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Changes to SMC Visas

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:27:20 GMT

INZ’s August 2026 changes to Skilled Migrant Category Residence Pathways (SMC) explained.

New residence pathways are scheduled to take effect from late August 2026.

These pathways are in addition to the current SMC system and require several key elements to be met.

The Two new Residence pathways are:

1. Trades and Technicians Pathway

This pathway applies to applicants working in specified trade or technician occupations who:

Please see here for a published list of eligible Trades and Technician occupations.

• Hold a relevant NZQF Level 4 or higher qualification; and

• Have at least four years of directly relevant post-qualification experience, including at least 1.5 years of that experience gained in New Zealand while paid at or above the applicable SMC median wage.

2. Skilled Work Pathway

This pathway applies to applicants working in ANZSCO skill level 1–3 roles who have:

• At least five years of directly relevant work experience in total; and

• At least two years of skilled work experience gained in New Zealand in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role earning at least 1.1 times the relevant SMC median wage.

Skilled Work Experience Pathway for Amber List Occupations

If a migrant is working in an occupation on the Amber List, they will have to meet the following different criteria to be eligible for Residence under the Skilled Work Experience pathway:

• Be currently working in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role; and

• Have at least five years of directly relevant work experience in New Zealand in an ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 role; and

• For at least two years of the five years of skilled work experience, be earning at least 1.2 times the relevant SMC median wage.

Migrants working in a role on the Amber List are not eligible to apply for Residence under the Trades and Technician pathway.

An applicant is eligible to apply for SMC residence if they score at least six points.

In late August 2026, changes to how qualification points are awarded under the Skilled Migrant Category will take effect.

Greater recognition is being given to qualifications completed in New Zealand.

Key changes include:

• New Zealand qualifications will generally receive one additional point compared to equivalent overseas qualifications.

• When claiming points for a qualification, applicants must provide:

∙ The qualification certificate, and

∙ An International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if the qualification was completed overseas and is not listed on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).

Applicants claiming points for a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification (NZQCF) must also hold a bachelor’s degree, unless they are claiming five points for a New Zealand Master’s degree.

Applicants claiming six points for a New Zealand Master’s degree must have studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand for that Master’s degree, and must hold a bachelor’s degree (this can be gained in any country).

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email Steve on steve@advisa.co.nz or call him on 0272125483 to discuss things further.

More Changes to Skilled Migrant Category

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:42:40 GMT

Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category are to come into effect in August 2026

Immigration New Zealand is announcing further details on changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) ahead of these changes taking effect from late August 2026.

Details of the changes include:

confirmation of key occupation lists, including the Trades and Technician pathway list, and the red and amber lists, which determine eligibility for residence pathways
simplified median wage settings that apply across all Skilled Migrant Category pathways
clarified qualification requirements for claiming points
extended English language test validity for some applicants
a new recognised occupational registration for accountants, and
a future ability to extend an Accredited Employer Work Visa to complete skilled work experience requirements.

The SMC is New Zealand’s main residence pathway for skilled migrants. In September 2025, the Government announced changes to help New Zealand employers retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth.

These include:

new residence pathways for skilled migrants
changes to better reflect the value of qualifications completed in New Zealand, and
changes to simplify existing settings.

Trades and Technician pathway confirmed

The list of eligible occupations for the Trades and Technician residence pathway has been confirmed.

This pathway is for migrants:

working in specified ANZSCO skill level 1–3 trades and technician occupations
who hold a relevant Level 4 or above qualification, and
who have at least 4 years of directly relevant experience gained post qualification, including 1.5 years in New Zealand earning at least the SMC median wage.

A full list of eligible occupations is available here:

Eligible occupations for the SMC Trades and Technician pathway (August 2026)

These trades and technician occupations were added to the Trades and Technician pathway because they are skilled, have relevant qualification at the appropriate level for the pathway and bring important skills to the economy.

Many highly skilled workers in these roles did not have a realistic pathway to residence under the current SMC settings. There is a history of migrant recruitment showing that there is a gap in the labour market. Recognising these qualifications and providing a more realistic wage threshold for these occupations will help attract and retain migrants with important skills for the economy.

Red and Amber list details

As part of the September 2025 announcement of new residence pathways, the introduction of red and amber lists was announced. These lists are designed to manage immigration risk and ensure the pathways remain targeted to genuine skill needs.

Occupations on the red list are not eligible for the 2 new pathways. People working in these occupations will only be able to apply for residence under the SMC if they can claim 6 points under an existing pathway.

For example, migrants must either earn at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage or hold a Bachelor’s (Level 7) qualification or higher, or hold recognised occupational registration and have the required length of skilled work experience in New Zealand. 

Occupations on the amber list are eligible for the new Skilled Work Experience pathway, but must meet additional eligibility requirements:

at least 5 years of relevant eligible work experience in New Zealand, including
2 years of skilled work experience earning at least 1.2 times the SMC median wage.

Migrants working in these occupations are still eligible for the existing SMC pathway (earns at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage, or Bachelor’s qualification and above, or holds recognised occupational registration).

Occupations on the red and amber lists were determined based on evidence of historic immigration risk, including indicators of role inflation and immigration fraud. Immigration risk is not static, and INZ know it is important that these lists are responsive to changes. Therefore, these lists will be reviewed regularly to both add new occupations and remove existing occupations from the lists where necessary.

Skilled work experience requirements

Relevant work experience must be directly relevant to an applicant’s skilled job or skilled job offer and be in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation.

Skilled work experience must be paid at the threshold required for an applicant’s SMC pathway.

For the Skilled Work Experience pathway and Trades and Technician pathway, skilled work experience must also be in an ANZSCO 1 to 3 skill level occupation and be directly relevant to an applicant’s skilled job or job offer.

Red and amber list occupations

Further updates to the SMC: Ability to extend an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Migrants who need up to 12 additional months of skilled work experience to meet SMC requirements will be able to apply to extend their AEWV to complete the skilled work experience they need to apply for residence.

This ability to extend an AEWV is scheduled to be introduced in 2027. Further details on eligibility and the process for this extension will be provided at a later date.

Qualification points

In September 2025, the Government announced that qualification points will change from August 2026, including providing 1 point more for qualifications completed in New Zealand than for those completed overseas (except for doctoral degrees and, in some cases, master’s degrees).

INZ are now introducing further details on how this will work.

For the qualification for which they are claiming points, applicants must provide:

the qualification certificate, and
An International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if the qualification was gained overseas and is not on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).

Under the new changes, applicants claiming points for a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification (on the NZQCF framework) must also hold a bachelor’s degree (except for applicants claiming 5 points for an New Zealand master’s degrees).

A level 8 or Level 9 qualification includes:

master's degree (level 9)
postgraduate diploma (level 8)
postgraduate certificate (level 8)
honour's degree (level 8)

Applicants claiming 6 points for a New Zealand master’s degree must have studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand and must have a bachelor’s degree (this can be gained in any country).

Wage assessment settings

The Government has implemented 2 changes to wage settings.

Migrants will only need to meet the SMC median wage (specific to their pathway) when they begin to gain skilled work experience and maintain at least that rate when applying for residence.

They will no longer be required to meet a higher wage threshold when they apply for residence.

A grace period will now apply to the situations where the SMC median wage increases before a migrant starts work. If a migrant begins skilled work experience within 5 months of their work visa being granted, the wage threshold that applied on the day the visa was granted will be used, even if the median wage has increased since then.

English language test validity

From late August 2026, English language test results will be valid for 5 years for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration.

New recognised registration for accountants

From late August 2026, accountants who can undertake the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand and who have membership with Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia will be eligible under the SMC pathway.

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Contact Advisa to assess your eligibility and plan for these pathways before they open in August 2026.

Call Steve 027 2125483

Update: Active Investor Plus Visa

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:11:28 GMT

Active Investor Plus “golden visa”

Wealthy Americans are driving a dramatic spike in applications for New Zealand’s revamped Active Investor Plus “golden visa” , with many citing political unease in the United States alongside the country’s natural beauty and business potential.

New rules introduced in April 2025 slashed investment thresholds, removed English-language requirements and cut the in-country residency requirement.

Since these changes, Immigration New Zealand has received 573 applications covering 1,833 people — compared with just 116 applications over the previous two-and-a-half years.

Nearly 40% of applicants are from the United States, followed by China and Hong Kong. Applications from China have more than doubled since August 2025.

Other top source countries include Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and Great Britain.

The visa offers two investment Categories:

• Growth category: Minimum NZ$5 million investment over three years

• Balanced category: Minimum NZ$10 million investment over five years

(Previously, the threshold was set at $15 million.)

Eligibility and qualification requirements

More detail is required to be definitive, but below is an overview:

Eligible visas: Active Investor Plus, Investor 1, and Investor 2 resident visa holders (including Permanent Resident Visa holders who previously held one of these visas).
Investment threshold (excluding home): Generally, a minimum of NZD 5 million invested in New Zealand.
Investment type: Investments must be in productive arms-length asset classes, outside personal property ownership.
Minimum holding period: Investments held for at least three years (as per Growth—Active Investor visa rules).
No permanent residency required: No need to live in NZ permanently, but must meet the onshore presence requirements of the resident visa concerned (where applicable).

Successful applicants can only purchase homes valued above $5 million and meet Overseas Investment Office requirements

Among the new investor visa residents are California venture capitalists Courtney and Jim Andelman, who described the scheme as both a lifestyle opportunity and a smart business move. Auckland-based Icehouse Ventures chief executive Robbie Paul said many American applicants openly cite growing political divisions in the US as a reason for their interest in New Zealand. The scheme has already secured at least $3.39 billion in committed investment, according to Immigration NZ.

This international capital is vital to boosting productivity, jobs and business growth within New Zealand.

Should you want advice on this route or other residency pathway options, please contact Steve to discuss your options in confidence and on an obligation free basis.

National Occupation List & Annual Median Wage

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:49:12 GMT

From 9 March 2026, INZ will recognise 47 additional skill level 1 to 3 occupations under the National Occupation List (NOL) for AEWV applications, alongside the annual update to the immigration median wage.

The National Occupation List (NOL) is New Zealand’s new job classification system, which replaces the Australia New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The NOL better reflects the New Zealand labour market and is updated each year. It was first announced in November 2024.

For most visa applications, we are currently using ANZSCO to assess skill levels. INZ are introducing it gradually, as moving fully to the NOL is a significant change. INZ will continue to keep employers, migrants, and advisers informed as the NOL is gradually integrated into our systems.

What employers need to know

From 9 March 2026, employers can submit a Job Check for any of the 47 newly recognised National Occupation List (NOL) occupations at skill levels 1 to 3. This includes newly recognised chef roles, which have been split into clearer occupations based on skill and seniority.

As with all AEWV applications, employers must advertise the role for at least 14 days and make genuine efforts to hire a suitable New Zealander before offering the job to a migrant worker. This update may also help some current AEWV workers who are working in directly related skill level 4 or 5 roles.

If their employer has an approved Job Check for a relevant NOL skill level 1 to 3 role (including some chef roles) and they are suitably qualified for the role, they may be able to apply for a new AEWV and extend their maximum continuous stay.

Reclassified roles

This update also includes changes to 3 occupations, which have moved from skill level 3 to 4:

pet groomer
nanny
kennel hand

All new job check applications for these roles must meet the skill level 4 requirements. These changes do not affect people who already have an AEWV for one of these roles.

If a Job Check application was submitted on or before 8 March 2026 and approved at the applicable skill level, that application and all associated Job tokens and AEWV applications, including Job Change requests, will not be affected by this reclassification.

All future Job Check and AEWV applications for these roles will be treated as skill level 4. This means applicants must meet all AEWV requirements for this skill level, including English language requirements and MSD engagement as part of the Job Check process. They will also have a shorter maximum continuous stay, which may affect their ability to support a partner or dependent.

Median wage changes

From 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage will increase to NZD $35.00 per hour, based on June 2025 data. This affects several AEWV related and family visa settings.

Although the general median wage requirement for AEWV was removed in March 2025, some immigration settings are still linked to the median wage. From 9 March, these thresholds will automatically update, including:

Green List pay requirements
Exemptions from advertising and minimum skills (roles paid at least twice the median wage)
Maximum 5 year stay rules for some lower skilled roles (paid at least 1.5 times the median wage)
Income thresholds for supporting partners and dependent children

Partner and dependent income thresholds are also increasing. For example:

Skill level 1 to 3 partner support threshold will increase from NZD $26.85 to $28.00 per hour
Green List partner support threshold will increases from NZD $50.34 to $52.50 per hour

Wage thresholds for skilled residence pathways (SMC, Green List and Transport WTR) will also increase in line with the new median wage. Some applicants may need to move to a higher pay step to remain eligible — for example, teachers must now be on Step 5 of the pay scale (previously Step 4).

Updates to sponsorship income thresholds for the Parent Category and Parent Boost Visitor Visa will be communicated separately and will take effect later in 2026.

National Occupation List occupations used for an AEWV

INZ Christmas & New Year

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 01:59:59 GMT

Holiday Updates

Application processing

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) offices will be closed on public holidays, and there will be reduced services from 25 December to 5 January.

A small number of staff will be available during this period to manage urgent or emergencies only (e.g., bereavement, illness, family emergency).

Standard processing will resume from 5 January 2026.

Escalations

If you need to escalate an application urgently during the holiday period, you can do so through the usual escalation process, noting that INZ staff do not work on statutory holidays or weekends.

Please note that escalations will only be prioritised if they meet emergency criteria.

Information requests (PPI/RFI)

Between 15 December and 5 January, any request for additional information will allow a minimum of 10 working days for response, except for 15 working days for investor visa categories.

Extensions can still be requested through the usual process if needed.

Police Certificate Requirement for AEWV

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:06:35 GMT

Police certificate requirement for Accredited Employer Work Visa applications.

From 8 December 2025, you must provide a valid police certificate with your Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) application.

INZ will no longer be accepting receipts that show you have applied for a certificate.

INZ are making this change to speed up visa decisions and reduce delays caused by missing documents.

If you apply with complete documents, you will get a quicker decision.

INZ will assess your application based on what you provide and will not delay processing. This means people who submit complete applications will benefit from faster decisions.

Applicants who provide all required information upfront can expect to receive more timely visa outcomes, as this change allows our processing staff to focus on deciding applications rather than chasing documents.

You MUST only apply when you have your police certificate ready to upload.

Processing times for police certificates vary by country, so check with your local authority and carefully plan ahead.

This is very important for Middle Eastern countries in particular, where there can be a long delay in processing Police Certificates.

There are Exceptions:

Fiji, Hong Kong and Israel send certificates directly to INZ.

In these cases, you can upload proof that you have applied for your Police Certificate.

You can apply without a new Police Certificate if you have spent less than 24 months in New Zealand.

If you have spent more than 24 months in New Zealand and apply for a visa without the Police certificate(s), you will receive a Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letter and have a chance to respond.

If you are outside of New Zealand and you have already spent more than 24 months in New Zealand, your application may be declined.

2 New Seasonal Visa Options

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:31:19 GMT

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)

From 8 December 2025 applications will open for 2 new seasonal visa options under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV).

These 2 new visas will make it easier for accredited employers to hire for genuine seasonal roles.

Most of the conditions of these visas will be the same as any Accredited Employer Work Visa, and to change any conditions, applicants will need to apply for a Job Change.

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)

This visa is for roles that are genuinely seasonal and have specific requirements, including:

Employers do not need to advertise the role in New Zealand and show they have tried to hire a New Zealander before recruiting internationally for approved roles ie, employers do not need a labour market test
Visas will be granted for 3 years
Applicants are required to meet health and character requirements, regardless of their intended stay
Applicants must have at least 3 seasons of relevant experience within the last 6 years and spend 3 months outside New Zealand each year
English language testing is not required.

Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)

This visa is designed for short peak periods and has specific requirements, including:

Employers must advertise the role in New Zealand and show they have tried to hire a New Zealander before recruiting internationally for approved roles ie. employers need a labour market test
Employers must either engage with Work and Income in good faith for the proposed roles or gain PSV endorsement from Work and Income
Visas can last up to 7 months, and applicants need at least 1 season of relevant experience within the last 3 years
If the job runs longer than 3 months, comprehensive health insurance is required
English language testing is not required.

If you require further information, please contact us to discuss things further.

The NOL

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:37:55 GMT

91 new roles to be recognised for AEWVs

From 3 November 2025, INZ will recognise 91 new occupations from the National Occupation List (NOL) for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications. These roles will be at skill levels 1 to 3.

About the NOL

The NOL is New Zealand’s new job classification system, replacing the Australia New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) framework.

It became the official standard in November 2024 and was updated again on 1 July 2025. Unlike ANZSCO, the NOL reflects today’s labour market and will be updated annually.

The immigration system is currently based on ANZSCO. Because transitioning to the NOL is a significant change, INZ is introducing it in stages and will keep employers, migrants, and advisers informed as it is gradually implemented into our systems.

Changes from 3 November 2025

From this date, employers can submit a job check for any of these newly recognised roles.

An AEWV holder in a skill level 1 to 3 role can stay in New Zealand longer and may be able to bring family. Some AEWV holders currently working in directly relevant skill level 4 or 5 roles may be able to move into one of these 87 new roles.

They will need to have either:

at least 3 years' directly relevant work experience, or
a recognised qualification.

If they meet these criteria, they may be able to apply for a further AEWV to extend how long they can stay in New Zealand.

These occupations will appear alongside existing ANZSCO codes in the enhanced Immigration Online system.

Check the list of 87 occupations recognised from 3 November 2025 for an AEWV:

National Occupation List occupations used for an AEWV or SPWV

What employers need to know

An employer must first advertise the role and genuinely try to appoint a suitable New Zealander. Where no New Zealand candidates are available, an employer must be accredited and apply for a job check to hire a migrant worker in one of these roles.

Employers need to submit a new job check application when recruiting a migrant worker for one of the new NOL occupations. Their job description and remuneration must clearly match the responsibilities and skill level of the role they choose.

All standard AEWV settings for skill levels 1 to 3 still apply — eligible migrant workers can stay up to 5 years, must meet wage thresholds and may be able to support family visas.

Skilled Migrant Category - Residence

At this stage, these occupations are being recognised for the AEWV only. They are not recognised for skilled residence pathways.

As part of changes to the Skilled Migrant Category, the Government has agreed to introduce a 12-month pathway for further visas for AEWV holders who:

are reaching their maximum continuous stay
need up to 12 more months to meet the Skilled Migrant Category’s New Zealand work experience requirement, and
meet the relevant wage rate.

INZ will provide more information on this next year.

International Adoptions

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:08:38 GMT

Here is what you need to know.

Interim measures suspending the recognition of international adoptions are being introduced to address the risk of harm to children and young people in New Zealand.

Due to interim changes to New Zealand’s international adoption policy, many overseas adoptions by New Zealand citizens and residents will no longer be recognised under New Zealand law for immigration and citizenship purposes. This has immediate implications for immigration pathways involving adopted children.

The New Zealand Government has introduced these interim measures to reduce the immediate risk of harm to children and young people who may be adopted through international pathways, while a targeted review of legislation and policy settings is undertaken.

Key changes for applicants

These changes only apply to New Zealand citizens and residents who have adopted children in another country and are applying for a visa or citizenship for the adopted children.

These measures came into effect on 18 September 2025. Immigration requirements will be updated to reflect the suspension of section 17 of the Adoption Act 1955 for citizenship and immigration purposes.

This means:

Overseas adoptions, completed in accordance with the laws of the country in which they took place, will no longer be recognised unless the adoption occurred in an exempt country
Children adopted from non-exempt countries are now ineligible for resident and visitor visas based on the parent-child relationship.

List of exempt countries — New Zealand Legislation

People who are not New Zealand citizens or residents can still include and support adopted children in their visa applications, based on their parent-child relationship. Each parent named on, or supporting a visa application of an adopted child, must not be a New Zealand resident or citizen.

For example, an adopted child, even from a non-exempt country, can still be included on a migrant family’s application for residence or a family application for a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand on holiday.

New visa applications

New visa applications for adopted children will likely be declined if:

It is submitted based on a parent-child relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident, and
The adoption has taken place in a country that is neither exempt nor on the list of Hague Convention countries.

Existing visa applications

If an adopted child has already submitted a residence or visitor visa application based on a parent-child relationship, their application will continue to be processed, even if the adoption took place in a country that is not exempt or from a Hague Convention country.

More information

To find out more about these changes and wider Adoption Legislation Reform in New Zealand, visit:
Adoption Law Reform — Ministry of Justice

Or contact Steve at 64 27 2125483 or through the button below.

Parent Boost Visitor Visa - Updates

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:40:20 GMT

Temporary Visa - Active from Today.

As of today, Immigration New Zealand is introducing this new visa, which will make it easier for families to spend more time together.

The Parent Boost Visitor Visa opens for applications on 29 September 2025 and is designed to help parents of New Zealand citizens and residents enjoy extended visits with their family. However, it’s important to understand that this visa is strictly temporary – there is no pathway to residence.

Parent Boost Visitor Visa

This visa allows eligible parents to stay in New Zealand for up to five years, with the flexibility to travel in and out of the country during that time.

There’s also the option to apply for a second five-year visa, allowing for a total stay of up to ten years.

Applications

To be eligible, applicants must:

Be outside New Zealand when applying and when the visa is granted.
Meet health and character requirements.
Be sponsored by an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Demonstrate financial self-sufficiency or have sponsors who meet income thresholds.
Hold suitable health insurance.
Have no dependent children.

Once approved in principle, applicants must sign a declaration confirming they understand the visa’s temporary nature and agree to comply with its conditions.

Visa conditions and compliance

Successful applicants must arrive in New Zealand within six months of visa approval, with their five-year stay beginning from the date of first arrival.

Parents and their partners may travel separately. Between the third and fourth year, a compliance check is required, including a new medical certificate and proof of continued insurance.

Health compliance is non-negotiable, with all applicants having to meet a strict standard, and medical waivers are not available.

For the initial visa, recent medical certificates may be reused if they meet the criteria, but for compliance checks and future applications, certificates must be no older than three months.

Insurance is another critical area.

Applicants must maintain comprehensive health insurance throughout their stay, with minimum coverage for:

emergency medical care
cancer treatment
repatriation
return of remains.

Failure to maintain this coverage could result in visa cancellation or ineligibility for future visas.

This requirement, while understandable from a policy perspective, may prove challenging for some families – especially those navigating international insurance markets or where pre-existing medical conditions may make the cost of obtaining this insurance excessive.

Financial support and sponsorship

Applicants must show they can support themselves financially in one of three ways:

Sponsor’s income: a single sponsor must earn at least the median wage; joint sponsors must meet higher combined thresholds, with additional requirements for multiple parents.
Parents’ income: regular income at or above the New Zealand Superannuation rate.
Parents’ funds: at least NZD $160,000 for a single parent or NZD $250,000 for a couple, with funds genuinely belonging to the parents.

These thresholds are significant, and while they aim to ensure applicants won’t rely on public services, they may exclude families who are otherwise well-positioned to host their parents.

The central role of sponsorship also means adult children must be prepared to take on legal and financial responsibilities, which may not be feasible for everyone.

The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a positive step toward helping families reconnect and spend meaningful time together. However, the strict health, insurance, and financial requirements mean that not all families will find the process straightforward.

If you’re considering applying, it’s essential to understand the full scope of the requirements and plan accordingly.

New Business Investor Visa

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:10:17 GMT

Supporting the succession and growth of NZ SMEs

The Minister of Immigration recently announced the new Business Investor Visa ( BIV ), expected to launch in November 2025.

Full policy details are still pending, however it’s shaping up to be an excellent addition to New Zealand’s developing suite of investment and business visa products aimed at attracting more foreign direct investment into the NZ economy.

The Business Investor Visa (BIV) is part of a three-tiered strategy :

Active Investor Plus Visa (launched April 2025): focused on investment capital.
Business Investor Visa : combines investment and human capital for the purchase and improvement of an existing business.
Upcoming third visa : focus on human capital and new-business creation.

What makes the BIV different?

The BIV is designed for experienced businesspeople looking to buy and grow existing New Zealand businesses.

It aims to:

Preserve jobs by maintaining current employment.
Create new jobs for New Zealanders.

Key (anticipated) features:

Investment requirement : NZD $1m (standard pathway) or NZD $2m (fast-track), excluding land value.
Additional funds : NZD $500k to support business growth.
Age limit : under 56, ensuring long-term business continuity.
English proficiency : IELTS 5.0 – enough to operate in an English-speaking environment.
Tax residency : applicants must spend at least 184 days each year in New Zealand and actively work in the business.
Job creation : must maintain existing jobs and create at least one new full-time role for a Kiwi.

Retirement options - a win-win solution

Many small-to-medium (SME) New Zealand businesses are owned by founders nearing retirement, some without succession plans. One in four SMEs is predicted to come up for sale in the next 10 years.

The BIV opens the door for international buyers to step in, ensuring these businesses continue to thrive and grow with the application of a fresh adjustment to the operation of the business. It’s a win for retiring owners and the NZ economy. The BIV fills a crucial gap between the high-capital Active Investor Plus Visa and the upcoming new business creation visa.

Migrants seeking a meaningful path to residency who cannot apply for an Active Investor Plus Visa but have sufficient funds to acquire a business and can apply their skill set to the continuity and growth of the NZ business.

It’s expected to attract 50–100 applicants in its first year, growing up to 500 as the policy develops and matures.

The BIV could be a major win for New Zealand’s immigration and economic landscape.

For more information about this visa or if you have questions on how to apply for this visa, reach out to Steve.

Entrepreneur Category Closure

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 22:19:23 GMT

The NZ Government has announced the closure of the Entrepreneur Work Visa.

The Entrepreneur Category is now closed to new applications for the Entrepreneur Work Visa.

If you have recently submitted an application for an Entrepreneur Work Visa, INZ will process it following the rules that were in place when you applied.

If you withdraw your application, you will not be eligible for a refund of any fees or levies already paid, regardless of the reason for your withdrawal.

If you already currently hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa:

Entrepreneur Work Visa holders will still be able to apply for residence, as the Entrepreneur Resident Visa will remain open.

If you need more time to meet the Entrepreneur residence requirements, you can still apply for an Entrepreneur Work Visa renewal to maintain your pathway to residence.

If you want to apply for a Business Investor Work Visa, you will need to submit a new application when the visa opens and pay the fees and levies.

The NZ Government has introduced a new Business Investor Visa to attract experienced investors, who will help grow New Zealand’s economy by actively running businesses.

The new Business Investor Visa:

The Business Investor Work Visa will open for applications in November 2025 and offer 2 investment options:

NZD $1 million investment in an existing business, for a 3-year work-to-residence pathway
NZD $2 million investment in an existing business, for a 12-month fast-track to residence pathway

Applicants can purchase a business outright on either visa pathway or acquire at least 25% of the business, provided they meet the minimum $1 million or $2 million investment thresholds.

Applicants may also include their partner and dependent children in their application. 

Both options lead to eligibility to apply for the Business Investor Resident Visa.

A Business Investor Visa may be granted for up to 4 years.

The cost of the Business Investor Work Visa will be NZD $12,380. (This includes the visa application fee and immigration levy). 

The Business Investor Work Visa complements the Active Investor Plus Visa, which was refreshed in April 2025, and is part of a broader update to business immigration settings to attract investment, talent, and international connections.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Business Investor work visa, applicants must:

meet the minimum investment threshold
show they have at least NZD $500,000 to support themselves (and their family if they are including them in their application) while establishing their business
be aged 55 or younger when they apply
meet English language requirements (IELTS 5.0 or equivalent)
meet health and character requirements
meet business experience requirements
invest in a business that meets the financial threshold and employs at least 5 full-time equivalent staff.

Business investment requirements:

The following business types are not acceptable business investments under this visa:

businesses involved in:
drop-shipping (Online with no stored goods)
gambling
the manufacturing of tobacco or other nicotine-based products, including vaping
adult entertainment
convenience stores (eg: corner dairies)
businesses that offer immigration advisory services, or that were purchased from a Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA), or where an LIA is materially involved
discount or value stores (eg; NZD $2 shops)
fast food outlets
franchised businesses
home-based businesses (businesses only operating from a residential address).

More information

INZ will be sharing more information about the Business Investor Visa in October, 2025.

This will include information to help compare it with the Active Investor Plus Visa for those considering both options.

New Wage Thresholds

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 02:53:47 GMT

New wage thresholds for skilled residence visas and pathways: $33.56 p/h

T he annual update to the wage thresholds for skilled residence visas took effect on Monday, 18 August 2025.

Applicants must have a job offer that pays at least the wage threshold for their occupation to be eligible for a skilled residence visa, such as a Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence or Straight to Residence visa.

The change can also affect work visa holders in New Zealand on a pathway to residence.

Work visa holders need to be paid at least the wage threshold in effect at the time they started their job for it to count as eligible work experience for a Skilled Migrant Category or Work to Residence visa. They do not need to have a pay increase when wage thresholds increase.

However, if they change jobs, their remuneration decreases, or they apply for another work visa, their new pay must be at least the current wage threshold for their work experience to count. They must also meet the new wage threshold at the time they apply for residence.

Wage thresholds reflect market conditions and skill requirements and are updated annually in line with median wage changes.

Residence pathway for 10 more skilled trades (Note pay rate requirements below**)

On 18 August 2025, 10 skilled trades occupations will be added to the Green List Work to Residence pathway to help meet the expected demand for tradespeople in the workforce.

Eligible applicants can apply for residence after working in New Zealand and earning the relevant wage threshold for 2 years in one of these 10 occupations.

Metal Fabricator*
Metal Machinist (First Class)*
Fitter (General)*
Fitter and Turner*
Fitter Welder*
Pressure Welder*
Welder*
Panel Beater**
Vehicle Painter**
Paving Plant Operator**

Work to Residence Visa applicants must meet the skills, work experience and wage requirements. Standard health, character, language, and age requirements also apply.

People working in these 10 trades can apply for a Work to Residence Visa if they:

Have a job or job offer in one of the listed Green List occupations
Are aged 55 or under when applying for residence
Meet health, character, and English language requirements
Meet the specific job and pay requirements for their occupation, including:
earning at least the required applicable wage at the time of the residence application, and
having 24 months of full-time, paid work experience in a relevant job in New Zealand, earning at least the required Green List wage for that role at the time they started it.

To be eligible, applicants will need to be paid at a level that reflects the skill and experience required for their role:

* for Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, and Machinist roles listed above, applicants must be earning at least $43.63 an hour (or $90,750 a year based on a 40-hour week)
** for Paving Plant Operators, Panel Beaters, and Vehicle Painters, applicants must be earning at least $38.59 an hour (or $80,267 a year).

The wage thresholds for these roles were developed as part of the Green List review in 2023 and were based on consultation with industry groups at that time.

Wage thresholds are used in the work-to-residence pathway in the Green List for roles that do not have requirements for a qualification or occupational registration.

These wage thresholds target the most skilled and experienced workers in these roles.

Two New Visa Options: AEWV

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:28:27 GMT

The Government is introducing TWO new visa options under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework:

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and
Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV).

These visas will be available from 8 December 2025 .

They are designed to help accredited employers bring in workers for short-term roles driven by seasonal environmental peaks, while maintaining fair and consistent immigration settings.

How the visas work:

Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)

This visa is for skilled seasonal roles and is valid for up to 3 years.

Employers need to get a job check for a seasonal role, and then the worker applies for the seasonal visa. Visa holders must spend at least 3 months outside New Zealand each year. Applicants need to have worked in a relevant seasonal role for at least 3 seasons in the past 6 years.

There is no Labour Market Test, nor is there an English language requirement, and visa holders can transition to other visa types.

Roles covered under this visa :

Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator
Agricultural Technician (for example, sheep or animal pregnancy scanner)
Chairlift Operator
Tulip Grower
Thoroughbred Yearling Preparer
Snow Groomer
Mountain or Glacier Guide
Outdoor Adventure Instructor
Primary Products Inspector
Shearer
Slaughterer
Snow Sports Instructor
Snow Maker
Snowsport Equipment Technician
Whitewater Rafting Guide
Wine Maker
Winery Senior Cellar Hand

Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV):

This visa is for entry-level or lower-skilled seasonal roles and is valid for up to 7 months.

After reaching the 7-month limit, visa holders must take a 4-month break before reapplying.

Applicants need at least 1 season of relevant experience in the past 3 years and must hold comprehensive health insurance.

There is no English language requirement, but employers must engage with or be endorsed by Work and Income.

Roles covered under this visa:

Mussel or Oyster Farm Worker
Calf Rearer
Relief Milker
Forestry Worker
Meat Boner and Slicer
Meat Process Worker
Seafood Process Worker
Winery Cellar Hand
Wool Handler

Visa holders under both pathways cannot support partner or dependent visas .

They can only change jobs within the same visa type.

Applicants moving from a student or work visa will retain interim work rights while their new visa application is being processed.

Advisa Immigration Services Ltd are here to assist you.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with Steve Baker for an obligation-free and confidential conversation.

Visas for Parents of New Zealand Citizens or Residents

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:24:57 GMT

New Zealand now offers three distinct pathways for parents of New Zealand citizens or residents to migrate to the country.

These three routes are designed for different financial situations and provide opportunities for families to reunite.

If you have a child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may be able to join them in New Zealand.

A Parent Resident Visa will allow you to live, work or study in New Zealand and stay here indefinitely.

‍

From 1 July 2025 , significantly more expressions of interest (EOIs) for the Parent Resident Visa will be selected from the ballot.

Close to 2,500 people from the EOI ballot pool are expected to apply for residence in this financial year, up from 500 in previous years.

The next Parent Resident Visa category ballot draw takes place on 12 August 2025 .
To be included, people must submit their EOI by 31 July 2025 .
‍

* All visa options have Health and Character mandatory requirements.

1. The Parent Resident Visa*
This policy relies on the sponsor's income rather than the parent's financial resources

Key features:
Eligibility is based on the sponsoring adult child's income in New Zealand.
Applications are subject to a ballot system. Selections from the applicant pool occur periodically.
The ballot system introduces an element of chance to the process.
While this approach aims to ensure fairness, it also means that there's no guarantee of selection, even if all other criteria are met.

English proficiency requirement

2. The Parent Retirement Resident Visa*

This is currently New Zealand's best investor policy .

The Parent Retirement Category is tailored for financially independent parents who wish to retire in New Zealand.

This policy focuses on the applicant's ability to make a significant investment in New Zealand.

Requirements:
Applicants must have a net wealth of at least NZ$1.5 million.
NZ$1 million must be invested in New Zealand for a minimum of four years.
The remaining NZ$500,000 are "settlement funds".

Key advantages:
Currently offers the most favourable investment terms among New Zealand's investor programs.
Provides flexibility in investment options. Lower investment threshold compared to the Active Investor

Plus Category. The Parent Retirement Category stands out for its relatively accessible investment requirements. Unlike Active Investor Plus Category that demands higher investments & restricts these to specific sectors, this category allows applicants to choose from a range of "acceptable investments."
This flexibility, combined with the lower investment threshold, makes it an attractive option. This option allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand permanently. You can include your partner in this application and can apply for permanent residence after 4 years.

3. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa* available from 29 September 2025

The New Zealand Government has recently announced a new long-term visitor visa, allowing parents to spend more time with their families in New Zealand.

5 years plus another 5 years available. The purpose of this visa is to help reunite families and attract highly skilled migrants in New Zealand.

Advisa Immigration Services Ltd are here to assist you.

Please contact Steve Baker for an obligation free and confidential conversation about any of the above-mentioned visa routes .

(AEWV) Wage Thresholds

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 22:49:53 GMT

INZ have made changes to Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) wage thresholds.

Wage threshold updates

From 18 August 2025, these AEWV related thresholds will be updated to reflect the June 2024 median wage of $33.56 an hour. This helps keep the system fair, protects local wages, and supports employers who need skilled workers.

These changes may affect AEWV applicants:

earning twice the median wage ($67.12 an hour) — they may be exempt from the labour market test and minimum skills threshold.
earning 1.5 times the median wage ($50.34 an hour) — they may be eligible for the maximum continuous stay of 5 years on an AEWV.

These updates are part of our ongoing work to maintain a fair, consistent, and responsive immigration system that supports employers and protects local wages.

Parent Resident Visa Category

INZ Application Fee from $5810. Sponsor’s income threshold. This starts at 1.5 times the New Zealand median wage for 1 parent, and increases by half the median wage amount for each additional parent.

The next Parent Category ballot draw is expected to take place on Tuesday, 12 August 2025.

To be included, applicants must submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) by 31 July 2025.

Live and Work NZ and NZReady now part of immigration.govt.nz

Immigration New Zealand has launched a fresh new home for our advice for prospective and recent migrants on living and working in New Zealand.

You will now find all INZ tips right on the immigration.govt.nz website. This includes from what life is like in New Zealand, to how to find work and what visa holders need to settle in.

By creating one central hub, INZ can better support potential visa applicants and new migrants earlier in their immigration journey - helping them make informed decisions and prepare for life in New Zealand.

If you require support or have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact Steve for an obligation free conversation.

Overview of Reforms

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:41:36 GMT

Overview of reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa in 2025

Ten trades occupations will be added to the Work to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand occupations in August 2025 .

The median wage thresholds for skilled resident visas will also be updated.

It is very important to understand that only highly skilled & experienced applicants who earn significantly higher wages* will be able to apply for residence. Highly paid & experienced Tradesmen in the following occupations, who have worked in New Zealand for 24 months may be eligible:

Metal Fabricator
Metal Machinist (First Class)
Fitter (General)
Fitter and Turner
Fitter Welder
Pressure Welder
Welder
Panel Beater
Vehicle Painter
Paving Plant Operator

The Green List pathway is designed to attract highly skilled workers , and eligibility for these roles includes meeting specific wage thresholds .

These wage rates are significantly higher than the new median wage (See below*)

These thresholds are set to ensure that applicants have the experience and qualifications required to contribute at a high level in their field .

Who can apply

From 18 August 2025, people working in these 10 trades can apply for a Work to Residence Visa if they:

Have a job or job offer in one of the listed green list occupations
Are aged 55 or under when applying for residence
Meet health, character, and English language requirements (6.5 IELTS)
Meet the specific job and pay requirements for their occupation, including having 24 months of NZ work experience in a relevant occupation at the time the application is submitted.

* To be eligible, applicants will need to be paid at a level that reflects the skill and experience required for their role:

for Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, and Machinist roles listed above, applicants must be earning at least $43.63 an hour (or $90,750 a year based on a 40-hour week)
for Paving Plant Operators, Panel Beaters, and Vehicle Painters, applicants must be earning at least $38.59 a hour (or $80,267 a year).

For more information on the Work to Residence Visa and eligibility requirements, visit:

Work to Residence Visa

Skilled residence visas median wage thresholds changes

Immigration New Zealand will also implement its annual update to the skilled residence visas median wage thresholds in August. These thresholds apply to the Skilled Migrant Category, Work to Residence and Straight to Residence categories. The thresholds are reviewed regularly to reflect current market conditions and skill requirements.

On 18 August 2025, the wage thresholds for skilled residence visas will be updated.

Wage thresholds which are indexed to the median wage are being updated to reflect the new median wage rate of $33.56 an hour, based on the June 2024 data from Statistics New Zealand.

These updates are part of regular reviews to make sure immigration settings reflect current job market conditions and skill levels. For more information on wage thresholds, visit:

Wage rate requirements for visas

Other Key Changes for Employees

Median wage changes

From 28 February 2025, AEWV holders who want to support a partner must meet the wage threshold of NZD $26.85 an hour.

Removing the median wage requirement

From 10 March 2025, Wage thresholds for all AEWV roles were removed. It was be replaced by market rate instead. However, median wage of $31.61/hr continues to apply for residence.

Wage requirements for bringing family

From 10 March 2025, AEWV holders must earn at least NZ$55,844 annually to sponsor dependent children. This threshold will update annually with median wage adjustments.

The previous income threshold continues to apply where a child held a visa on, or had applied for a visa, before 10 March – this ensures that children who are already here do not have to leave if their parent can meet the old threshold but cannot meet the new one.

Reducing the experience requirement for migrants

From 10 March 2025, migrant candidates need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience, instead of 3 years. Additionally, migrants still need to meet any work experience requirements of the Job Check.

Increased visa duration for lower-skilled workers

From 10 March 2025, AEWV holders in ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 roles began receiving 3-year visas, aligning with the maximum time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV.
Migrants currently on 2-year visas can apply for an additional 1-year extension if requirements are met.

Interim visa work rights

From 8 April 2025, work rights are extended to Interim Visa holders transitioning from other work or student visas to an AEWV. This ensures continuity of employment while applications are processed.

This includes:

allowing the applicant to take up the job specified in their new AEWV application (connected to their Accredited Employer’s Job Check), enabling them to move into the job more quickly
the time spent on an interim visa with work rights counting towards work experience needed for work to residence pathways; and
for a person applying for a second or subsequent AEWV, including time spent on an interim visa with work rights towards the maximum period they can stay in New Zealand on their AEWV. The maximum continuous stay period excludes any time spent on an interim visa granted before the applicant’s first AEWV.

New seasonal work opportunities

In November 2025, the introduction of multi-entry and single-entry seasonal visas creates more opportunities for workers to participate in New Zealand’s seasonal workforce, with structured pathways to support varying skill levels.

Timeline of Changes

27 January 2025:

Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules.
Reduction of domestic workforce thresholds for certain construction roles.

28 February 20225:

The wage threshold for eligible AEWV holders to support open work rights for partners is $26.85 per hour.

10 March 2025:

Removing the median wage requirement.
New earning threshold to bring dependent children over.
Reducing the experience requirement for migrants from 3 years to 2 years.
Increasing the visa duration for ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 AEWV holders to 3 years.
Amending the Work and Income engagement requirement.
Some ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles will be recognised as ANZSCO level 3.

April 2025:

Greater work rights for those on interim visas.

Mid-2025:

Redesigned Job Check process for faster and more efficient approvals.

November 2025:

Introducing new pathways for experienced seasonal workers.

Key Changes for Employers

Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules

From 27 January 2025, Accredited employers and Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) no longer need to complete Employment New Zealand’s online modules or offer paid time for migrant workers to complete them.

Instead, INZ provides employers and workers with direct links to Employment New Zealand or INZ webpages detailing employment rights and obligations at appropriate stages during the immigration process.

Reducing the domestic workforce threshold for certain construction roles

From 27 January 2025, the domestic workforce threshold was reduced from 35% to 15% for certain construction sector roles, significantly increasing hiring flexibility.

Removing the median wage requirement

From 10 March 2025, the median wage threshold for all AEWV roles was removed. Employers must continue to advertise roles and offer AEWV employees the market rate based on their position and workplace location. This change does not affect existing employment agreements.

Note: Median wage continues to apply for residence and is currently $31.61/hr.

Sector Agreements which provided an exemption to the median wage were removed alongside this change. Sector Agreements which offer residence pathways continue to do so, with no changes to the wage rate required to gain residence.

The removal of sector agreements means that roles previously covered by sector agreements for below median wage jobs are no longer subject to restrictions such as caps or limitations on visa duration and instead will be treated the same as other jobs of the same skill level.

Streamlined Job Check process

Effective 10 March 2025: employers no longer need to provide evidence of engagement with Work and Income during Job Checks but must declare their advertising and interviewing activities. Employers should retain evidence in case requested by INZ.
Mid-2025: Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will introduce a re-designed Job Check process, streamlining approval for low-risk employers and reducing processing times.

Reduced work experience requirement for migrants

From 10 March 2025, migrants need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience, instead of 3 years. This ensures migrants are sufficiently skilled while addressing key issues raised during consultation. Additionally, migrants still need to meet any work experience requirements of the Job Check.

Recognition of higher ANZSCO skill levels

With INZ transitioning from the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) to the National Occupation List (NOL), there are differences with the classification of some roles.

So that applicants are not disadvantaged, from 10 March 2025, certain occupations previously classified lower were upgraded to ANZSCO skill level 3 to align with the National Occupation List (NOL):

Cook (351411)
Pet groomer (361113)
Kennel hand (361115)
Nanny (421113)
Fitness instructor (452111)
Scaffolder (821712)
Slaughterer (831212)

Four other roles are recognised as ANZSCO skill level 3 where the employer has specified that the job needs either 3 years of work experience or a level 4 qualification, as part of the job check. This ensures skilled workers can be retained in certain critical jobs. These 4 roles are:

Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operator (721111)
Excavator operator (721214)
Forklift driver (721311)
Mobile plant operators not elsewhere classified (721999)

Introducing new pathways for experienced seasonal workers

In November 2025, two new pathways for seasonal workers will be introduced:

A 3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers.
A 7-month single-entry visa for lesser-skilled workers.

The existing temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until then.

If you have questions, please reach out to Steve.

New 'Parent Boost' Visitor Visa

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 02:41:09 GMT

The NZ Government has announced a new long-term visitor visa to help unite families.

The Parent Boost Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to visit for up to 5 years.

Applicants may apply for a second visa, enabling a total stay of up to 10 years, provided they continue to meet all eligibility requirements.

This visa is designed to support family connections without placing additional strain on public services.

'Parent Boost' Visitor Visa - Eligibility requirements

applicants must demonstrate that they are of good character, meet the acceptable standard of health (aligning with the standard for residence), and can meet the following requirements.

Sponsorship

Applicants must have an eligible sponsor who is:

their biological or adopted child
a New Zealand citizen or resident.

The sponsor must also agree to take on specific responsibilities for the full duration of the visa, including:

covering essential costs such as accommodation and daily living costs
ensuring access to health and financial support
covering costs related to repatriation or deportation, if required.

Financial requirements

Applicants must meet ONE of the following financial criteria:

the sponsor earns at least the New Zealand median wage (or 1.5 times the median wage for joint sponsors) to sponsor 1 parent, with the amount increasing by 0.5 times the median wage for additional parents being sponsored, or
the parent(s) have a personal income equivalent to New Zealand Superannuation currently NZD $32,611.28 gross per annum for a single parent and NZD $49,552.88 for a couple, or
the parent(s) have sufficient personal funds: NZD $160,000 for a single applicant or NZD $250,000 for a couple.

Health insurance

Applicants must hold at least 1 year of health insurance that covers:

emergency medical care (minimum NZD $250,000 a year)
repatriation
return of remains
cancer treatment (minimum NZD $100,000).

They must also maintain valid health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in New Zealand.

Not maintaining valid health insurance while in New Zealand may impact a person’s eligibility for future visas, including residence under the Parent Category.

It may also result in visa cancellation or make the individual liable for deportation.

Applicants will be required to undergo 2 health assessments to ensure they are of an acceptable standard of health.

The first health check is completed as part of the initial visa application. In the third year of the visa, applicants must get a second health check while outside of New Zealand.

They will also need to show proof that they have held valid health insurance while visiting New Zealand.

Visa fees

The cost of the visa will be NZD $3,000 for most applicants and NZD $2,450 for applicants eligible for the Pacific fee band. This includes both the immigration fee and levy.

Applicants will also be required to pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy of NZD $100.

After 3 years, there is an additional processing fee for the third-year health check of NZD $325 for most people, or NZD $240 if eligible for the Pacific fee band.

Applications will open on 29 September 2025 – more details on the process will be available closer to this date.

No pathway to NZ Residency

The Parent Boost Visa is a visitor visa only and does not provide a pathway to residence.

Those seeking permanent residence should consider submitting an expression of interest under the Parent Category Resident Visa.

Other visa options for parents

Temporary:

Residence:

Parent Resident Visa (capped at 2,500 places annually)
Parent Retirement Resident Visa

For more information or if you have questions, get in touch with Steve.

Are You a Tertiary Student?

Mon, 26 May 2025 20:43:28 GMT

Tertiary Students with a study start date in July or August 2025 should apply now.

Please ensure you provide full and complete applications, including all necessary documentation.

If you would like an INZ student visa information sheet please let us know.

This document provides guidance on completing an application and the documents that are required, including:

a valid offer of place from a New Zealand education provider
evidence of money to live on that is from a genuine source, and will be available to the student in New Zealand

health and character evidence.

Health and Character evidence.

Applications should include a cover letter written by the student telling us about their circumstances and plans in New Zealand. This will help INZ assess their intent.

Some students waiting on key study documentation will not be able to apply 3 months ahead. You should apply as soon as you have all their documents.

Please be aware that late applications may not be processed in time for them to start studying.

Applicants outside of New Zealand can apply with a conditional Offer of Place.

If their provider needs to wait for the student’s academic results to confirm enrolment.

This will allow INZ to begin assessing the application and approve it in principle if other requirements are met.

An unconditional Offer of Place will be required before we can grant a visa.

If you require additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Key AEWV Info & Stats

Sun, 25 May 2025 21:36:36 GMT

Information and Statistics as of 28 April 2025

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has approved 146,463 AEWV applications since the scheme opened on 4 July 2022.

There are currently 24,178 accredited employers and 82,169 AEWV holders.

On 7 April 2024, changes were announced to the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme. These include:

Introducing an English language requirement for migrants applying for low skilled ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles.
A minimum skills and work experience threshold for most AEWV roles.
For roles that fall into the ANZSCO level 4 and 5, employers will need to engage with Work and Income before approval to bring in migrants will be granted.
Reducing the maximum continuous stay for most ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles from 5 years to 3 years.
Disestablishing the franchisee accreditation category and for these businesses to apply to bring in workers from overseas through the standard, high-volume, or triangular employment accreditation.

The Government has announced reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

Key changes to AEWV Scheme

Removing the median wage requirement

Wage thresholds for all AEWV and Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) roles will be removed.

Employers still need to advertise and offer AEWV and SPWV employees the market rate for their position and workplace location. This change does not affect existing employment agreements.

There are no changes to the wages that AEWV or SPWV workers must earn to apply for residence.

New earning threshold

AEWV migrants will need to earn at least NZ$55,844 a year to bring children, along with meeting other criteria. This threshold has not been updated since 2019.

Reducing the experience requirement for migrants

The experience requirement for migrants will be reduced from 3 years to 2. This ensures migrants are sufficiently skilled while addressing key issues raised during consultation.

Introducing new pathways for experienced seasonal workers

In November 2025, 2 new pathways for seasonal workers will be introduced, including a 3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers and a 7-month single entry visa for lesser-skilled workers. The existing temporary seasonal pathways will remain available until then.

Increasing the visa duration for ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 AEWV holders to 3 years

Following feedback through consultation, the visa duration will increase to 3 years for new AEWVs issued for jobs assessed as skill level 4 or 5 on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The visa length will change from 2 years (with the option of 1 additional year) to 3 years to align with the total time these workers can stay in New Zealand (their maximum continuous stay). Those currently on a 2-year visas will be able to apply for a further AEWV for 1 year if they meet the requirements.

Amending the Work and Income engagement requirement

The current requirement for employers to engage with the Work and Income will be amended to be declaration based. Employers must declare that they have, in good faith, advertised ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 jobs with Work and Income and interviewed candidates who could have been suitable for the job. This can be done alongside the recruitment that employers will already be undertaking in the domestic labour market. There will also no longer be a set 21-day timeframe for the engagement with Work and Income.

Greater work rights for those on interim visas

From April 2025, interim work rights will be extended to AEWV applicants who are applying from any work visa type or from a student visa that allows them to work during term time, supporting migrants to maintain employment while their visa is processed.

Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules

The requirements regarding online modules will be removed from 27 January 2025 for all current and future accredited employers and Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE).

INZ will instead provide employers and workers with links to freely available Employment New Zealand or INZ webpages that set out employment rights and obligations at the most appropriate points in the immigration process.

If you require support with any immigration related matters, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Steve for an obligation free discussion.

INZ KEY STATISTICS

Sun, 04 May 2025 23:19:06 GMT

Statistics about visa application processing and decisions for some of INZ’s key visa categories are listed below, and are correct as of 27 April 2025 (unless otherwise stated).

AEWV

So far in 2025 (1 January 2025 – 27 April 2025):

INZ has received 7,420 Employer Accreditation applications, including 4,903 applications for reaccreditation, and has decided 7,528 Employer Accreditation applications
INZ has received 8,224 Job Check applications.
8,135 Job Check applications have been decided in 2025 to date.
19,024 Job Tokens having been approved and 5,576 Job Tokens having been used for roles.
INZ has received 10,498 AEWV applications.
10,930 AEWV applications have been decided in 2025 to date.

VISITOR AND STUDENT VISA

So far in 2025 (1 January 2025 – 27 April 2025):

INZ has received 146,955 visitor visa applications, with 96,467 of these being for General Visitor Visas, 23,823 being for Business Visitor Visas, and the remainder being for other types.
153,815 visitor visa applications have been decided in 2025 to date.
INZ have received 23,600 international student visa applications.
24,341 applications have been decided in 2025 to date.

SKILLED RESIDENCE

So far in 2025 (1 January 2025 – 27 April 2025):

INZ has received 766 applications under the new Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).
819 new SMC applications have been decided.
INZ has received 1,354 Green List Straight to Residence (StR) applications and 265 Green List Work to Residence (WtR) applications.
1,472 StR and 281 WtR applications have been decided in 2025 respectively.

If you or someone you know has questions regarding immigration or visa process, get in touch with Steve.

New Zealand Needs Teachers

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 02:43:25 GMT

Make the move: New Zealand Needs Skilled Educators

Are you a teacher looking for a fresh start in a new country? New Zealand is actively seeking skilled educators to join its workforce.

Many teaching roles are currently included on New Zealand’s Green List, which means qualified teachers may be eligible for a Work to Residence or even a Straight to Residence visa. This opens the door to a smoother immigration process and a clearer path to making New Zealand your long-term home.

Whether you're looking for a change of pace, a new adventure, or a better work-life balance, New Zealand offers a unique lifestyle with stunning landscapes, friendly communities, and a strong education system.

Ready to take the next step?

Register your interest HERE to learn more about the opportunities available, what it’s like to live and work in New Zealand, and how you can start your journey today.

Reach out to Advisa for any questions or needed support

INZ Changes for Pacific People

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 03:04:04 GMT

INZ changes to make it easier for Pacific people to visit NZ

The NZ Government is making it easier for Pacific visitors to travel here, with longer multi-entry visitor visas and visa-waiver travel when coming from Australia.

From 6 July 2025 , people from Pacific Islands Forum countries* who are granted a visitor visa will be able to visit New Zealand multiple times within a 24-month period.

They will be able to stay in New Zealand for a total of up to 6 months in any 12-month period within that time (but no more than 9-months in an 18-month period).

This will only apply to new visas granted from 6 July, 2025 and does not affect visas granted before then.

In November 2025, a 12-month trial will begin, allowing Pacific Islands Forum country passport holders to travel to New Zealand from Australia without needing a visitor visa.

They will need to hold a valid Australian visitor, work, student, or family visa and request an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). They can visit New Zealand for up to 3 months.

*Pacific Island Forum countries include the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

More information on these changes will be provided by INZ in the coming months.

For more information, click HERE

OR contact the team HERE

INZ Update - April 2025

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 02:59:55 GMT

Everything you need to know.

From 8 April 2025, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants can receive Interim Visas that allow them to work in New Zealand, if their visa expires while INZ is assessing their application.

To be eligible, the applicant must hold either a work visa or a student visa that allows them to work during term time, have applied for an AEWV and receive their Interim Visa on or after 8 April 2025. The Interim Visa will allow them to work for the accredited employer and the job specified in their AEWV application, enabling them to move into their job more quickly. Interim Visas are usually granted automatically to eligible customers. If you receive an Interim Visa for a client, you should check their visa letter to know whether they can work.

Candidates can provide this letter to their employer, as Interim Visa conditions are not shown in VisaView.

If the applicant intends to apply for a Work to Residence Visa, time spent working on the Interim Visa can count towards their New Zealand work experience requirements. If the applicant was on an AEWV, the time spent on an Interim Visa with these conditions will count towards the maximum time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV. If they hold a different visa, their maximum time will start from when their AEWV is approved.

If you need support or advice in this regard please don’t hesitate to contact me for obligation-free consultation.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Refinements to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa programme

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 21:16:05 GMT

Refinements to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa programme come into effect on 1 April 2025.

These have been designed with the clear objective of stimulating NZ’s economic growth.

There are currently not enough investment products to meet the capital demand that will flow into New Zealand.

There is a significant opportunity for NZ businesses and managed funds to access a growing level of foreign direct investment.

AIP visa programme from 1.4.25

The Approval in Principal visa reform will introduce two streamlined investment categories:

Growth Category: requires a minimum investment of NZD$5 million over a three-year period.
Balanced Category : requires a minimum investment of NZD$10 million over a five-year period.

NZTE Control

NZTE continues to oversee the “approved investment” for the purposes of the Growth Category by applying the new criteria.

Companies and Managed Funds looking to attract capital need to be an approved Growth Category investment with NZTE. This will allow access to a significant pool of growing capital.

So, what has changed?

The criteria for NZTE-approved investments have been modified in these areas:

Increased NZTE discretion. NZTE may now regard a wider range of positive impacts which flow from an investment. This means a far wider range of businesses now qualify.
Updated Feasibility Requirements. Applications (Direct Investments) for start-ups or greenfield projects will require feasibility studies for their application.
Faster NZTE Assessments. NZTE has been streamlined, with application times now set to a matter of weeks. There will no longer be an external ‘Panel’ to assess applications. the assessment timeframe for approval of decision-ready applications could be around two weeks.
Removal of property caps: There is no longer a property cap for approved businesses or managed funds. This opens potential investments into horticulture, forestry, agriculture, and aquaculture where major land interests are often needed to operate. Businesses which previously did not qualify due to a pre-existing interest in land or because they were not considered to be high growth, can now be approved.
Specific Industries. The updated policy specifically identifies investments in technology, manufacturing, food and beverage, renewable energy, aged care and the primary sector

as contributing to the NZ Government’s economic strategy.

If you are an Overseas Investor or a New Zealand business or managed fund seeking capital, I welcome the opportunity to assist you through the application processes involved.

If you need support or advice in this regard please don’t hesitate to contact me for obligation free consultation.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Immigration Health Requirements

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:13:18 GMT

Immigration Health Requirements

The NZ government has announced changes to the immigration health requirements for dependent children of temporary visa holders.

Dependent children of work, student or military visa holders are no longer eligible for student and visitor visas if they have a severe cognitive or developmental disability that requires significant support.

These changes align the health requirements for temporary entry visas for dependent children with those in place for resident class visas.

It also provides clarity upfront for families who might be excluded from gaining residence because their child has high learning needs.

There are a range of conditions for Temporary and Residence class visas that are problematic in this regard.

These are detailed in the link below :

Acceptable standard of health criteria for visa approvals | Immigration New Zealand

In essence, if the costs associated with health service provision are likely to be more than NZ$81,000, a visa application may be declined.

If you need support or advice in this regard please don’t hesitate to contact me for obligation free consultation.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

NZetA & IVL fees

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 21:15:55 GMT

NZetA & IVL fees

Not everyone coming to New Zealand pays visa charges.

The cost of a visa is just one of many factors people consider when choosing to come to New Zealand.

Not every international visitor needs a Visitor Visa to come here, with the majority of international visitors coming from visa-waiver countries.

However, these individuals need to pay for and be granted an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).

New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)

International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)

Most international visitors applying for a visa or NZeTA to enter New Zealand also need to pay a non-refundable IVL of NZD$100.00.

The levy is charged for most:

Visitor visas (excluding partner and dependent categories)
NZeTAs
Student visas (excluding dependent child category)
Working Holiday and Work Exchange schemes
Student and Trainee Work visas, and
Specific Purpose Work visas.

If you have questions or need immigration advice, contact our team at Advisa for an obligation free consultation.

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and median wage

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:42 GMT

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and median wage

A number of changes will be made to the AEWV in March 2025. Changes will also be made to the median wage in February 2025.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will be rolling out a number of changes over the course of 2025.

Phase 2 of these changes are as follows .

Remove the median wage requirement from AEWV and Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV)

From 10 March 2025, employers recruiting workers under the AEWV and seasonal SPWV policies will no longer be required to pay the median wage. Instead, there will be no set pay thresholds except the New Zealand minimum wage (currently NZD $23.15 an hour, increasing to NZD $23.50 an hour on 1 April).

Employers will however, still be expected to pay migrant workers on par with their New Zealand counterparts (the New Zealand market rate).

Sector Agreements which provided an exemption to the median wage will be removed alongside this change. Sector Agreements which offer residence pathways will continue to do so, with no changes to the wage rate required to gain residence.

Current AEWV holders should continue to be paid in line with their employment agreement and visa conditions.

Reducing the work experience requirement for migrants from 3 years to 2 years

From 10 March 2025 the work experience requirement for migrants will be reduced from 3 years to 2 years.

Employers still have to check that their migrant worker meets the threshold, and applicants will still need to provide evidence that they meet the 2-year threshold.

This change will still make sure that migrants have enough experience to help minimise the risks of exploitation.

Amending the requirement for employers to engage with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD)

From 10 March 2025 the requirement for employers to engage with the MSD will be now become declaration based.

They will need to declare in good faith, that they have advertised lower skilled roles (ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5) with MSD and interviewed candidates who may be suitable for the role.

Employers will be required to retain evidence of their engagement as they may be requested to provide it. This can be done alongside recruitment employers will already be undertaking in the domestic labour market.

Increasing the visa duration for ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 AEWV holders to 3 years

From 10 March 2025 the visa length for new ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 AEWVs will be extended to 3 years, matching the total time they can stay in New Zealand on 1 or more AEWVs.

Increasing the income threshold for supporting dependent children

From 10 March 2025 the income threshold will be increased from an annual threshold of NZD $43,322.76 to NZD $55,844. ($26.85 Per hour FTE)

This is 80% of the median wage (aligning with eligibility for partner work rights) based on an annual, 40-hour work week. It will be updated annually in line with changes to the median wage.

The previous income threshold will continue to apply where a child held a visa on, or had applied for a visa, before 10 March – this ensures that children who are already here do not have to leave if their parent can meet the old threshold but cannot meet the new one.

Recognition of higher ANZSCO skill levels

So that applicants are not disadvantaged, from 10 March 2025 the following occupations will be treated as ANZSCO skill level 3 to align with their skill level in the NOL:

Cook (351411)

Pet groomer (361113)

Kennel hand (361115)

Nanny (421113)

Fitness instructor (452111)

Scaffolder (821712)

Slaughterer (831212)

There are also 4 other roles that will be recognised as ANZSCO skill level 3 where the employer has specified that the job needs either 3 years of work experience or a level 4 qualification, as part of the job check. This ensures skilled workers can be retained in certain critical jobs. These 4 roles are:

Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operator (721111)

Excavator operator (721214)

Forklift driver (721311)

Mobile plant operators not elsewhere classified (721999)

Updates to interim visa work rights

In April, there will be further changes coming into effect regarding work rights for people on interim visas while they are awaiting the outcome of an AEWV application. This includes:

allowing AEWV applicants to have interim work rights if they apply while holding any type of work visa or from a student visa that permits work during term time, and

enabling time spent on an interim visa that allows work, to be considered when calculating a migrant's total continuous stay under the AEWV, as well as for gaining work experience needed for work-to-residence pathways.

Median wage changes

From 28 February 2025, AEWV holders who want to support a partner will still be required to meet the wage threshold, which is increasing to NZD $26.85 an hour.

From 28 February 2025, income thresholds for sponsors under the Parent Category will indexed to the new median wage of NZD $33.56 an hour.

These changes are based off Statistics New Zealand’s publication of median hourly earnings for the previous year’s June quarter and is intended to ensure migrants who are supporting a partner or parent have the financial means to do so.

Active Investor Plus Visa - AI+ 2.0

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 22:53:13 GMT

Active Investor Plus Visa - AI+ 2.0

The New Zealand Government announced changes to NZ’s Active Investor Plus Category on 9.2.25.

This signals to the international investment market that NZ is open for business.

These changes from 1st April 2025 will ensure those who engage with investors will extract potentially greater investment on a far greater scale than is currently being achieved. This will finally deliver the economic benefits that the policy was designed to create.

Over the past two years, we have seen a significant number of potential investors discouraged by the investor visa route into New Zealand. These changes to the AI+ settings are a refinement that removes any unnecessary complexity and rewards high-wealth individuals who wish to invest in NZ.

The current settings have been unable to achieve the projected interest, and as such, increased interest and investment into NZ is highly likely.

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme.

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:11:19 GMT

The government announced a raft of changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme .

There is good news for employers and migrant workers.

This year migrant workers can look forward to:

The removal of the median wage as a requirement to qualify for an AEWV. In March 2025 the rules will require that employers pay at least the minimum wage (which will be $23.50 an hour from 1 April). Immigration NZ will still check that a job is paying the "market rate". Migrant workers and employers will need to make sure a job is not paying less than what a Kiwi would expect to earn to do the same job.
From March 2025, migrant workers need to prove two years of work experience relevant to the job offered in NZ. This is a reduction to the 3 years of relevant work experience currently required. A qualification that is equal to a New Zealand Level 4 qualification or higher can substitute for the work experience requirement.
People applying for AEWVs in lower-skilled jobs will be granted the maximum 3-year work visa in the first visa application rather than 2 years and then later have to apply for a further 1-year visa. A work visa valid for 3 years is the maximum time a person can work in New Zealand to work in lower-skilled jobs. Anyone who holds a 2-year AEWV can apply for another 1 year. These changes roll out in March.
Migrant workers who want to bring their children to NZ on a temporary visa will need to earn at least $55,844 a year from March 2025. This minimum income requirement has not changed since 2019 so, it's quite a jump but to be expected.
In April, there will be an opportunity for some workers and students to receive an Interim Visa with work rights while the AEWV is under assessment. This means people can get to work sooner rather than having to wait for the visa application to be processed and decided, which may take several months.
The Skilled Migrant Category (points system) will be reviewed this year. Hopefully, changes will allow more people to qualify for residence without having to wait a minimum of 3 years before they can apply. There needs to be a solution for trade workers and several other occupations that are closed out from applying for residence once they start work in New Zealand.
The Parent Boost Visa is expected later this year. This temporary visa will allow parents to be in New Zealand for up to 10 years. Eligibility criteria are yet to be worked out but expect a high standard of health and some form of comprehensive health/travel insurance to avoid anyone becoming a burden on the New Zealand health system.

The finer details of these changes and how they will work in practice are important to the outcome of visa applications.

The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand. From 27 January 2025, visitor visas will allow people to work remotely for a foreign employer while they are holidaying here. Anyone who intends to work remotely for more than 90 days should look at possible tax implications.

The change applies to all visitor visas, including tourists and people visiting family, as well as partners and guardians on longer-term visas.

Only remote work which is based overseas is allowed. Visitors whose employment requires them to be in New Zealand such as sales representatives of overseas companies, performers and people coming to work for New Zealand employers must still obtain visas relevant to their circumstances.

If you have questions or need immigration advice, contact our team at Advisa for an obligation free consultation.

What is ahead for Immigration in 2025?

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 01:26:08 GMT

What is ahead for Immigration in 2025?

The NZ Immigration Minister Erica Stanford has set out her priorities for 2025.

INZ have released some changes to the AEWV policy, which gives us an indication of what’s to come.

AEWV reforms

The New Year brings a wave of reforms aimed at simplifying the AEWV process. Key changes include:

• Removal of the median wage requirement in March 2025 : This significant shift will impact employers and migrants alike, allowing for greater flexibility in wage negotiations.

• Reduced work experience requirements : From March 2025, migrants will only need 2 years of relevant experience to meet the minimum threshold for an AEWV, easing the path for skilled workers.

• Streamlined Job Check process : Employers will face a less burdensome process for hiring migrant workers, which will require less evidence and a more declaration-based approach, in place from March.

• Longer visa durations for AEWV holders in Skill Level 4 and 5 roles : This will provide greater stability for migrants in lower-skilled roles, as the visa duration will increase from 2 to 3 years in March 2025.

• Interim Work Rights Expansion : From April 2025, AEWV applicants transitioning from other work or student visas will receive interim work rights while awaiting visa processing, ensuring continuity of employment.

ANZSCO to become NOL

INZ have also already announced that they will be moving away from ANZSCO and will be using a new system known as the National Occupation List (NOL), with the details of this transition being shared in 2025 and how this will impact the different visa categories.

New Visa Pathways

In November 2025, INZ will introduce two new visa options for seasonal workers; a three-year multi-entry visa for experienced worker and a seven-month single-entry visa for lower-skilled roles

Focus on Parents

Furthermore, 2025 will see the introduction of a new 5-year renewable "Parent Boost" Visitor Visa, offering a longer stay for parents of New Zealand residents or citizens. The visa may include a healthcare levy and the requirement to take out a comprehensive health insurance, but the details with be refined this year with the view to launch by 30th November 2025. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa will be a welcome addition to the current Parent Resident Visa, which works on a ballot system.

Skilled Resident Visa Review

And with a review of the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List settings on the cards, to better reflect the labour market needs and attract and retain top talent, it is all set to be another 12 months of rapidly evolving immigration policy.

With these upcoming changes, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of streamlined processes and expanded opportunities for migrants and their families.

Stay informed and seeking expert advice will be key to navigating New Zealand’s evolving immigration policies.

If you require support with your Immigration requirements, you are welcome to contact me for an obligation free conversation.

Best wishes for 2025 and beyond.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

NZ AEWV changes

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:17:29 GMT

NZ AEWV changes

The NZ government announced some further reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, with two new pathways for seasonal workers (to be introduced later in 2025) and greater work rights for those on interim visas.

Please find a summary of these changes below – further details on the policy changes will be released in due course.

From January 2025

• Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules for all Accredited Employers and Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE), including the need to offer migrants paid time to complete these modules

• Reducing the domestic workforce threshold for triangular employers of certain construction roles from 35 percent to 15 percent

From March 2025

• Wage Thresholds for all AEWV roles will be removed. Employers will still need to advertise and pay migrants the market rate for their position. There are no changes to the wages that AEWV workers must earn to apply for residence

• Migrants will only need to demonstrate 2 years of relevant work experience instead of the current 3 years

• Increasing the visa duration for ANZSCO level 4 or level 5 AEWV holders to three years, to align with these workers maximum continuous stay allowed in New Zealand. Those currently on two-year visas will be able to apply for a further 12-month work visa

• Amending the engagement requirement with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) – the requirement to engage with MSD will change to being declaration based. Employers will need to declare they have advertised ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles with MSD and interviewed anyone appropriate for the role. There will no longer be a set 21-day engagement timeframe

• Increasing the income threshold for supporting dependents on an AEWV to $55,844

From April 2025

• Greater work rights for those on interim visas – interim work rights will be extended to AEWV applicants applying from any work visa type or from a student visa that allows them to work during term time, to enable them to work whilst their visa is being processed

If you have any questions, please contact us.

December Updates

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 19:36:04 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Merry Christmas Everyone,

As 2024 draws to a close we reflect on the numerous immigration instruction changes over the course of the past year.

These along with a large increase in INZ disbursement fees in October have created much trepidation for migrants looking to secure a future here in NZ for themselves and their families.

Instruction changes generally come with little, if any warning and reinforce the importance of maintaining a vigilant approach with regards your immigration status.

In September INZ introduced the following changes:

adding 17 roles to the Green List
increasing the Recognised Seasonal Employer cap to 19,500 for 2023/24 season
closing the Recovery Visa to new applicants from 23 September 2023
existing holders of a Recovery Visa in New Zealand can apply for a 3-month extension
adding a small number of roles to the Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement
requiring a judicial warrant for out-of-hours compliance visits.

Details of these are here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-immigration-settings-announced

In October INZ Fees increased

The table of changes to fee and levy rates has information on what fees and levies will be charged from 1 October.

The table of changes to fee and levy rates is intended as a general guide only.

Immigration fee and levy table — rates from 1 October 2024PDF 322KB

In December INZ introduced open work rights for Partners of Migrant workers

This will help families stay together, and attract and retain the workers New Zealand needs to fill gaps in sectors facing skill and labour shortages.

From 2 December 2024 , open work rights will be available to:

all partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) working in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Level 1-3 role and earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour (80 percent of the standard median wage )
partners of AEWV holders earning at least $25.29 an hour if they were already supporting a partner for a work visa on 26 June 2024
all partners of Essential Skills work visa holders earning at least $25.29 an hour.

INZ urge early applications for student visas in 2025.

It’s the busiest time of year for student visa applications at Immigration New Zealand.

If students are coming to New Zealand for early 2025 study, they need to apply for their student visa now. Otherwise, they might miss out.

Students must submit all the information needed when they apply. Student Visa Information Sheets are available on the Immigration New Zealand website.

have more information on what to include with a student visa application. If applications are incomplete, it will take longer or may be declined.

Best wishes for the upcoming festive season from Bernadette and myself. .

If you require support, please contact myself for a confidential and obligation free consultation.

Tagalog speakers can liaise directly with Bernadette, if they wish initially.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

New rights for partners of high-skilled migrants.

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 02:04:34 GMT

The Government is ensuring New Zealand attracts and retains the workers and skills it needs by returning open work rights to partners of high-skilled migrants.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says.

“We are committed to growing the economy and our immigration system is critical to that.

From 2 December, open work rights will be available to partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders working in higher-skilled roles who earn at least 80 percent of the median wage.”

The same rights will also be available for partners of AEWV holders working in lower-skilled roles who are on a pathway to residence.

The changes deliver on the coalition commitment between National and ACT to make it easier for family members of visa holders to work here.

“I want a system that creates opportunities for people to come here and make a meaningful contribution, but also protects New Zealanders rights to work and thrive,”

“The improvements we are making in immigration are restoring balance to the system, ensuring we are well-positioned to continue rebuilding the economy.” Ms Stanford says.

The Government is making changes to provide open work rights to more partners of migrant workers, allowing them to work for any employer.

This will help families stay together and attract and retain the workers New Zealand needs to fill gaps in sectors facing skill and labour shortages.

From 2 December 2024, open work rights will be available to:

all partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) working in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Level 1-3 role and earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour (80 percent of the standard median wage )
partners of AEWV holders earning at least $25.29 an hour if they were already supporting a partner for a work visa on 26 June 2024
all partners of Essential Skills work visa holders earning at least $25.29 an hour.

Furthermore, open work rights will be available to partners of AEWV holders working in an ANZSCO Level 4-5 role:

earning at least $47.41 an hour (150 percent of the standard median wage), or
earning at least $31.61 an hour in a role on the Green List and meeting the Green List requirements for that role, or
earning at least $25.29 an hour (80 percent of the standard median wage) and meeting the requirements of a role in the Transport or Care Sector Agreements (or the wage specified in the sector agreement, whichever is higher).

ANZSCO grades occupations according to skill level. ANZSCO skill levels range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most skilled and 5 being less skilled.

Current holders of partner work visas with specific employment conditions, will be able to apply to vary their visa conditions to switch to open work rights, if their partner meets any of the above situations.

If you meet the above criteria, you will be able to apply for a variation of conditions or a new work visa from 2 December 2024.

Open work rights for partners of migrant workers

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 02:01:09 GMT

Open work rights for partners of migrant workers

A Partnership visa currently doesn’t have open work rights.

On 31st May 2023 INZ ushered in some sweeping changes to the work rights of partners of Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) and Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) holders.

This change meant that partners of migrant workers applying for their AEWV based on - roles that pay at or above the median wage ($29.66/hr currently) but below twice the median wage AND if that role is NOT included in the Green List - no longer got open work visas.

INZ plan to change this on 2 ^nd December, 2024.

If your current role is a level 1,2 or 3 ANZSCO role, and your pay rate is above 80% of the median wage ($25.29 or higher) your partner will receive open work rights.

If you meet the above criteria, you will be able to apply for a variation of conditions or a new work visa from 2 December 2024.

If your role is an ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 role the conditions remain unless you are:

earning at least $47.41 an hour (150 percent of the standard median wage), or
earning at least $31.61 an hour in a role on the Green List and meeting the Green List requirements for that role, or
earning at least $25.29 an hour (80 percent of the standard median wage) and meeting the requirements of a role in the Transport or Care Sector Agreements (or the wage specified in the sector agreement, whichever is higher).

If you require support, please contact Steve or Bernadette to discuss your situation further.

Partner's Working Rights

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:28:21 GMT

Changing working rights for partners.

There have been significant changes to the working rights of partners of work visa holders over the past few months by INZ. Two of the most significant changes currently affecting partners are:

Conditional open work visa conditions were granted to most migrants who were granted a Partner of a Worker work visa. This meant that the holders of these visas could only work for an Accredited Employer and be paid at least the median wage (currently NZ$29.66 per hour). Self-employment was also not permitted for those who held this conditional open work visa.
Work visa holders who work in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (‘ANZSCO’) Skill level 4 to 5 role could no longer support a Partnership Work Visa application unless they met Green List requirements, earned at least 1.5 times the median wage ($47.41 per hour), or were part of the Transport or Care Sector Agreement and met the requirements for those roles.

The Government have reviewed this and today announced that they will reverse the first change mentioned above from 2 December 2024.

In essence, migrants who are granted a Partner of a Worker work visa will now be granted open work rights once more. This means that they will now be able to work for any employer in New Zealand and can also be self-employed should they choose to do so.

In summary, from 2 December 2024, open work rights will be available to:

All partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) working in an ANZSCO Level 1-3 role and earning at least NZD$25.29 an hour, or
Partners of AEWV holders earning at least $25.29 an hour if they were already supporting a partner for a work visa on 26 June 2024, or
All partners of Essential Skills work visa holders earning at least $25.29 an hour

Furthermore, open work rights will be available to partners of AEWV holders working in an ANZSCO Level 4-5 role:

Earning at least $47.41 an hour (1.5 times the median wage), or
Earning at least $31.61 an hour in a role on the Green List and meeting the Green List requirements for that role, or
Learning at least $25.29 an hour and meeting the requirements of a role in the Transport or Care Sector agreements (or the wage specified in the sector agreement, whichever is higher)

Those who hold a current Partner of a Worker work visa with conditions, whose partners meet the criteria mentioned above will also be able to apply for a variation of their visa conditions to allow them open work rights from 2 December 2024.

This is a great outcome for Migrants and their families in these difficult economic times.

Please contact Steve or Bernadette to discuss this further should you be interested in supporting your partner or varying their visa.

September Updates from INZ

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 04:52:11 GMT

INZ Visa Application Price increases from October 1, 2024

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced very significant increases to most visa application fees, which will take effect from October 1, 2024. For instance, the cost of a Skilled Residence visa application from within New Zealand, currently priced at $4,290, will rise to $6,450. Similarly, a Residence from Work application, which currently costs $4,240, will increase to $6,490 - an increase of more than 50%.

The cost of a partnership residence application will almost double from its current cost to $5,360.

The costs of most temporary visa applications will also increase significantly. For example, a post-study work visa application will cost $1,670 (an additional $970), while an Accredited Employer Work Visa applicant will soon have to pay $1,540 instead of the current $750.

There will be no increases for Recognised Seasonal Employer, Pacific Access Category, Samoan Quota visas, or for NZeTA.

INZ has further clarified that these changes will not affect the duration of visa processing.

Additionally, INZ is independently working on enhancing its online services, as well as its efficiency in evaluating and processing visas, and in managing and identifying risks.

A full list of the visa changes can be found on the INZ website linked below.

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/media/immigration-fee-and-levy-table-rates-from-1-october-2024.pdf

Student Visa and Visitor Visa Applications

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) receives the highest volume of Student visa applications over the summer period as students ready for studying in the new calendar year. Applications take longer to be decided during this peak period, so it is important that anyone who is wanting to come to New Zealand to study in early 2025 applies in good time.

INZ still recommend students to apply at least 4 months ahead of their intended travel date.

INZ also experiences a surge of Visitor visa applications from people who want to spend Christmas and New Year's with their loved ones in Aotearoa New Zealand, or who want to explore our beautiful country. Anyone who is planning to travel to New Zealand for Christmas should submit their application no later than 15 October 2024. If you are traveling in the New Year, including Chinese Lunar New Year, you should submit your application no later than 15 November 2024. If you submit your application after these dates, it may not be processed in time for your intended travel date.

In addition to submitting applications well in advance, they strongly encourage travelers to provide complete applications with all necessary documentation. This will help avoid delays with your visa application.

Applications that are missing supporting documents or English translations are more likely to be declined. Making a complete visitor visa application early means you will receive your visa decision sooner, enabling you to spend more time planning your trip to New Zealand.

Seeking Advice or support? Contact myself (Steve) for an obligation free discussion.

Tagalog speakers can contact Bernadette as below.

Bernadette Antiporta
Immigration Associate
P: 03 943 0846
M: 022 608 9294

E: bernadette@advisa.co.nz

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Immigration instruction changes

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 02:43:52 GMT

The April 7 2024 Immigration instruction changes have refocused attention on the importance of ANZSCO codes.

ANZSCO grades occupations according to a skill level. ANZSCO skill levels range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most skilled and 5 being less skilled.

In general, the bigger the range and complexity of tasks required, the more education, work experience or training a worker will need to do them.

ANZSCO shows the level of skill that is typically required to competently perform the tasks of an occupation.

INZ have updated their data on ANZSCO as contained on their webpage.

This is a valuable tool to assist all migrants ascertain their ANZSCO skill level.

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/preparing-a-visa-application/working-in-nz/qualifications-for-work/check-anzsco-list

If your role is deemed a lower-level skilled role, you need to be very careful with any AEWV application.

If you require support, please contact the team at Advisa for obligation free advice.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

INZ Visa Application Fees Increase

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:38:53 GMT

INZ Visa Application Fees are Increasing from 1 October, 2024.

New visa charges will be set to recover the costs of processing a visa by people using INZ immigration services.

INZ have decided that a “user pays” system is appropriate.

That is, those using the INZ immigration system must cover the costs of running it.

Table with the new visa charges – see link below.

Immigration fee and levy table — rates from 1 October 2024PDF 356KB

If you require advice on an obligation free basis, please contact me.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483
W: advisa.co.nz

Residency vs Permanent Residency

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 20:49:23 GMT

New Zealand Law & Potential Deportation

NZ Resident Class visa holders (Resident visa holders and NZ Permanent Resident visas) must comply with New Zealand law, along with everyone else. Resident visa holders along with temporary visa holders face the chance of deportation, if they are convicted of a crime.

Section 161 of the Immigration Act 2009 (Act) stipulates that holders of resident class visas may be subject to deportation, if convicted of a criminal offense for which the Court has the authority to impose imprisonment sentences.

The duration of residency impacts the threshold for the severity of the offense required to trigger this deportation liability. Any resident class visa holder who has been charged with an offence needs to understand the potential for deportation at a very early stage.

We have two examples of global candidates, on temporary visas facing this potential situation.

Recently we started processing Permanent Residency applications, for candidates on RV21 visas who have held their visa for two years. These candidates must have lived in NZ for the requisite period and contributed positively to NZ society.

Unfortunately, two such candidates now face the real prospect of potential deportation.

If you require support with any of these issues: residency , permanent residency or citizenship applications or deportation liability.

Please contact me for your obligation free consultation and support.

Kind Regards,

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Bringing family into New Zealand

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 19:47:26 GMT

Bringing family if you have an AEWV with ANZSCO Level or 5 role.

If you supported your family to apply for a visa before 26 June 2024, you can continue to support a visa for your partner or dependent child if they applied for their visa before 26 June 2024.

This applies if:

they already had a visa based on their relationship to you.
they had a work, visitor or student visa application in progress based on their relationship to you and their visa was approved after 26 June 2024.
your role is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 and you earn less than NZD$47.41 an hour ( 1.5 x non paused median wage - $31.61).
your AEWV application had not been approved yet.

You must earn at least:

NZD$29.66 an hour to support a Partner of a Worker Work Visa with conditions for your partner.
NZD$43,322.76 a year to support a Child of a Worker Visitor Visa or a Dependent Child Student Visa for your dependent children.

If you earn less than NZD$29.66 an hour, you can support a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.

You can support a work visa with open conditions, if you earned at least NZD$59.32 an hour OR your job was on the Green List and you meet the role's requirements.

If you require additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact me for obligation free advice.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 20180104 4
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Recent Updates

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 23:01:10 GMT

Immigration and Visa updates to know about.

Change to Work, student or visitor visa applications for partners and dependent children of AEWV Holders.

Immigration instructions have been changed to prevent Accredited Employer work visa (AEWV) holders in ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 roles from supporting work, student or visitor visa applications for their partners and dependent children.

If you and your partner and Dependent Children are here on valid visas currently, you can still get Conditional Visas for Partners and Student visas for Dependent Children.

Partners and dependent children can still apply for their own work, student, or visitor visa if they meet immigration instructions in their own right. This change came into effect on 26 June 2024.

These changes do not impact:

people who already hold visas as a partner or dependent child of an AEWV holder
people who have applications in progress as the partner or dependent child of an AEWV holder that were received before 26 June 2024, as long as that application is approved
AEWV holders in ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 roles
AEWV holders in ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 roles with a pathway to residence, such as through the Green List, a Sector Agreement or those earning at least 1.5 times the Skilled Migrant Category median wage

NZ’s attractiveness for Wealthy Migrants

New Zealand has been named one of the world’s top safe havens for millionaires, at a time when many of the world’s wealthiest people are choosing to uproot their lives and move their assets overseas.

An unprecedented 128,000 millionaires are expected to relocate worldwide this year, eclipsing the previous record of 120,000 set in 2023,”as the world grapples with a perfect storm of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and social upheaval, millionaires are voting with their feet in record numbers.

The UAE is expected to attract the most millionaires, defined as individuals with liquid investable wealth of at least US$1 million (NZ$1.63 million). Some 6700 wealthy migrants are expected to settle in the Emirates by the end of the year, with large inflows from the UK and Europe.

The USA, Singapore, Canada and Australia also made the top five in the list of the top countries globally for millionaire migration, which is a leading indicator of the overall health of a country and its economy.

New Zealand did not make this list but was named among the world’s leading “safe havens”, which the firm defined as a sovereign state with high levels of safety and security that remains largely shielded from the world’s political and economic problems.

The so-called Safe Haven 8 - which also includes Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, the UAE, Malta and Monaco - are all popular destinations for migrating millionaires, the report said. Foreign-born migrants account for more than 40% of the millionaire populations in these countries.

Each country in the Safe Haven 8 has positively transformed its economy by encouraging wealthy people to move there and is classified as a high-income market by the World Bank. The eight countries also rank highly in terms of safety and security, with relatively low homicide rates.

Millionaires may also be attracted to their well-developed banking and wealth management systems, solid basis for investing in global stock markets, quality education and healthcare, high standard of living and popularity with retirees.

New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa scheme gives wealthy investors residence in Aotearoa. Holders of the Active Investor Plus Visa must invest at least $5 million in New Zealand.

The report said Australia was a particularly attractive safe haven as it “has one of the best healthcare systems in the world and offers excellent safety and security when compared to most other major developed countries worldwide”.

Australia’s low population density, which makes it less reliant on other countries for resources and trade and enables it to be more eco-friendly, were also said to be major advantages.

The UAE’s zero income tax, golden visas, opportunities for luxury living and strategic location were said to make it the number one destination for migrating millionaires overall.

Migrating millionaires are a vital source of forex (foreign exchange) revenue as they tend to bring their money with them when they move to a country. Also, around 20% of them are entrepreneurs and company founders who may start new businesses and therefore create local jobs in their new country, and this percentage rises to over 60% for centi-millionaires and billionaires.

China is on track to lose the most millionaires over the coming year, with a predicted exodus of 15,200 high net worth individuals this year, followed by the UK and India.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Permanent residency or citizenship.

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 23:07:37 GMT

Transition from NZ Residence to NZ Permanent Residence / NZ Citizenship (Beware)

It is vital that you comply with your Residence conditions to ensure you can obtain Permanent Residence and Citizenship, if this is your ultimate goal.

Naturally it remains important that you comply with New Zealand laws, as many visa holders face the very real chance of deportation, if they are convicted of a criminal offense.

Section 161 of the Immigration Act 2009 (Act) states that holders of resident class visas (including Resident Visas and Permanent Resident Visas) may be subject to deportation if convicted of a criminal offense, for which the Court has the authority to impose imprisonment sentences.

If you find yourself facing charges while holding a residence class or temporary visa, it is crucial to seek legal advice from both criminal and immigration lawyers to fully grasp the implications of the conviction from all angles.

If the conviction would render you liable for deportation under the Act, it may be worthwhile to focus on the criminal proceeding to demonstrate how that consequence would outweigh the gravity of the conviction, thus making a case for its discharge to avoid deportation proceedings.

Discharge without conviction application

When an individual faces charges for a deportable offense, there are several avenues to avoid a conviction. They can plead not guilty and undergo a full trial to prove their innocence.

They could also seek diversion from the police, or they can plead guilty (or be found guilty) and apply for a discharge without conviction.

In cases where an individual pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, a criminal offense with no minimum sentence, section 106 of the Sentencing Act 2002 empowers the Court to discharge the individual without conviction if it deems, under section 107 of the Sentencing Act,

that “the direct and indirect consequences of a conviction would be out of all proportion to the gravity of the offense“. This is referred to as the Section 107 Analysis.

If successful in their request for discharge of conviction, the individual would not have a criminal record. Consequently, they would not be subject to deportation under section 161 of the Act.

What does this mean?

The Supreme Court recently reinforced the importance of deportation liability.

This is because a conviction rather than just an outcome of the offending is the key threshold.

It is appropriate to consider making an application for a discharge of a conviction. This is because a convicted resident class visa holder now has grounds to argue that the deportation would be disproportionate to the severity of their crime.

This is especially pertinent for individuals who have lived in New Zealand for a long period, actively contributed to the country, and established significant ties within their local community.

Advisa Assistance

Advisa can assist with your Residency, Permanent Residency and Citizenship applications.

We can also provide guidance should you have extenuating legal issues that could impact your candidacy in this regard.

I welcome obligation free contact at any time.

Kind Regards,

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483
W: advisa.co.nz

Accreditation Applications

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:35:58 GMT

What you need to know.

Job Check applications opened on 20 June 2022 and AEWV applications opened on 4 July 2022.

As of 20 May 2024, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) had approved 120,065 AEWV applications and there were 35,591 accredited employers.

Ensure your employer is accredited:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/preparing-a-visa-application/working-in-nz/check-if-an-employer-is-accredited

On 7 April 2024, changes were announced to the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme.

These changes include the following:

Introducing an English language requirement for migrants applying for low skilled ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles.
A minimum skills and work experience threshold for most AEWV roles. This is important as you now need to meet these requirements for skill level 1-3 roles.
For roles that fall into the ANZSCO level 4 and 5, employers will need to engage with Work and Income before approval to bring in migrants will be granted.
Reducing the maximum continuous stay for most ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles from 5 years to 3 years.
Disestablishing the franchisee accreditation category and for these businesses to apply to bring in workers from overseas through the standard, high-volume, or triangular employment accreditation.

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Accreditation process:

Before employers can invite a worker to apply for an AEWV they must apply to us for employer accreditation, advertise the role if they need to, and apply for a Job Check.

Under the AEWV there are a range of verification steps at the application process through the accreditation, Job Check and work visa steps, as well as post-accreditation checks.

INZ constantly review and adjust their settings to ensure they are fit for purpose and strike the right balance between bringing in the migrants that New Zealand needs and protecting the integrity of the NZ immigration system.

If you or your company require support, please contact me for an obligation free conversation.

Kind Regards,

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483
W: advisa.co.nz

An update from our Immigration Advisor

Wed, 29 May 2024 22:32:10 GMT

Immigration updates

The recent AEWV changes for ANZSCO Level 4 & 5 (Low Skilled) roles has created a lot of confusion especially around a candidate’s Maximum Continuous Stay (MCS).

If your role is deemed low skilled and your visa was approved between 21.6.23 and 7.4.24, you remain eligible for 5 years before the one year stand down applies.

All ANZSCO Levels 1,2 & 3 (Mid Skilled and High Skilled) roles on AEWV’s remain eligible for the 5-year MCS.

Candidates on Low skilled roles can also apply for a Job Change / VOC and still retain their original rights, if their initial visa was approved between 21.6.23 and 7.4.24.

Current AEWV holders have got a three-year term with the right to apply for another two years. This is in effect a new visa application, and therefore the AEWV INZ application fee of $750 unfortunately applies .

There is no advantage in applying early for an extension. All applications will be queued until 9 months before the visa’s expiry. This will then trigger the processing of the re application.

The NZ economy has slowed significantly and as such INZ will no doubt see a corresponding reduction in application numbers. This is good for new applicants as INZ’s processing times should speed up after recent significant slowing of processing times due to the AEWV changes announced on 7 ^th April, 2024.

If you want complimentary and obligation free support, please contact me.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

A shortcut for Secondary School Teachers.

Thu, 09 May 2024 23:31:21 GMT

Secondary School Teachers added to Straight to Residence pathway.

In April, the NZ Government announced that secondary school teachers will move to the Straight to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand roles.

Eligible overseas secondary school teachers can now apply for residence from outside New Zealand:

when they have an offer of employment with an accredited employer, and
without needing to work for 2 years in New Zealand first.

Other teachers remain on the Work to Residence pathway.

If you require Immigration assistance, please contact Steve Baker for complimentary and obligation-free advice.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Immigration scams still prevalent – beware.

Thu, 09 May 2024 22:40:37 GMT

Recent Immigration Scams

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have intercepted 25 Bangladeshi individuals attempting to enter New Zealand without the required visas.

The men were travelling from Kuala Lumpur with electronic travel authorities enabling a stopover in New Zealand.

Inquiries by INZ’s Airline Liaison Officer based in Kuala Lumpur, working with airline staff, confirmed the travellers’ true intent was not to join a cruise or transit to Australia, but to enter New Zealand.

Preliminary inquiries indicate the group may have been misled by an unknown agent into believing they had valid work visas for New Zealand. INZ is pursuing leads to identify those behind the scam, but locating those involved in situations like this may be challenging.

The NZeTAs for all 25 individuals have been cancelled, and border alerts have been placed on the individuals for stricter scrutiny of any future travel attempts.

If you require Immigration assistance, please contact Steve Baker for complimentary and obligation free advice.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:02:21 GMT

What is changing for people with an AEWV?

If you currently have an AEWV, these changes could affect how long you can stay before you need to spend time outside New Zealand for your eligibility to be granted a further AEWV.

If you applied for your first AEWV before 21 June 2023 and are in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 jobs, paying at or above the required AEWV wage rate, and currently hold a three-year AEWV, you will no longer be able to access the maximum time of five years.

If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 or 5 job on a pathway to residence, you will not be affected by these changes.

If you apply for a further AEWV on or after 7 April 2024, you will have to meet the updated criteria. If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 or 5 job you may not be able to stay and work in New Zealand for the maximum time of five years.

What is changing for new AEWV applications?

There are now higher work experience and qualification requirements, a standard of English for people applying to work in roles assessed as ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5, and a shorter stay in New Zealand if you are working in specific roles.

New minimum skill requirement.

If you are applying for an AEWV you will need to show evidence of your work experience or qualifications.

This is in addition to the skills and qualifications that your employer has identified as necessary for the job. Your employer will also need to check you meet the skill requirements before they offer you the job.

Unless your role is on the Green List and meets the Green List role requirements, or is paid at least twice the median wage, you must now have:

At least 3 years of relevant work experience, or...
a relevant qualification at level 4 or above of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).

Evidence of your qualification must be accompanied by an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if it is below the Bachelor’s degree level. To meet the work experience requirement, you must provide evidence proving you did the work — you cannot include documents that you wrote.

Minimum standard of English.

If the job is ANZSCO level 4 or 5, you need to show that you can speak and understand English.

This requirement will not apply to current applications, or people travelling as the partner or child of AEWV applicant.

Shorter visa length and stay in New Zealand for some jobs.

For ANZSCO level 4 and 5 jobs paying at or above the required AEWV wage rate, the maximum visa length for an AEWV is reduced to 2 years, with the ability to apply for one more year with a new Job Check.

The total time you can stay in New Zealand (also called a maximum continuous stay: MCS) on one or more AEWVs is reduced to 3 years. When you get to the end of your maximum continuous stay you will need to leave New Zealand for a specified amount of time — normally 12 months — before you can apply for another AEWV.

These changes will apply to anyone who applied for their first AEWV on or after 7 April 2024 or before 21 June 2023.

Some ANZSCO level 4 and 5 jobs will not be affected by these changes, including those:

On the Green List
In transport and care sector agreements, and on a pathway to residence
Earning 1.5 times the median wage.

The length of an AEWV and maximum continuous stay for people in ANZSCO level 1 to 3 jobs will remain 5 years.

Advisa Immigration Services continues to get regular INZ updates on how these new instructions will impact current visa holders.

If you have a particular question, feel free to reach out for our obligation-free assistance.

Kind Regards,

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

RCSA - New Zealand Jobs Report.

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:41:27 GMT

The latest Job Report from RCSA.��

January – March 2024

Analysis

2024 has started where we ended in 2023 with a further substantial decline in online job postings. The New Zealand Jobs Index fell 17.0% in the last three months. Falls of this magnitude are rare in any employment market.
New Zealand has managed three double-digit declines in four quarters!
The accumulated decline over twelve months is a staggering 42.3%.
The employment market has been shrinking since the end of COVID-19.
Recent political upheaval has taken a business community, already rattled by high inflation and rising interest rates, into an even more precarious position.
In economic speak, this is undoubtedly a “hard landing”.

This has, however, not translated to a massive rise in unemployment. At least not yet.

The latest quarterly data (December 2023) saw unemployment rise to 4.0%, up 0.6% over the calendar year but still well below rates of unemployment of over 5% and 6% seen in the past. This is because the market has fallen from an extraordinarily high level immediately following the end of Covid restrictions. Employment rose in January and February because net migration is among the highest on record (Stats NZ March 2024).

The trends between Permanent and Flexible job opportunities are surprising.

In the March quarter Flexible job postings fell 19.8% while Permanent fell 16.4%.

The gap is wider year-on-year – the Permanent Jobs Index is down 39.9% and the Flexible Jobs Index is down a massive 51.4% – a halving in twelve months!

Traditionally, in a weak employment market, employers shift towards Flexible job offers in case business conditions deteriorate further. Not this time! If employers are hiring, they are still favouring permanent employment. The reason? Recent experience with acute skills shortages means employers still want to lock in scarce talent.

Job Trends by Industry

Quarterly change in NZ Jobs Index by Industry (1)

All four sectors fell in Q1 2024. Declines in four of five sectors exceeded 20%. Even Health Care.
While talent shortages certainly remain employment in the sector rose by nearly 5% in the twelve months to January 2024 (NZ Stats Employment Indicators Feb 24).
Net Migration is starting to ease some of those shortages.
Vacancies in Public Administration have fallen for four consecutive quarters.
The cumulative decline is a staggering 66.7%. The 21.9% decline in Q4 was an improvement on the prior quarter.

Severe cutbacks in Government hiring and the curtailment of some major projects are having a major impact nationally, with Wellington particularly hard hit. Only Education and Training performed relatively well – down “just” 5.9%. Improving international student numbers, and creating training places in the trades to alleviate skills shortage will help the sector stabilise in 2024.

It remains fragile by historical standards.

High inflation and rising interest rates are hurting discretionary spending.

This flows directly through to sectors such as Accommodation and Food Services.

Demand remains very volatile. A 22.7% decline in the last quarter suggests a tough year ahead for job seekers in a sector characterised by many small businesses and casual employment arrangements.

Immigration update - effective April 7th 2024

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 23:10:24 GMT

Immigration update – effective Sunday 7th April 2024

Increased requirements for migrants

All new AEWV applicants will be required to meet a minimum skill and experience threshold, as described above, and provide evidence of relevant qualifications and work experience to do the job applied for, with their application. The only exceptions to this requirement are where the employment offered is for a Green List occupation (and the applicant meets the requirements as noted on the Green List), or where the employment offered includes remuneration to be paid at least twice the median wage rate.

Any migrants in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 occupations will now also need to meet a minimum standard of English.

A migrant meets the minimum standard of English language for an AEWV application if they meet one of the following requirements:

Citizenship of Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the USA, provided they have spent at least 5 years in work or education in one or more of those countries or Australia or New Zealand.
A qualification comparable to a New Zealand Level 7 bachelor’s qualification gained in one of the countries above as a result of study undertaken for at least two academic years.
A qualification comparable to a New Zealand Level 8 qualification or above gained in one of the countries above as a result of study undertaken for at least one academic year.
An acceptable English language test result no more than two years old meeting the minimum test results.

ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA (AEWV)

Migrants currently holding valid Accredited Employer Work Visas or who have a submitted application in the process are not immediately impacted but will need to meet the stricter requirements in subsequent applications or be required to depart New Zealand.

Migrants applying for an Accredited Employer Work Visa from today will need to meet the stricter requirements regardless of whether the Job Check was approved before the Minister’s announcement.

The changes are explained in further detail below.

ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA (AEWV) CHANGES

Reduced visa validity

From today, AEWV applicants in level 4 or 5 occupations, as dictated by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) relied on by Immigration New Zealand, will receive shorter visas and have a reduced maximum length of time they can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV.

For roles paying at or above the AEWV median wage (currently $29.66/hour) in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 occupations:

The duration has been reduced to 2 years, with the ability to apply for a further 1-year visa with a new job check.
The maximum continuous stay duration has been reduced from 5 years to 3 years.

The reduced maximum continuous stay will also apply to some current AEWV holders working in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 occupations. Their current visa length will not change; however, they will no longer be able to apply for the balance of the five-year AEWV introduced last year if they have not already done so.

Once the maximum continuous stay duration is reached, a migrant must leave New Zealand for 12 months before they can return to New Zealand on a further AEWV for a Level 4 or 5 occupation, unless they meet the requirements for a longer duration or New Zealand Residence.

It is important to note that there is currently no ability for those who are in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 occupations who have already obtained their 5-year visa, to do a job change to an occupation that would otherwise have a 2-year maximum visa duration and maintain their 5-year visa duration. A migrant would need to remain in their current role unless they obtain an offer of employment in a higher-skilled occupation.

Workers in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 occupations who earn at least 1.5x the Skilled Migrant Category median wage (currently $31.61/hour base rate) or who are in an occupation on the Green List or Sector Agreement Residence pathways are exempt from these changes due to their residence pathway.

New Employer Reporting Obligations

Accredited Employers must now notify Immigration New Zealand within 10 working days if an AEWV holder’s employment ends and their last day of employment is more than a month before their visa expires.

Non-compliance with this new requirement can result in the suspension of an employer’s Accreditation status, a decline of their renewal application and/or penalties including fines introduced by the new infringement scheme effective 11 April 2024. This change will not apply to existing Accredited Employers until they renew or upgrade their Accreditation, meaning those employers who have not reported employee terminations to date are not adversely affected.

Increased requirements for employers:

Employers have always been expected to determine whether a migrant worker is suitably qualified and experienced for a role before hiring, as part of good business practices. However, to date, there has been no immigration requirement to this effect.

Effective immediately, employers must take reasonable steps to ensure migrant workers are suitably qualified and meet a minimum skills and experience threshold before supporting an AEWV application.

If the vacancy is in an occupation at ANZSCO level 4 or 5 and is not paid 2x the median wage or on the Green List which would negate the need for labour market testing, employers will:

Need to advertise the vacancy for 21 calendar days, an increase from 14 days, on a suitable national listing website or advertising channel.
Engage with Work and Income and confirm the results of that engagement.
Require a minimum skills and experience threshold of 3 years relevant work experience or a relevant Level 4 qualification or above, and take reasonable steps to ensure a person meets these requirements and is suitably qualified to do the job offered.
Require a minimum standard of English.
Declare whether any suitable and available New Zealand workers were found, including any New Zealand workers who can readily be trained to do the work on offer, and provide reasons why New Zealand applicants (if any) were not suitable and/or available.

An employer is considered to have taken reasonable steps to ensure a person meets the minimum skills and experience threshold to do the job if they, or a third party such as a recruitment agency, have sighted one or more of the below:

• Evidence of relevant work experience from a third party such as work references, payslips, tax certificates, or certificates of employment.

• A qualification certificate awarded to a person that has a bachelor’s degree or higher specifying the qualification type and awarding institute.

• A relevant qualification certificate awarded to a person that specifies the qualification type and awarding institute and the employer reasonably believes it to be at least a Level 4 qualification.

An NZQA Assessment must be provided with the applicant’s Work Visa application.

If an employer utilises a third party to recruit on their behalf, they must ensure that the party is completing these checks and keeping records of the steps taken.

If you require support, please don’t hesitate to contact me (Steve) at +64 27 2125 483

or Bernadette at +64 22 608 9294

Immigration Scams: Beware

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 03:34:28 GMT

Immigration New Zealand is aware of recent cases where the logos of certain immigration companies are being used fraudulently on visas.

Customers can report concerns about potential fraud of this type (or any type) through the MBIE Service Centre on the numbers listed below.

NZ-wide: 0800 542 469

Auckland/overseas: 09 969 1464

Wellington/overseas: 04 910 9923

Alternatively, those who are overseas and may not be able to call the service centre free of charge can send an email to the Compliance and Investigations inbox.

INZ.ComplianceInvestigations@mbie.govt.nz

If customers wish to make a report anonymously, they can report it to Crimestoppers either online or by calling the numbers listed below:

0800 555 111.

+64 9 927 3971 (overseas callers)

Reporting potential fraud through these means will ensure allegations are assessed and triaged, enabling MBIE to investigate if applicable (including if the fraud is onshore and meets the threshold for an investigation). It should be noted however that the Immigration Investigations team operate within New Zealand and cannot prosecute offenders based offshore.

Regarding offshore offending, this will typically be a civil/criminal matter for the victim (i.e. a prospective migrant or LIA) to take up with the relevant authority. While MBIE is not able to prosecute offshore offenders, INZ has undertaken proactive work to educate potential victims of scams.

Last year, INZ went live with an anti-scam and migrant exploitation campaign, intending to inform potential migrants of scam and exploitation activity in the market. The primary audience was people interested in living and working in New Zealand from China, India, and Bangladesh. Other audiences included Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. The campaign ran until late 2023 and reached over 5 million people.

Immigration update - Late March 2024

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 03:26:56 GMT

A common question for those applying to extend the Accredited Employer Work Visa .

Question:

An employee wants to extend their visa entitlement from 3 to 5 years, however, the employer has not renewed their accreditation. Will the success of the application be affected?

Answer:

Yes. If the employer has not renewed their accreditation, the employee will be unable to apply for the further two years of the AEWV.

An employer must hold valid accreditation at the point of the AEWV application and when the approval of the application is decided.

INZ BORDER UPDATE:

Border Statistics

23/24 year to date has seen 4.75m arrivals, on track to exceed 6m by 30 June.
Forecasting 6.9m arrivals for 2024 calendar year against 7.1 for 2019 (about 95% of pre-covid levels).
339,900 overseas visitor arrivals in four-week period ending 18/02/2024. 29.7% increase from same period in 2023.
General distribution of arrivals is AKL 76%, CHC 12%, ZQN 6%, WLG 6%.
51% of arrivals originated from Australia ports, 11% from China (incl. Hong Kong), 10% from USA, 6% from Singapore, 4% from Fiji (those 5 countries represent 83% of ports of origin).
38% of arrivals did so on a NZ passport, 33% on a Visitor Visa (around 25% visa waiver and 8% visa required).
Of arrivals, 15% were Australians, 9% Residents, 3% workers, 2% Students.
28 airlines flying to NZ at present, down one from pre COVID levels of 29.
In Feb 24 we had 3,075 flights with seat capacity of 721,897.
557,056 passengers travelled – 77% loading (26% increase compared to Feb 23).

February 2024 Data

In February there were 311 offshore offloads from planes travelling to NZ. The top APP reasons identified over the past six months were:

Visa being attached to an old or previous passport and the passenger travelling on a new passport.
NZeTA issues, with the most common issue being that the client details on the NZeTA do not match the passenger’s passport.
Airline queries, with the most common reason being an error at check-in.
Visa data mismatch with the most common issue being client details on the visa details do not match the passenger’s passport.

If you require immigration support please don’t hesitate to contact us for an obligation and cost-free conversation.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483

INZ Student Visa reports

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:50:07 GMT

Immigration New Zealand has released reports on the relative success rates of several agents with student visa applications.

The overseas education market is a large, important market for NZ education providers.

The following performance reports are from 1 August 2022 to 31 December 2023 and reflect outcomes from nine countries.

Education agent performance data reports

This INZ report shows the offshore student visa approval rates and application volumes for education agents and LIAs by market.

Approval rates in the reports are based on international student visa applications from applicants who were offshore at the time the student visa was applied for. The reports do not include education agents with low application volumes and applications that were withdrawn or lapsed.

Link - click here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/assist-migrants-and-students/assist-students/international-markets/education-agent-performance-data

Advisa is happy to assist anyone with NZ Student Visa queries and enquiries.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483
W: advisa.co.nz

INZ Immigration updates | March 2024

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:01:36 GMT

Online applications for Permanent Resident Visa General (PRV) are live!

Visa applications went live online via Adept on the 29th of January 2024. The first decisions were made on 30th January 2024, and by 24th February 5,832 PRV applications were received and 3,110 completed. These applications had an average decision time of five days and 90% were completed within 15 days.

It's important to wait until you’ve met all of the relevant eligibility criteria before you apply, there is no need to rush and submit your application. This includes holding a resident visa for two years before applying for a PRV .

If your resident visa was issued while you were outside New Zealand, you must wait at least two years from the first day you entered New Zealand (on that visa) before applying for a PRV.

If you submit your application before you have held your resident visa for two years, it will likely be declined, or you will be offered a variation to your resident visa travel conditions instead. You will then need to reapply for a PRV once you’ve met all the eligibility criteria, and also pay another application fee.

If you require specific Immigration advice or information please contact Steve via the details below.

Steve Baker
General Manager
Licensed Immigration Advisor 201801044
P: 03 353 0680
M: 027 212 5483
W: advisa.co.nz

Resident Visa 2021 news

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:03:11 GMT

Steve's update on the Resident Visa 2021

In 2021 and 2022 Advisa processed many hundred Resident 2021 Visas...

All of you will become eligible for Permanent Residency in NZ in the coming months and next year. This removes all travel conditions from your and your family’s visas.

Permanent Resident Visa General (PRV), Second or Subsequent Resident Visa and Variation of Travel Conditions of a Resident Visa applications:

All application types will move onto the INZ enhanced Immigration Online system on 29 January 2024.
Paper applications for these visas will no longer be accepted from 29 January 2024.
We encourage anyone eligible for these visas before 29 January 2024 to wait and apply online.
You can apply for this visa if you have had a NZ residence visa and been in NZ for more than 2 years.
This visa allows you to travel in and out of New Zealand freely.

Visa details:

Length of stay: Indefinitely
Cost: From NZD $240
Processing time: 80% within 4 weeks

With this PR visa you can:

Live, work and study in NZ.
Travel to and from NZ anytime you like.
Include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under in your visa application – (if they were included in original application).
Non principal applicants can’t apply for Permanent residence before the Principal applicant, unless a non-principal exception applies:

Non-Principal Applicant Exceptions:

If INZ are unable to grant you a Permanent Resident Visa, they may be able to offer another resident visa or variation of your Resident Visa travel conditions.
This would give you more time to travel to and from NZ as a Resident.

If you would like further advice, please click here to contact Steve or Bernadette for a complimentary and confidential conversation.

INZ Immigration Updates | December 2022

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 22:42:09 GMT

Extension of Employer Accreditation status

12-month automatic extension

All accredited employers will have their first approval period extended by 12 months, provided they first applied for accreditation status by 4 July 2023.

This means that all current accredited employers have had a further 12-month validity added to their status, and those who apply between now and 4 July 2023 will be granted a 24-month period of validity.

It remains unclear whether this also covers Triangular Employer and Franchisee accreditation status .

Employers with these forms of accreditation were intended to receive a maximum of 12 months per application, compared to Standard and High-Volume accreditations that were to be valid for 12 months initially and thereafter 24 months on each renewal.

Expansion of Accreditation System

The government’s intention during 2023 was to implement a broad requirement for all employers of migrants, even those on open work visas to be accredited employers.

This intention has now been deferred to 2024.

Green List Changes to Tier 1 Occupations

Several changes were detailed including the addition of three occupations to Tier 1 of the Green List, effective from 15 December, 2022.

Midwives
Registered Nurses
Medical Doctors that are not currently listed under Tier 1.
Auditors will be added in March 2023 to the Tier 1 group.

Tier 1 occupations allow certain migrants with current employment or an offer of employment in that occupation to qualify for the Straight to Residence pathway.

Applicants must meet any qualification, registration or remuneration thresholds as stipulated for their occupation in order to qualify for residence (in addition to English language, health and character requirements).

Green List Changes to Tier 2 Occupations

In addition to the widening of Tier 1 occupations, it was also announced that additional occupational groups will be added to the Tier 2 group from March 2023.

Civil Construction Supervisors Gasfitters
Drainlayers Skilled Crane Operators
Skilled Civil Machine Operators Halal Slaughterers
Skilled Motor Mechanics Skilled Telecommunications Technicians
Primary School Teachers All secondary teachers not already included

Migrants in these occupations (along with the existing Tier 2 occupations) will be able to apply for residence after working in their skilled occupation for at least 24 months in New Zealand.

Applicants must meet any qualification, registration or remuneration thresholds as stipulated for their occupation throughout the 24-month period, in addition to meeting English language, health and character requirements.

Critical Purpose Visitor Visa Holders

Those critical workers who came to New Zealand on 12-month Critical Purpose Visitor Visas, and who have remained in the same role, will be eligible for a three-year Specific Purpose or Event work visa.

This will require the holder to still be on their Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, be working in the same role and are being paid at least the same rate as when they applied for their Critical Purpose Visitor Visa.

Post Study Work Visa holders

Those people who held a Post Study Work Visa after studying in New Zealand but were unable to use the visa due to the border closures will be able to apply for a 12-month open work visa, if they have not already travelled to New Zealand on another visa.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require immigration support. Email info@advisa.co.nz!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - Steve and the Global Team at Advisa

World Wide Competition for Talent

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 03:55:11 GMT

World Wide Competition for Talent and the NZ “Green List”

So you’ve found a fantastic employee offshore and their job title is on the “ Green List ”.

The current policy that applies here is complex and very narrow in its interpretation.

Green List qualification

The Green List is basically a offspring of the old “Long Term Skills Shortage List”. It lists a range of occupations outlines the “skill and knowledge” requirements the applicant must have if they want to take advantage of the benefits the Green List offers, namely no labour market testing (advertising) needed at the Job Check stage and the ability to secure residence prior to entering New Zealand or following two years of work in New Zealand.

The skill and knowledge requirements set out for each occupation are highly prescriptive and do not reflect what NZ Employers and potential candidates from offshore possess.

Unfortunately, the Green List doesn’t reflect the reality for many workers and industries, so many of these applicants will not qualify under the Green List requirements.

This is further compounded as the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) remains suspended. In summary candidates don’t have the certainty of being able to secure residence in NZ currently.

Additional issues

NZQA Qualification assessment may be required for Green list roles and this can be a challenging and time-consuming job.

The INZ mission is to facilitate the entry of suitable candidates into these Green list occupations, whilst the rest of the World is trying to attract these very same talent remember. This lack of certainty around long-term settlement, along with the visa process taking longer along with being more costly and complex is a huge demotivator for many talented migrants.

Conclusion

While the situation is frustrating for both offshore candidates and their New Zealand employers at present, we recommend applicants seek professional advice so they can properly determine whether there is any opportunity for their inclusion under the Green List.

Assistance during assessment of any international qualifications, particularly if the candidate requires NZQA assessment is also advised.

Eligibility assessment will determine whether, if the Green List is not applicable, there are other pathways that lead to residence.

A new SMC policy will provide relief to offshore candidates, who don’t meet the qualification requirements for residence (or a pathway to residence) under the Green List and their New Zealand employers.

Hopefully this policy is developed in consultation with the private sector,. This will potentially ensure the policy is of real value relative to what other competing countries are offering to the worldwide market.

If you require assistance please don’t hesitate to contact the team at Advisa Immigration Services by emailing info@advisa.co.nz

Immigration News May 2022

Sun, 15 May 2022 22:05:36 GMT

INZ May 9th announcements appear to be a move to rebalance the entire immigration system.

There has been a shift from what was announced by the government previously

The changes are complex and have widespread ramifications that impact employers, migrants and their families.

Onshore Work Visa Extensions – Auto Granted

Migrants who are / were in NZ on 9 May and held work visas expiring on or before 31 December this year, have been granted extensions to their work visas:

Work to residence visa holders in NZ have had their visas extended by six months .
Holders of Essential Skills work visas, Post-Study Work visas, and partners of work visa holders have been granted two year open work visas.

These extensions have been auto granted by Immigration NZ. Partners and dependent children of these visa holders that are /were in NZ on 9 May have also got visa extensions by six months or two years.

Exemptions to Median Wage for Accredited Employer Work Visas

From July 4, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) comes into force. This means that any NZ employer that wants to support and hire a migrant worker to work in NZ, must be accredited by INZ first.

A median wage threshold of $27.76 per hour is being introduced for most AEWVs. However, exemptions to the AEWV median wage threshold have now been announced.

New sector agreements are being put in place for the care, construction, infrastructure, meat processing, seafood, seasonal snow, and adventure tourism sectors.

Each of these sectors will be provided limited exceptions to the median wage requirement in exchange for ongoing improvements.

This will allow these sectors time to improve working conditions and put significant effort into retaining, training, and upskilling New Zealanders, or changing labour needs.

For example, many tourism and hospitality roles will be given an exemption to the median wage , with a lower wage threshold of $25 per hour until April 2023. Certain care workforce roles will have an interim reduced wage threshold of $25.39 per hour.

High Skilled Migrants

A new Green List is being introduced and will include over 85 hard-to-fill roles created to attract and retain high-skilled workers to fill skill shortages.

The Green List includes occupations in the construction, engineering, trades, health, and ICT sectors. The Green List will replace the existing skills shortage lists (Long-Term Skill Shortage List, Regional Skills Shortage List, and Constructions and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List).

Border Opening

New Zealand will reconnect with the world three months earlier than expected. The border will fully re-open on July 31 at 11.59 pm.

The new reopening dates are:

4 July: All work visa categories open for applications (including Accredited Employer Work Visa)
31 July: All student and visitor visa categories reopen

Other major policy updates were also announced with the aim of speeding up the economic growth of New Zealand.

Residence Pathways

From September 2022 onwards, migrants in the Green List occupations and migrants paid twice the median wage will have streamlined pathways to residence.

Some will be able to directly apply for residence and others will be eligible for residence after two years of working in NZ.

Further announcements on Skilled Migrant Category will be made in the coming months.

Partnership Visas

From December 2022, most partners of temporary migrant workers will be granted visitors visas.

If they wish to work, they will need to qualify for an Accredited Employer Work Visa in their own right.

Unlike other work visa holders, all partners can work less than 30 hours a week, reflecting they may have other responsibilities, such as childcare, and are not the primary household earner.

Partners of migrants working in Green List occupations or paid twice the median wage will be able to gain open work rights.

Student Visa and Post-study Work Visas

International students studying bachelor’s or post-graduate courses or higher will continue to receive Post-Study Work Visas.
Students undertaking a qualification at sub-degree level (Level 7 and below, excluding bachelor’s degrees) will only be eligible for post-study work rights, if the qualification is relevant to an occupation on the Green List.
From 31 July 2022, the cost-of-living funds requirement for tertiary international students will increase to $20,000 from $15,000 per year.
For primary and secondary school international students, fund requirements will be set at $17,000 per year.

Employer Accreditation Mandatory

In 2023, a new requirement will come into effect, with all employers needing to be accredited to employ any migrant, including those with open work rights (such as working holidaymakers or students).

NZ Border Update

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 22:53:41 GMT

Here is the critical timelines for hiring migrant workers – both from within and outside NZ:

Since 14 March: Rules for the Other Critical Workers category have been relaxed for those earning 1.5 times the median wage - $84,240 per year.

It's much easier to bring these workers in now than it has been since the pandemic started.

12 April: The following groups who still meet their visa conditions can travel to NZ without a border exception - temporary work and student visa holders who still meet their visa requirements. This includes dependents with valid student visas, people offshore and those within NZ who leave and want to return. Holders of valid student visas within NZ and outside (must meet funding requirements and the conditions of their student visa including studying/ resuming the course at the same education provider). A new border exception for 5000 new and returning international students
May: The NZ border opens to visa-waiver travellers and holders of valid visitor visas – for those travelling from overseas to NZ and for migrants leaving and re-entering NZ.

Accreditation Update: AEWV applications open 4th July 2022

Final updates on Employer Accreditation for the upcoming Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme have now been released.

Estimated processing timeframes are detailed below:

(Gate 1): Standard and High-Volume accreditation applications 10 working days
(Gate 2): Job check 10 working days
(Gate 3): Accredited Employer Work Visa 20 working days

Any employer who is not accredited in time and wants to hire a migrant worker, will have to wait approx. one month before they can invite their migrant worker to apply for the new AEWV.

It is crucial that businesses start thinking about the impact this new policy will have on their recruitment, and plan accordingly.

Latest Immigration NZ Updates

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 01:21:54 GMT

Border opening announcements

The latest border announcements have signalled the following in terms of when the border will reopen to certain international arrivals:

Key dates: 13 April – Australian citizens, 1 May – visa waiver nationals and October – non visa waiver nationals

What we don’t know is whether the NZ border will be open for all visa categories and if and when INZ is to open up visa processing. INZ will be opened up for processing for visa waiver nationals, to facilitate arrivals from 1 May.

The NZ border is opening up, so now is time to start sourcing your international talent.

Other Critical Worker border exception

This new category represents a significant milestone and means that employers can now bring in highly paid talent, without needing to demonstrate that the candidate has unique experience and technical or specialist skills that is not readily obtainable in New Zealand.

The requirements for this exception are: That the person is required to stay in New Zealand for more than 6 months to achieve their critical purpose; and That they are in a role for which they will earn at least 1.5 times the median wage ($84,240 p.a. or $40.50 p/hr).

If these applicants also earn more than $106,080 p.a. ($51 p/hr) they should be eligible to apply for residence under the one-off 2021 Residence Visa, provided they can make their first entry to New Zealand and lodge that application before the category closes on 31 July 2022.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

INZ have released further detail on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system in effect from 4 July 2022.

Minimum pay threshold. The median wage will increase from $27 p/hr to $27.76 p/hr on 4 July 2022. Employers will only be able to secure work visas for employees who are paid at least the new median wage of $27.76 p/hr ($57,740.80 pa)

The Government is also currently considering whether there may be roles/industries where an exemption should be applied to the minimum pay threshold.

Accreditation . High volume accredited employers (6+ migrant workers) no longer are required to pay at least 10% above minimum wage or be covered by a collective agreement. The new median wage threshold now applies to all applications.

There will be additional accreditation requirements to be met for employers who are franchisees or who place AEWV holders via ‘triangular employment’. (Labour Hire)

Job Check (Labour Market Testing)

If the job is paid at least 200% of median wage ($115,481.60 p.a. or $55.52 p/hr) no advertising is required.

For all other jobs paying below these thresholds, the advertising requirements will be the same, irrespective of the location or nature of the role.

A job check can cover multiple positions, provided that the job details are the same and are all covered by the same advertising and proposed employment agreement.

Application fees

The new system’s fees are an increase in the financial burden that an employer needs to bear.

Accreditation - Employer Pays

Standard – $740
High volume – $1,220
Triangular – $3,870
Franchisee – $1,980

Job Check - Employer Pays - $610

Migrant Check - Migrant Pays– $540 & Immigration Levy $55

Implementation dates

23 May 2022 Employers able to apply for accreditation

20 June 2022 Accredited Employers can submit a Job Check

4 July 2022 Migrants can apply for an AEWV (if Accreditation and Job Check stages are completed)

Conclusion

Those employers who have previously relied on migrant labour for lower skilled / lower paid roles will be able to use working holiday visa holders, student visa holders who can work up to 20 hours per week, post study work visa holders.

Industries such as tourism, hospitality and retail are likely to find these new rules very challenging.

The Governments desire to reduce NZ Employers reliance on a low skilled & low paid workforce has taken place, due to NZ’s border closure.

NZ Companies now need to rebuild with a reduced reliance on migrants.

If you have any questions about this information please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss things further.

- Steve Baker

Policy Changes Overview

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 20:08:04 GMT

Policy Shifts from Immigration New Zealand continues to be the new normal.

Here is an overview of some recent updates:

The 2021 Resident Visa:

Phase 2 officially opened on 1st March , which is expected to include upwards of 150,000+ migrants. Please scroll down for additional information regarding Phase 2.

At the NZ border: From this point forward, self-isolation will no longer be required for fully vaccinated returnees who return a negative RAT test on arrival.

600 tech border exceptions are now available, which allows employers to bring eligible talent to NZ under the Other Critical Worker (OCW) category.

Step 1 of NZ’s border reopening officially began 28th February, NZers and other eligible travellers in Australia are now able to enter NZ.

Step 2 has now been split into two parts:

In part 1, which began on Friday 4th March at 11:59 pm, NZers and other eligible travellers from the rest of the world can re-enter NZ.

In part 2, which is from Sunday 13th March at 11:59 pm, working holiday visa schemes will reopen on a rolling basis, and there will be changes to Other Critical Worker border exception requirements.

Three-Step Process for Hiring & Supporting Migrant Workers

Applications open for the new mandatory employer accreditation and the job check on 9th May 2022.

3rd July 2022 will be the last day to submit an application for an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV).

The new three-step process and the Accredited Employer Work Visa will both come into effect on 4th July 2022.

All of this Immigration policy change taking place at once will lead to confusion.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions that you may have.

- Steve

Employee Accreditation

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 02:47:18 GMT

Employer Accreditation & AEWV

The Government has confirmed that beginning 4 July 2022, an employer must be accredited to employ a migrant worker on an employer-supported work visa.

Key Dates for Employers:

• 09 May 2022: Applications for Accreditation and Job Check open

• 03 July 2022: Last day for Essential Skills Work Visa

• 04 July 2022: Employer Accreditation and AEWV are mandatory

How Does Mandatory Employer Accreditation Impact You?

Currently, the only employer-supported work visa available is the Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV). You do not need to be accredited to support employees on an ESWV.

However, ESVW category closes to new applications on 3rd July 2022. From 4th July 2022, the only option available to employers is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). In order to support an employee on or after 4 July 2022, you must have received your accreditation from Immigration New Zealand.

Update for Accredited Employers

Individual Talent (Accredited Employer) work visa holders are now able to move to a previously accredited employer, so long as the new employer’s accreditation expired after 31 March 2021.

For example, if your accreditation expired on 1 July 2021, you could leverage your previous accreditation to attract a Talent Visa holder. This migrant worker with a Talent (Accredited Employer) work visa would be able to come work for you, and their pathway to residence would still be available.

If your accreditation has already lapsed or whether you have chosen to retain it, you will need to become accredited under this new accreditation system.

3 Steps to Hiring a Migrant Worker from 4 July 2022

To hire a migrant worker on the Accredited Employer Work Visa, which will be the only work visa available from 4 July 2022, you will have to complete these 3 steps in the order specified below:

Step 1. Get accredited. In order to get accredited:

• There will be two different levels of accreditation. (An employer's accreditation level will depend on how many AEWV holders they want to employ).

• You must be a genuine employer who is compliant with NZ’s employment and immigration laws.

• You are expected to prioritise the training, upskilling and hiring of NZ workers - only employing migrants where there are genuine skill shortages.

• You are expected to pay all recruitment costs in and outside of NZ. Your accreditation relies on this.

• INZ may seek specific commitments from businesses to complete during the accreditation period.

2. Pass the job check

You will need to apply for a job check for each role you want to hire a migrant worker for.

You can only hire a migrant worker on an AEWV for a job if it has passed the job check. The employer will have to pay for this.

Among other requirements, you may also need to complete a labour market test (LMT). This is to prove there are no NZ citizens or residents available for the position.

3. Migrant worker’s visa (AEWV) application - Migrant check

After the first 2 steps are passed, you can invite the migrant worker to apply for a visa to work in that specific job.

Only once the worker’s visa is approved are you able to hire them.

Summary:

These new changes impact both individual migrant workers, as well as every single employer in New Zealand, who relies on migrant workers.

The Process

• There will be two different levels of accreditation. An employer's level will depend on how many Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders they want to employ.

• A migrant can only apply for the work visa once the accreditation stage is ticked off and the job check stage is approved.

• Accreditation is initially granted for 12 months. Then, unless the employer is a franchisee or part of a triangular employment agreement, the accreditation can be renewed every two years.

Employers

• The accreditation must be held by the direct employer named on the migrant worker’s employment agreement.

• The business must be a genuine employer who is compliant with NZ's employment and immigration laws.

• Businesses would be expected to prioritise the training, upskilling and hiring of NZ workers – only employing migrants where there are genuine skill shortages.

• Employers are expected to pay all recruitment costs in and outside of NZ. If INZ finds out otherwise, they will cancel the accreditation.

• INZ may seek specific commitments from businesses to complete during the accreditation period.

Labour Market Test (LMT)

• The strictness of the labour market test (LMT) depends on the location (region) of the job.

• It will be stricter for regions with ‘higher-supply’ of New Zealanders – these regions (as well as ‘lower-supply’ regions) will be identified by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

• Jobs paid below median wage currently $27 per hour) must pass the full LMT, including advertising and listing the job with Work & Income NZ (WINZ).

• Showing pay rate and hours of work in job adverts are required.

• Advertising must show the minimum qualifications, work experience, skills and/or other specific requirements of the job.

• The WINZ-issued Skill Match Report (SMR) process will be tightened, including how actively an employer engages with WINZ referrals.

• The LMT will fail if the SMR shows the employer has actively disengaged, despite what the rest of the SMR says.

Migrant Workers

• Stand down periods - currently delayed till 1 July 2022 - will be reintroduced.

• INZ will check to see if migrant worker meets requirements of AEWV, including skills and experience for the job.

o A new pathway to residence will be introduced for migrants who have held an AEWV for two years and are paid at least 200 percent of the median wage

o (currently $54/hour or $112,320 pa for a 40 hour week).

• Character, health and bona fide requirements will remain as they are.

If you require additional support with your immigration requirements please us at info@advisa.co.nz

How to Get a Resident's Visa in 2021

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 02:43:41 GMT

Immigration New Zealand has now released the policy instructions for the new 2021 Resident Visa and individual eligibility as well when an individual can apply can now be confirmed.

GOVERNMENT APPLICATION FEE

Immigration New Zealand have confirmed the application fee for a 2021 Resident Visa will be NZD $2,160 including GST.

Applicants will only be required to pay this fee once an in-principal decision (Approval in Principle) has been made on their application.

It does not need to be made on application.

Once an in-principal decision has been made, applicants who have applied for residence under the Skilled Migrant or Residence from Work categories will be given the option to:

Withdraw their Skilled Migrant Category application. Use the fee from that application to cover the cost of the 2021 Resident Visa with a refund of the difference; or
Withdraw their Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest or Residence from Work application. Use the fee from that application towards the 2021 Resident Visa with the difference payable by the applicant, before the application can be finalised
Applicants who chose not to withdraw their existing application. Will need to pay a fee of NZD1,330 for the processing of their 2021 Resident visa application.

HOW TO APPLY FROM DECEMBER 1, 2021

The application form for the 2021 Resident Visa will be available online from 1 December 2021.

If you have already applied for residence under the Skilled Migrant or Residence from Work category or

have submitted an Expression of Interest with a dependent child included in that application aged 17 or older determines whether they are eligible to apply in this first cohort.

Applications will be processed with first cohort of applications being accepted from 1 December 2021 and the second from 1 March 2022.

All applicants must be submitted by 31 July 2022.

Applications submitted after this date will be declined.

CURRENT RESIDENT VISA APPLICATIONS & PROCESSING TIMEFRAMES

Immigration New Zealand aim to process applications for residence under this new category within 12 months of receiving an application.

This means that some migrants who have already submitted a residence application are likely to obtain residence earlier if they submit a new application under the 2021 Resident Visa pathway than awaiting an outcome on their Skilled Migrant or Residence from Work category application.

It also means that individuals holding Work to Residence visas under the Talent (Accredited Employer) and Long-Term Skill Shortage List instructions do not necessarily have to wait the 24 months normally required to be eligible to apply for New Zealand residence.

Given the Minister’s confirmation that selections of Expressions of Interest under the Skilled Migrant category will remain suspended until at least 31 July 2022, migrants who have submitted an Expression of Interest are also likely to benefit from applying for residence under the new category instead of waiting for selections to resume.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – IN REVIEW

The key requirements an individual must meet in order to be eligible to apply for residence under the 2021 Resident Visa category (either in the first or second cohort) are as follows:

- Have been in New Zealand on an eligible work visa (or have applied for one and are subsequently granted that visa) on 29 September 2021; or

- Arrive in New Zealand on a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa (CPVV) as a critical health worker or other critical worker for more than 6 months before 31 July 2022

(Additional requirements apply to nurses granted a CPVV to travel to and obtain occupational registration in New Zealand)

And meet:

- The settled criteria in New Zealand; or

- The skilled criteria; or

- The scarce criteria.

Principal applicants in Australia may also be eligible if they left New Zealand between 6 April 2021 and 23 July 2021 (inclusive).

Dependent family in New Zealand and overseas can be included in the residence application as secondary applicants, if they meet dependency requirements.

Dependent children aged 25 and over can also be included in some circumstances.

Settled Criteria

Applicants applying under the settled criteria must have lived in New Zealand for three or more years as of 29 September 2021. This means they must have first arrived in New Zealand on or before 29 September 2018.

Applicants must also have spent at least 821 days in New Zealand between 29 September 2018 and 29 September 2021 (inclusive). Immigration New Zealand will use their travel records to determine whether applicants meet the settled criteria.

Skilled Criteria

Applicants applying under the skilled criteria must normally be paid at or above $27/hour and have been paid this on 29 September 2021 and at the time their residence application is submitted.

The $27/hour requirement excludes employment-related allowances and bonuses and is calculated on base remuneration only.

To support an application for residence under the skilled criteria, applicants will need to evidence they meet the hourly rate through submission of:

• An employment agreement or letter from their employer confirming their pay and hours of work; and

• A full bank statement or Inland Revenue summary of income or pay slips

Applicants who received a pay rise effective after 29 September 2021 are not eligible under the skilled criteria.

Scarce Criteria

To be eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa under the scarce criteria, applicants must have been working in a scarce occupation on 29 September 2021 and at the time their residence application is submitted. A scarce occupation is defined as:

• A role on the Long-Term Skill Shortage List

• A role on the specified primary sector roles list

• A role that requires occupational registration in the health or education sector

• Other critical health care worker or personal carer roles as defined by policy including paramedics, aged and disabled carers and workers who install, operate, or maintain medical equipment

To support an application for residence under the scarce criteria, applicants will need to provide the following evidence:

• An employment agreement or letter from their employer confirming their occupation and hours of work; and

• Evidence of occupational registration in New Zealand (if applicable)

HEALTH AND CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

Acceptable standard of health and good character requirements apply to all residence visa category applications and the 2021 Resident Visa pathway is no different. However, the evidential requirements have been relaxed to allow for faster visa processing.

Health Requirements

Applicants will need to submit a Limited medical certificate, obtained via an authorised panel physician only if:

• They have not submitted a medical certificate to Immigration New Zealand in the last 36 months; or

• There have been changes to their standard of health since their previous medical was submitted; or

• Their standard of health was previously assessed by Immigration New Zealand as not meeting requirements

Character Requirements

Applicants are not required to provide police certificates with their application unless specifically requested by Immigration New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand will obtain a police certificate from the New Zealand Police on an applicant’s behalf during the processing of the application.

NEXT STEPS

Actions YOU can take in advance of YOUR eligibility is:

Ensure YOU hold an up-to-date passport valid for at least 12 months

Obtain full unabridged birth certificates for YOURSELF and YOUR dependent family members

If YOU wish to include a dependent partner or spouse in YOUR application, gather relationship supporting documents to evidence living together and that you meet the genuine and stable relationship requirements.