New Border Exceptions For Skilled Workers
On 13 December 2021, the New Zealand Government announced new border class exceptions to bring skilled workers into New Zealand while the borders are still shut.
One of the border class exceptions is for the technology sector, allowing 600 much-needed specialist tech workers, their partners, and dependent children to enter New Zealand.
The NZ tech sector continued to expand even during the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to an increase in the demand for talent.
The aim is to help those tech sector areas most in need of overseas talent like software development, product managers, cyber security, and interactive media.
The class exception includes four categories of workers: Software and Application Programmers, ICT Managers, ICT Security Specialists and Multimedia Specialists. In addition, an annual salary threshold has been set, which will have to be met.
The Government has been working closely with the tech sector to address their challenges. This is part of the Government’s phased approach of reconnecting New Zealand with the rest of the world. It is currently working on the finer details of this scheme and hopes to have it operational by early 2022.
Another border exception is for 180 external auditors who meet certain requirements, their partners & dependent children.
Besides the above, some existing border exceptions have been renewed for 200 rural contractors, 40 shearers, 615 deep-sea fishing crew, 30 travellers per month nominated by the Australian Department of Foreign Trade (DFAT) to transit New Zealand 550 cargo crew servicing the Pacific.
The already existing border exception for 200 dairy workers has been changed – the split between the number of assistant dairy farm managers and dairy farm assistants has been removed, and the wage requirement of the latter has been increased.
All welcome the border exceptions as they bring much-needed respite to the different sectors affected by the pandemic for the past two years. More information regarding the border exceptions will be announced in the new year.
Author Details
Vandana Rai
(LIA 201400900)
Director
Vandana is herself a migrant and has a rare set of skill match, which could be considered ideal for a Licensed Immigration Adviser. She was a school counsellor from 1996 to 2006, a role in which she was a natural fit due to her nurturing and caring personality. Her earnest journey as a fully Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand began in 2014, and she considers herself blessed to have the background and the skills that allow her, as an Immigration adviser, to effortlessly visualise herself in her client’s situation, understand their needs and problems, and use her knowledge, experience, and expertise to help find a solution for it.
She is currently on the Board of New Zealand Association of Migration and Investment (NZAMI) and was part of the Immigration Advisers Authority(IAA) referral group for 2016.
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