2022 has been a year of multiple immigration updates and announcements.
The opening of New Zealand’s borders in a phased manner brought back the tourists, students, migrant workers, their partners, and dependent children who had been waiting patiently to enter the country.
The major highlights include the New 2021 Resident Visa, Accredited Employer Work Visa, Green List of Occupations, Post Study Work Visa changes,Parent Resident Visa, and re-opening of the Skilled Migrant Category. There has also been an increased focus on bringing and retaining skilled immigrants who can contribute to the society and economy of the country. With these updates, Immigration New Zealand continues its commitment to open borders and promote cultural exchange while encouraging economic growth.
Here are the main highlights:
The second phase of this one-off resident visa opened in March 2022. The 2021 Resident Visa closed at the end of July 2022. This visa category was divided into three criteria – settled, skilled & scarce. It enabled many migrants in New Zealand to get quick residence.
The AEWV came into force in July 2022 replacing six temporary work visa categories. One of the most popular work visa categories – the Essential Skills Work Visa was also phased out. The AEWV made it mandatory for New Zealand employers to get accredited if they want to hire migrant workers.
In September 2022, Immigration New Zealand announced the Green List which is a list of highly skilled occupations that are in short supply in New Zealand and that lead to quick residence pathways. The three new residence categories are Straight to Residence, Work to Residence and Highly Paid.
In December 2022, registered nurses, midwives and specialist doctors were added to the list.
Changes to the Post Study Work Visa rights were announced in September 2022. Unlike before when the applicants could work for any employer and in any role, the Post Study Work Visa now depends on the qualification studied and the time spent studying in New Zealand.
Furthermore, the NZ government has also announced granting of a 12-month open work visa to those applicants who held a Post Study Work Visa but were unable to enter New Zealand due to closed borders.
IN October 2022, the Parent Resident Visa category was reopened with a lower income threshold for sponsors.
The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa was reopened after a long hiatus in November 2022. The threshold was set at 160 points. The next draw will be in January 2023, and the points threshold has been increased to 180.
From 15 December 2022, Critical Purpose Visitor Visa holders who want to remain in their current roles are being allowed to apply for 12-month validity Specific Purpose Work Visa.
2022 has truly been an eventful year for Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and applicants.
Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at [email protected] or call on +64 09 3790219.
Vandana Rai is a Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser and has built a reputation around her rare set of skills, which could be considered ideal for her legal profession.