Confused by immigration changes?
Fair enough.
But fear not, we've read them, summarised them and translated them into Plain English.
In the last few weeks there have been a number of announcements from Immigration NZ regarding changes to immigration processes and visas.
Given the complexities of immigration, we cannot cover all scenarios. This would not be reader friendly. Each person’s situation is unique and if you have questions we encourage you to get in touch.
New Employer Accreditation System
The new employer accreditation system was due to go live from 1 November 2021 however the Government has recently announced this is deferred until mid 2022 (exact date TBC).
The old accreditation system closed 30 June 2021, so right now employers cannot apply for accreditation. Use this time to still get your paperwork up to date and ready to apply.
We will let you know when the new accreditation scheme opens for applications (which will probably be earlier than the go live date).
Median Hourly Wage Increase
From 19 July 2021, the median hourly wage increased from $25.50 to $27.00. This new rate applies to any new Essential Skills Work Visa applications.
Essential Skills Work Visa
Good news! Also from 19 July 2021, current Essential Skills Work Visa holders will be able to apply for a longer visa to remain in the same role, with the same employer and in the same city.
Maximum Length
The Government decided to extend the maximum length of an Essential Skills Work Visa for a job paid below the median wage ($27.00 an hour) from 12 to 24 months. The duration of Essential Skills Work Visas for roles paid the median wage or above will still be up to three years.
Labour Market Tests, Police and Medical Checks
More good news! There is a temporary change for labour market tests and police and medical certificate requirements for some visa applications.
If someone with an employer specific visa is moving to another employer specific visa, or they are moving from an open visa (e.g. Post Study or Working Holiday) to an employer specific visa, a labour market test is not required.
Police and medical certificate are not required if these have been previously provided to Immigration NZ.
This more streamlined process is in place until mid 2022 (exact date to be confirmed).
Residency Applications
Applications submitted before March 2020 are taking approximately 24 months.
There are no further updates for Expressions of Interest (EOI) submitted after March 2020.
Need more info?
Check out Immigration New Zealand’s website for the full detail of these changes.
Our friends at Malcolm Pacific Immigration are a great team to work with. We are happy to put you in touch with them if you need help and expertise in this space.
We are also happy to help. Get in touch with the team and we will guide you through what is needed for your business.
And last but not least, check out our Facebook and LinkedIn pages for regular (but not too regular) information on all things people.