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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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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