Kio Ora!
Here’s the good news we all have been waiting for! New Zealand has finally announced it will begin reopening to the world, signalling an end to nearly two years of strict border rules that have separated families and shut out almost all foreigners. Soon after the announcement, Air New Zealand started preparing to relaunch 24 international routes, including some long-haul routes.
Education New Zealand (ENZ) will soon announce the nomination criteria for 5,000 fully vaccinated international students prioritised for the third stage entry beginning 12 April 2022. Register with us to ensure your name is forwarded for nomination now. Interested students will need to be holders of unconditional offers of a place ready to pay and travel for a July start.
Students from Visa Waiver countries such as Japan and South Korea can enter New Zealand from July for short visits of up to three months. From October 2022, Immigration NZ will accept visa applications for all visa classes. This means INZ will soon announce modalities and time frames of visa lodgement to enable people and businesses to plan ahead.
Immigration New Zealand has meanwhile made some changes to its Immigration Online system, and an automated visa processing & granting system for Visitor Visas has been announced.
Besides this, the Immigration. NZ General Manager has confirmed that a medical certificate will not be required for submitting New Resident Visa applications under Phase 2. This is indeed good news as people were seen standing in long queues, even camping overnight, outside clinics to get their medicals done before 1 March.
Fast-tracking 1,70,000 resident visa applications has faced some criticism as it will add to the infrastructure deficit & put pressure on housing, health, education & unemployment. Also, the labour shortage continues to put pressure on businesses and impact different sectors across the country.
High Court will hear the court case about the virtues and vices of MIQ for New Zealanders abroad troubled by the border restrictions this week.
We hope you will find this newsletter informative as always.
“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Happy reading!
Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser
