In addition to the parent residence categories, parents of NZ residents or citizens are  permitted to remain for a maximum of 18 months within a three-year timeframe on a multiple-entry parent/grandparent visitor visa. The Government has been working on, and is due to release, a new 5-year “Parent Boost” visa next year. The new visa may require the ability to cover possible healthcare expenses and to this effect the Government is also considering a healthcare levy. The levy system is in …

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Immigration New Zealand has made changes to the way they assess eligibility for a post-study work visa. The change is positive and expands eligibility to students who have undertaken subsequent qualifications. What changes for the post-study work visa? To be eligible for a post-study work visa, applicants must complete a New Zealand qualification that has been pursued full-time in New Zealand for the necessary minimum duration (depending on the course). They must also submit their application within the specified timeframe …

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Immigration New Zealand has released updated processing times for certain categories of applications submitted in October 2024. By adopting a new triage and grouping methodology, INZ is now able to provide more accurate estimations of their application processing times, depending on a number of factors. Grouping applications by type, sector, or skill level, Immigration New Zealand increases their ability to process those most important applications in a timely manner. What impacts processing time? Incomplete applications naturally slow down processing times …

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The New Zealand government has implemented significant revisions to the accreditation process and the Job Check protocol aimed at streamlining the experience for employers and holders of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) during events such as business sales, mergers, or restructures. These changes are part of a broader initiative to enhance efficiency within the AEWV framework, ensuring that processing times are minimised for all parties involved. Starting from 6 November 2024, important new guidelines will come into effect: 1. …

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Open work rights will be available to more partners of migrant workers from 2 December 2024. WATCH ON YOUTUBE What is changing and who is benefiting? The government is taking steps to expand work opportunities for partners of migrant workers, enabling them to work for any employer. This initiative aims to position New Zealand as an appealing and supportive destination for highly skilled migrants and their families, while addressing skills shortages in vital sectors such as healthcare and education. These …

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Australia and New Zealand are in the process of introducing updated occupation classification systems to simplify the visa application process for international workers. New Zealand will be implementing the National Occupation List (NOL), while Australia will be launching the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) to replace the current ANZSCO system. The intention is partly to streamline the issuance of visas for foreign workers by introducing tailored occupation classification systems that align with their respective labour market requirements. This move …

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The Government has revised the maximum duration for partnership work and visitor visas for partners of New Zealand citizens or holders of residence class visas. The duration has been extended from 2 years to 3 years. This is very good news and will provide some peace of mind for migrants whose 2-year partnership visa may sometimes appear too short to secure residency. What has changed? Up until now, the maximum duration of a partnership-based temporary (work or visitor) visa a …

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What is changing? The Government has unveiled new measures to offer migrant children leaving school an opportunity to work and contribute to the New Zealand economy. More specifically, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford revealed that part-time work rights will be expanded for those waiting on family residence application decisions. Many young people who are part of a family residence application process are unable to work. They can remain on visitor visas for long periods of time because they can’t afford international …

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