Border to open!

• Published date: 19 May 2022
• Subject Matter: Immigration, General Immigration, Work Visas
• Law Firm: Cavell Leitch
• Author: Mr Shi Sheng Cai

Update

The government have announced several significant updates to New Zealand's current and future immigration setting.

We set out key information below.

Key updates

New Zealand's border will fully open by 1 August 2022. On 31 July 2022, all student and visitor visa categories will reopen.

All work visa categories will open for applications on 4 July 2022.

A 'Green List' has been introduced.

• The first benefit of this list is that it has two pathways to residence which will have an age cap (principal applicants will need to be under the age of 56 years of age). The first is a fast-tracked residence category that will open from September 2022. The second is a work to residence pathway which will require workers to work for 2 years on the work visa before applying for residence.
• The second benefit of this list is that the need for advertising at the Job Check stage is waived if a role is featured on the list.
• To be able to benefit from the list, requirements set for each role must be met.

Changes to future Partnership Work Visas in 2023. Initial indications are that partners of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders will be provided visitor visas unless the AEWV holder is working in a role that is on the Green List or pays over 2x median income. Partners of AEWV holders in future will need to apply for AEWVs if they wish to work and their partner's role is not on the Green List or if their partner is not paid 2x the median income.

It has been indicated that in 2023, all employers will require accreditation in order to employ any migrant. This would indicate that Working Holiday visas and other visas may be phased out in future.

Sector agreements will be used to allow for exemptions to the AEWV $27.76 wage threshold. Current interim lists of roles have been released. Full sector agreement lists will be released in the future. Migrants holding this AEWV while exempt from the wage threshold will be able to work in New Zealand for 24 months, before a stand down period, in which the employee must leave New Zealand for 12 months, will apply. After this stand-down period the employee may re-apply for a visa.

Open work visas have been granted to those in New Zealand holding one of the following eligible visas expiring between 9 May and 31 December 2022:

• Essential Skills Work Visa
• Post Study Work Visa
• Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
• Eligible Ukraine nationals granted a temporary visa on 10 March 2022

These visas are valid for 24 months from the expiry...