New Zealand: Updates to Skilled Migrant Category and Accredited Employer Work Visa Programs Introduced

July 13, 2023

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Country / Territory

At a Glance

The New Zealand government announced several updates to existing visa programs, including the following key changes:

  • An upcoming new, simplified points system for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) program, starting October 9, 2023;
  • A deadline for applicants for the current SMC program to submit their Expression of Interest before the final selection round on August 16, 2023; and
  • A new requirement for Accredited Employer Work Visa holders to leave New Zealand after a continuous five-year stay, starting November 2023.

The situation

Immigration New Zealand has introduced several changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa and Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programs.

Change Details Impact
Simplified points system for SMC program
  • Under the new system, all SMC applicants must:
    • have a job offer for, or current employment in, a role paying at least the median wage of NZD 29.66 per hour for occupations classified at skill level 1-3 under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), or 1.5 times the median wage (currently NZD 44.49 per hour) for occupations classified at ANZSCO skill level 4-5; and
    • have six points under the new skills indicators points table.
  • The age limit of 55, English language, health, and character requirements for residence applications remain unchanged.
  • There will be no limits on the number of spots available through the SMC program.
  • The proposed processing time is anticipated to be six to eight weeks, down from the usual 6-12 month processing time in the current process.
  • Applicants benefit from clearer and more transparent skills requirements for residence and additional options to demonstrate their skill level to show eligibility.
  • Applicants also benefit from faster processing times and the removal of several administrative steps in the current process.
Final Expression of Interest selection under the current SMC
  • Immigration New Zealand will continue to conduct monthly draws of all Expressions of Interest (EOIs) that meet the current 180 points threshold until August 16, 2023, and applicants must submit their EOIs by 23:59 on August 15, 2023.
  • Invited applicants will have four months from the date of invitation to apply for their visa under the current standards, while those invited applicants whose EOIs do not meet the 180-point threshold will need to assess their eligibility under the new SMC points program starting October 8, 2023.
  • Immigration New Zealand will contact applicants in the current SMC selection pool with further information in the coming days regarding their application, and those who wish to withdraw their EOI before July and August 2023 may qualify for a refund.
  • Applicants failing to withdraw their EOIs before the current program ends will not be eligible for a refund.
 Applicants benefit from the flexibility to either continue filing under the current program or withdrawing their application, which could potentially lead to a refund of application fees.
New rules for AEWV holders
  • Immigration New Zealand will extend the maximum duration of an AEWV from three years to five years for all new AEWVs granted from November 2023 onwards; current AEWV holders can apply for a further visa to extend their stay in New Zealand up to a total of five years.
  • AEWV holders, currently facing a stand down period (which is a requirement to leave New Zealand before applying for another AEWV) after three years if earning below the median wage or covered under certain rules, will be required to leave the country after a continuous five-year stay without being granted a Residence visa and observe a stand down period of 12 months before they can apply for another AEWV.
  • Time spent on other temporary visas, such as a Working Holiday or Post Study Work visa, does not contribute to the five-year maximum continuous stay period.
  • Eligible applicants will benefit from the longer duration of stay during the validity of their AEWV.
  • However, AEWV holders who have lived in New Zealand for five years continuously under an AEWV will have to leave the country for at least 12 months before they re-apply for another AEWV.

Immigration New Zealand continues to update their various immigration processes and has introduced the new rules to complement the Green List and Sector Agreement residence pathways with the intention of providing clear residence options for individuals based on Immigration New Zealand’s prescribed criteria.

The simplified points system focuses on granting residence to individuals who can fill medium- to long-term skill needs that are difficult to fill from the domestic labour market with the intention to align with the Immigration Rebalance, give certainty to migrant workers and their families, reduce processing times, and reduce immigration and labour market risks and drivers of exploitation.

It is likely that the New Zealand government will continue introducing simplified criteria for their other visa programs or introduce more streamlined processes as it continues to overhaul its immigration system.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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