Kia Ora!
It’s been almost two months since New Zealand’s borders opened completely and the Government is doing its best to help employers fill in the skills gap. Sector agreements in certain important areas like healthcare, construction & infrastructure, tourism & hospitality, seafood and meat processing have been announced allowing some exceptions to the median wage requirements. Also, the duration of some Working Holiday Visa holders in New Zealand has been extended and the cap limits have been doubled.
The Green List has been a hot topic of discussion in the past few months. One of the benefits of holding Green List roles is that they offer quick pathways to residence in New Zealand. The Straight to Residence pathway opened on 5 September 2022. I have included a short blog on the Green List in this newsletter to refresh your memory.
How do I apply for a Green List role is a common question I am frequently asked. I have written a short article on this topic that will clear your doubts. Furthermore, the eligible registration types have also been expanded in the Green List and a few more digital technology roles have also been added. You can read all about these interesting topics in this newsletter.
If you are a migrant worker in New Zealand earning twice the median wage, then read about the Highly Paid Residence Visa Category.
Besides the above, it is important to note that from 2 September 2022, the threshold for determining the conditions that may impose significant health costs has been almost doubled for Resident Visa applicants.
The new Active Investor Plus Visa category has officially opened to applicants, replacing the previous investor visa categories. It encourages active investments unlike the earlier passive investments and improves the flexibility of investors.
New Zealand continues to be one of the best and most sought-after overseas study destinations due to its top-ranking educational institutes offering various study programmes. However, first-time students are often confused about what documents to submit when applying for a visa. Therefore, presenting credible, verifiable and genuine documents as per the checklist provided is critical in getting a Student Visa for New Zealand. Consequently, I have included a short write-up on the first-time student visa checklist for our international students.
Recently, New Zealand has made some changes to Post Study Work Visa rights. Unlike before, the visa duration and employment conditions will depend on the qualification studied and the time spent studying in New Zealand. The Government aims to deter international students from entering New Zealand on low-level courses, but this might take a considerable chunk of the workforce away from the labour market.
Master of Engineering, Master of Applied Finance, Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electrical) and Master of Professional Accounting are emerging as some of the more popular courses to study in this beautiful country.
The Immigration News section includes some interesting articles too.
Last but not least, don’t forget to check out our client success stories
I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter.
Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser
