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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Immigration New Zealand has announced that the Government is adding 32 new health sector roles to the Green List.

Additionally, all health roles on the Green List will move to the Straight to Residence pathway of the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Eligible health professionals can apply for work visas from 29 May 2023.

The roles are across the healthcare system

The occupations New Zealand are adding to the Green List are across the healthcare system.

Immigration New Zealand has also indicated these roles are critical to the delivery of health services in New Zealand.

These are the roles:

1. Addiction Practitioner/Alcohol & Drug Clinician
2. Audiometrist
3. Chiropractor
4. Clinical Dental Technician
5. Clinical Physiologists (Sleep, Renal, Exercise, Respiratory, Neurology, and Cardiac)
6. Counsellor
7. Dental Specialists
8. Dental Technician
9. Dental Therapist
10. Dentist
11. Dietician
12. Dispensing Optician
13. Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
14. Enrolled Nurse
15. Genetic Counsellor
16. Medical Laboratory Pre-Analytical Technician
17. Medical Resonance Imaging Technologist
18. Nuclear Medicine Technologist
19. Nurse Practitioner
20. Optometrist
21. Oral Health Therapist
22. Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician
23. Orthotist/Prosthetist
24. Osteopath
25. Paramedic/Emergency Medical Technician
26. Perfusionist (Cardiac)
27. Pharmacist
28. Physiotherapist
29. Play Therapist (Hospital)
30. Social Worker
31. Speech-Language Therapist
32. Sterile Processing Technician

Roles on the Work to Residence pathway moving to the Straight to Residence pathway

Eight existing healthcare roles on the Green List are moving to the Straight to Residence pathway:

1. Anaesthetic Technician
2. Audiologist
3. Medical Imaging Technologist
4. Medical Laboratory Technician
5. Medical Radiation Therapist
6. Occupational Therapist
7. Podiatrist
8. Sonographer

This move means that professionals working in these eight occupations don’t need two years of relevant work experience in New Zealand before being able to apply for residence.

They must, however, still meet these requirements:

• Working for an accredited employer or having a job offer from one
• Meeting the criteria set out on the Green List for their occupation
• Having a full-time job (at least 30 hours a week), genuine and permanent or at least a 12-month fixed-term contract. Independent contractors are also eligible under certain circumstances.

Existing roles on the Straight to Residence pathway

The Green List’s Straight to Residence pathway already includes eight occupations. These roles are as follows:

1. Clinical Psychologist
2. Medical Laboratory Scientist
3. Medical Practitioners
4. Midwife
5. Orthoptist
6. Physicist (Medical)
7. Psychologist
8. Registered Nurses

Applications for the new health roles open at the end of May

Immigration New Zealand announced that applications for the 32 new occupations on the Green List open on 29 May 2023.

You don’t have to wait until then to get the ball rolling, though. You can start today by determining if you meet all the requirements to apply for a work visa. Simply book your consultation call with our licensed advisor on our website.

The sooner you start, the quicker you can submit your application once applications open.

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:

1. Principal/Senior Communications & Control Engineer
2. Principal/Senior Primary Design Engineer
3. Senior Protection and Secondary Design Engineer
4. Power System Analysis (PSA) Engineer
5. 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!

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.

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.

Stay up to date with immigration news from New Zealand

To be the first to know about immigration changes, follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn where we post regular news updates.

Immigration New Zealand is continuously amending their visa regulations to help the country bounce back from the economic effects of COVID-19. This month’s changes affect Essential Skill visa holders, dairy farm workers and three short-term work visas.

Changes to Essential Skills visa

Immigration New Zealand has announced three changes to the Essential Skills visa category:

1. INZ has increased the duration of new Essential Skills visas for those who are paid below the median wage from 6 months to 12 months. This change applies to all Essential Skills visas granted on or after 10 June 2021.
2. From 19 July, Essential Skills visa applications will be assessed using the median hourly wage of NZ$27, in line with the 2020 Statistics New Zealand median wage. This is an annual adjustment, and it’s an increase from the current rate of NZ$25.50.
3. The stand-down period for Essential Skills visa holders who are paid below the median wage will be further postponed until July 2022. This stand-down period requires visa holders to leave New Zealand for 12 months after three years before applying for another lower-paid Essential Skills visa.

Border exception for dairy farm managers, dairy farm assistants and veterinarians

Immigration New Zealand is introducing a border exception for up to 150 dairy herd managers, up to 50 dairy farm assistants and up to 50 veterinarians to assist with the upcoming calving season.

“It is clear from conversations with the dairy and veterinarian sectors that they are facing workforce pressures. These border exceptions will go a long way towards relieving those pressures,” Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said.

To apply for the exception, you must meet the following criteria:

• Assistant Dairy Farm Managers
  • who earn above $92,000 per year, and
  • have 2-4 years of relevant work experience, and
  • will enter New Zealand before April 2022.
• ­Dairy Herd Managers
  • who earn above $79,500 per year, and
  • have 2-4 years of relevant work experience, and
  • will enter New Zealand before April 2022.
• Dairy Farm Assistants
  • who earn at or above the median wage per year, and
  • will fill roles in regions with acute shortages, and
  • are entering New Zealand to support the 2021/22 season, and
  • will enter New Zealand before April 2022.
• Veterinarians
  • who earn at or above NZD85,000 per year,
  • with 3 to 5 years of experience across key roles in both urban and rural veterinary settings, and
  • the necessary qualifications and experience to get licensed and registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

Extensions for three short-term work visas

INZ has extended the validity of Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employer work visas. INZ is also granting Pacific Recognised Seasonal Employer workers longer stays.

Working Holiday visas

Working Holiday visas that are expiring between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 have been extended a further six months. To qualify for the extension, visa holders must have been in New Zealand on 14 June 2021.

This extension is already legally in effect, and INZ will update visa records in July. Visa holders can use the confirmation email from INZ as proof of their right to work when engaging with prospective employers.

Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) work visas

Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) work visas expiring between 30 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 have been extended for six months.

The extended SSE visas now have open work rights allowing them to work in any sector.
Immigration New Zealand will contact visa holders to confirm their extension. The visa extensions are however already legally in effect, and INZ will update visa records in July.

Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) visa

If you are a Pacific RSE worker who came to New Zealand through the border exception you can apply for a new visa and will be able to stay beyond the normal maximum period.

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