Immigration

The New Zealand Government is reopening the Skilled Migrant Visa Category.

The Government has created a new "Active Investor Plus" visa category, intended to attract high-value investors to New Zealand.

The Government is adjusting immigration settings, as it moves to fully reconnect with the world by 31 July 2022.

The New Zealand border opening has been brought forward, and there are significant changes for both worker and visitor visas.

Today (3 February, 2022), Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the government’s 5-step plan to ease the current tensions and restrictions of the MIQ landscape.

On 30 September 2021, the Government announced a new one-off residence visa pathway for some temporary work visa holders currently in New Zealand.

The rules governing New Zealand’s immigration can be confusing. The added complexity of a global pandemic, border closures and rapidly-changing policies haven’t helped. Here’s a brief snapshot of what we are seeing in the immigration law space, a heads-up about some of the impending changes and some things to think about if you are a visa holder or if you employ migrant workers.

Immigration New Zealand is operating under covid alert level restrictions. Paper applications are currently unable to be processed as their offices are closed and staff are working from home.

On 1 July 2021, the New Zealand Government announced the introduction of the Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa (MEPWV).

From today (Monday 19 July, 2021), Essential Skills visa holders who apply for a new visa to remain in their current job will be able to stay for longer. This change is intended to provide certainty to employers and at least 18,000 visa holders while COVID border restrictions remain in place.