Skilled Migrant Residency Programme in need of review

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Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi is considering a revamp of New Zealand’s largest residence programme.He says a review of the skilled migrant category is a priority.Thousands of immigrants and their families are waiting for news on their skilled migrants applications, and others have been waiting to be invited to apply since last March.No decision has been made on re-starting the selection of expressions of interest (EOI) for skilled workers, Faafoi said, but that would be looked at again by the end of next month”A review of the skilled migrant category is one of my priorities for this term,” Faafoi said in a written statement. “Decisions around the scope and timing of any such review are currently under consideration. No decisions on settings or planning range have been made at this stage.”EOI selections in Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and Parent categories are currently suspended. No decisions about when EOI selections will resume have been made. In October, the government decided to further defer EOI selections for the SMC. This will be reviewed again by the end of March 2021.”

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Dairy sector

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Statistics New Zealand has engaged with the dairy sector and developed new task descriptions for three dairy roles that sit under the occupation of Dairy Cattle Farmer (121313) in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The three new sub category roles are:

  • Dairy Farm Manager (Skill Level 1)
  • Assistant Dairy Farm Manager (Skill Level 3)
  • Dairy Herd Manager (Skill Level 3)
  • Given that the above dairy roles are all skill level 1-3, applicants for the SMC may be eligible for points for skilled employment, subject to meeting remuneration and other requirements.
    These changes apply to applications made from 15 February 2021 onwards.

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Increase in MIQ Cost

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From 25 March 2021, it is intended that temporary entry visa class holders will be charged higher fees for their managed isolation and quarantine stay.

  • The fees are currently $3,100 (incl GST) for 14days in managed isolation. From 12.01am on 25 March, 2021, this will increase to $5,520 (incl GST) for the first or only person in a room, $2,990 for an additional adult, and $1,610 for an additional child.
  • The latest changes affect all temporary entry visa class holders, including:
  • Visitor visas (such as partners of a New Zealand citizen or resident)
  • Student visas
  • Work visas, and
  • Limited visas

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