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.