bring forward the second stage to Friday, 4 March.
“We are able to take these decisions because we have a highly vaccinated population and good public health restrictions through the COVID-19 Protection Framework in place,” Minister Hipkins said.
Minister Hipkins also said that the New Zealand government will review the timings of the remaining stages of the border reopening plan in the coming weeks. That could mean that we could see New Zealand’s borders reopen fully much sooner than October.
Be the first to know about more positive changes to border restrictions
The two changes the New Zealand government made in February has been welcome news. Especially after almost no movement on COVID-19 regulations and border restrictions after two years!
You can rest assured that we’ll keep you informed of any changes that happens in the future. Hopefully it won’t be too long until we can do so either. Follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn to ensure that you stay in the loop.
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