Immigration has just released the long-anticipated update on the minimum salary required to be eligible under certain visa categories. These updates affect work visas under the Essential Skills category and residence applications under the Skilled Migrant Category. Worth noting: for any visa application, you will also need to meet ‘market rate’, which is the rate of pay which would be required to recruit a New Zealand citizen or resident to do equivalent work. What are the changes? The new thresholds …

Read More

Update to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations ANZSCO is getting an update, and so is the classification of certain occupations. This could be good news for certain categories of workers. What are the changes? Version 1.3 of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is due to be released by mid-2020. ANZSCO is used to determine the skill level of an occupation, and what the qualification and/or work experience are, to be deemed qualified. Before …

Read More

New Zealand parent category to reopen in February 2020 After being ‘paused’ for almost 3 years, the parent category reopens on 24 Feb 2020. New Zealand residents will be able to sponsor their parent(s) to come over and become residents themselves. The category is capped at 1,000 applicants/year and there are requirements of guaranteed minimum income from the New Zealand resident sponsors only. What are the changes? The new policy includes the following changes: applying an annual quote of 1,000 …

Read More

As part of a major overhaul of employer-assisted work visas due 2021, the New Zealand government is announcing changes to the work to residence (Accredited employer) work visa category this October. What are the changes? From 7 October 2019, the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa salary threshold increases from NZ $55,000 to NZ $79,560 (150% of the current median salary). This pathway is also known as “Work to residence” (Accredited Employer). What this means for you You currently hold a Talent: Accredited …

Read More

On 1st July 2019, the New Zealand government introduces a new levy to contribute to our growing infrastructure needs and continue supporting the protection of our natural legacy. More information (MBIE website) A new levy for sustainable tourism and conservation projects What are the changes? From 1 July 2019, most international visitors entering the country will have to pay a levy of NZ$35. This amount will be  collected as part of your visa application fee, or from at the same time …

Read More

New requirements introduced for visa waiver travellers to New Zealand The New Zealand government is introducing new measures for travellers coming from visa waiver countries. You may now need to obtain an electronic Travel Authority before flying over to New Zealand. MORE INFORMATION (INZ WEBSITE) REGISTER FOR AN NZETA (INZ WEBSITE) What are the changes? From 1st October 2019, the New Zealand government will introduce a new security and facilitation measure destined to speed things up at the border. What this …

Read More