Upgrade to the UK Working Holiday Scheme from 1 July 2023

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From 1 July 2023, updates to the UK Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) will allow UK citizens to travel and work in New Zealand for longer.

In July 2022, the UK and New Zealand Prime Ministers first announced the planned updates to the WHS and the Youth Mobility Scheme for New Zealanders in the UK.

The updates are a positive development for the Kiwis and Brits wanting to work and explore the other side of the world, as well as for the businesses who hire them.

 

WHAT IS CHANGING?

From 1 July 2023;

  • The age of eligibility for a UK WHS visa will be 18-35 years.
  • The maximum period of time WHS visa holders can stay in New Zealand will be three years.
  • WHS visa holders will be able to work the full duration of their visa
  • Up to 15,000 visas may be granted annually under the UK WHS.

 

REQUIRED INFORMATION

When the total length of stay is over 12 months, UK WHS visa applicants will need to provide us with a medical and chest x-ray certificate. If the total length of stay planned is more than 24 months, then police certificates will also be required.

 

CURRENT UK WHS VISA HOLDERS

From 1 July 2023, current UK Working Holiday visa holders in New Zealand will be able to apply for the new three-year maximum stay. This will also allow them to extend their stay and work for the rest of their time in New Zealand.

To support their application, current UK WHS visa holders will need to provide a medical and x-ray certificate if they haven’t already, as well as police certificates.

Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and Accredited Employer Work Visa

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The Minister of Immigration has announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Last Wednesday, June 21, the Minister of Immigration announced the new settings for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa as well as a change to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) settings. These are being updated to help support Aotearoa New Zealand’s economic growth and to provide more certainty to migrants and employers.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa changes

From 9 October 2023, the current settings will be replaced with a simplified points system that sets a clear skills threshold for residents and offers several ways for people to demonstrate their skill level.

Accredited Employer Work Visa changes

The Government is introducing a maximum continuous stay of 5 years on an AEWV, for anyone who is unable to demonstrate that they are on a pathway to residence. People will need to spend 12 months outside of NZ to be eligible to apply for a further AEWV.

From November 2023, the maximum duration of an AEWV will be extended from 3 years to 5 years to align with the introduction of the 5-year maximum continuous stay for AEWV holders.

Temporary entry of UK Business Persons under the New Zealand-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (NZ-UK FTA)

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The NZ-UK FTA came into effect on 31 May 2023 and as part of this agreement, New Zealand has committed to facilitating the temporary entry to New Zealand of certain categories of business persons from the UK to ensure New Zealand meets its commitments under the FTA. This includes:

  • business visitors
  • intra-corporate transferees – Executives and Managers
  • contractual services suppliers, and
  • independent professionals.

Business visitors

Business visitors who are UK citizens travelling to New Zealand as a business visitor, for example, to attend meetings, conferences or for training seminars or commercial transactions can travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa and be granted a visitor visa on entry as the UK is a visa waiver country. They should request an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) at least 72 hours before they travel.

 

For more information, please click the link below:

Visa Pak Issue 547 — Temporary Entry Of UK Business Persons Under The New Zealand – United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (NZ-UK FTA)

New Online forms for visa transfers and Parent Resident Visa expressions of interest

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Immigration has launched 2 new online forms to make both transferring a visa to a new passport, and expressing interest in applying for the Parent Resident Visa easier.

Visa transfers

If you need to transfer your current valid visa to a new passport, save time and do it online with the new form that is available on the immigration website.

Visas are linked to your passport (or certificate of identity).

When you obtain a new passport or certificate of identity, you will need to transfer any valid visa to the new passport before the visa can be used to travel.

This form can also be used to obtain a letter or visa label endorsement, to confirm your immigration status.

Visa holders

Applying online for a visa transfer means you no longer have to visit your nearest VAC or pay VAC service fees if you are outside New Zealand.

You can make payments online (if required) and will receive an email confirmation when your application has been successfully submitted.

You do not need to pay any fees if you request an eVisa or a confirmation letter.

Parent Category Resident Visa Expression of Interest (EOI)

To express your interest in applying for a Parent Resident Visa, you can do it easily online with the new form available on the immigration website.

Transport sector agreement details and other Green List roles confirmed

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Details of the Transport Sector Agreement for bus and truck drivers and critical maritime transport workers have been confirmed by the Minister of Immigration and Transport.

Details of the Transport Sector Agreement for bus and truck drivers and critical maritime transport workers have been confirmed by the Minister of Immigration and Transport, says General Manager of Enablement, Karen Bishop.

“The transport sector agreement will provide certainty to Aotearoa New Zealand, in particular those who rely on buses and ferries as public transport options, and businesses that rely on freight movement,” Karen Bishop said.

“Under the sector agreement, eligible bus drivers, truck drivers, ship’s masters (skippers) and deck hands will have a 2-year work to residence pathway.  The agreement will be uncapped and will be reviewed after 12 months.

“Employers can use the Accredited Employer Work Visa to recruit suitably qualified drivers, with eligible bus driving roles exempt from paying the median wage of $29.66 an hour.

“From 26 April, eligible employers can recruit bus drivers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa at a minimum of $28 an hour.

“To be eligible for the median wage exemption and 2-year residence pathway, the Minister agreed that all bus operators must have signed an All Parties Memorandum of Understanding on Improving Driver Terms and Conditions for public transport services, or be providing Ministry of Education-funded school bus services.

“From 29 September 2023, people who have completed 2 years working in an occupation covered by the sector agreement will be able to apply for residence.

“Eligibility for residence for bus drivers will be the same as for the median wage exemption.

“Truck drivers will be eligible for residence if they are primarily driving vehicles that require class 4 or 5 licences,” Karen Bishop said.

Ship’s masters (skippers) and deck hands who meet eligibility criteria are also included in the sector agreement and have a 2-year work to residence pathway.

“The Government introduced sector agreements to support the transition from a reliance on low-skilled migrant labour, while ensuring everyone has better wages and working conditions.

“We are also pleased to confirm that Green List roles announced in December by the Minister of Immigration will be open to applicants from 29 May 2023,” Karen Bishop said.

“The following roles will be added to the ‘Work to Residence’ Green List pathway on 29 May:

  • Civil construction supervisors
  • Gasfitters
  • Drainlayers
  • Skilled crane operators
  • Skilled civil machine operators
  • Halal slaughterers
  • Skilled motor mechanics
  • Skilled telecommunications technicians
  • All teachers

“Eligible applicants will need to have worked in a Green List occupation and met the specified requirements of that occupation for 24 months. It will be available for people to apply for from 29 September 2023.”

Changes to Partner of a Worker Work Visa confirmed

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Changes to Partner of a Worker Work Visa have now been confirmed. These changes are part of the Government’s plan to rebalance the Immigration system to support a higher-productivity, higher-wage economy.

Work conditions for partners of migrant workers

People who successfully apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa on or after 31 May 2023 may have new conditions that mean:

  • they can only work for an accredited employer
  • they cannot be self-employed
  • they cannot work below the median wage in roles covered by capped sector agreements.
  • if they are working in a role:
    • not covered by an uncapped sector agreement, they must be paid at least the median wage in effect at the time they receive their visa, or job offer, whichever is later. This is currently NZD $29.66.
    • covered by an uncapped sector agreement, they must be paid at least the relevant wage threshold in place. They will not be subject to a stand-down period.

This includes most partners of workers who hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV).

Partners do not need to have a job offer to apply for this visa, and employers do not need to complete a Job Check. When granted, partners can change employers without applying for a Variation of Conditions. There is no minimum number of hours that partners need to work.

People who are currently employed will need to ensure their employment meets the conditions of their new visa when any new visa takes effect. People who are not employed will need to ensure any future job offer meets these conditions.

Any later changes to the employer’s accreditation, the median wage and sector agreements will not impact the visa holder if they remain in the same employment.

From 31 May, people will be able to check on the INZ website if an employer is accredited.

The changes do not affect current work visa conditions or people who apply before 31 May 2023. There are no changes to visa conditions for partners of New Zealanders or partners of those holding other work visas (such as a Post Study Work Visa).

Exceptions for partners of highly paid and Green List workers

Some partners of AEWV or ESWV holders will continue to be eligible for a work visa allowing them to work in any occupation for any employer in New Zealand, with no median wage threshold. This includes partners of:

  • migrants who are paid at least twice the median wage, or
  • migrants who are working in a role on the Green List.

These exceptions include migrants who did not meet these requirements when they received their visa, but have since met them through a pay increase or their role being added to the Green List. Evidence of eligibility will be needed as part of the Partner of a Worker Work Visa application, or through a Variation of Conditions request.