Stay Legal - Specialist New Zealand Immigration Law Firm

11/02/2025

Immigration New Zealand has just released its new employer accreditation checklist, which includes everything you need for both applying for and renewing accreditation.

Read more here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/employ-migrants/new-employer-accreditation-and-work-visa/accreditation-types-and-employers-requirements/applying-for-accreditation-checklist-for-employers

11/09/2024

A quick reminder.

If you wish to travel to New Zealand for your Christmas break, apply for your Visitor Visa no later than 15 October 2024. This is the official recommended application submission date from Immigration New Zealand.

09/08/2024

The Minister of Immigration has just confirmed that immigration visa application fees will increase on 1 October 2024.

Please see the official new application fee list here:https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/media/immigration-fee-and-levy-table-rates-from-1-october-2024.pdf

31/07/2024

🌏✈️ New Zealand Transit Visas are going digital! 📱💻

Are you planning to transit through New Zealand on your next journey?

From 12 August, 2024, you can apply for your Transit Visa online via our Enhanced Immigration Online system for a streamlined experience.

If you’re coming from Fiji, from 4 September 2024, Fijian nationals can apply for a Transit NZeTA instead of a transit visa.

Read more about the changes here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/transit-visas-moving-online

16/07/2024

26/06/2024

From today, 26 June 2024, people holding an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) in roles at Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) levels 4 and 5, without a pathway to residency, are no longer able to support work, visitor, or student visa applications for their partners and dependent children.

Partners and dependent children can still apply for a visa in their own right to come to New Zealand, such as an AEWV or an international student visa, provided that they meet the requirements.

The change will not impact:
- People who already hold visas as a partner or dependent child, or
- AEWV holders working in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles with a pathway to residency, such as the Green List, sector agreements with residence pathways, and
- Those earning at least 1.5 times the median wage threshold for the Skilled Migrant Category.

People with an application as a partner or dependent child will also not be affected. Those applications will be considered against the requirements that were in place on the date they applied.

Read the official announcement here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/further-changes-to-accredited-employer-work-visa-aewv

03/06/2024

"The minister has confirmed she has completed consultation with specific interest groups and plans to take a paper to Cabinet on visa fee increases soon.

"Where feasible, the objective is that visa charges remain within 90 percent of Australia's charges while ensuring that costs are fully recovered," she said."

Read more here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/518134/questions-over-visa-fee-increases-as-minister-eyes-savings

With visa fees expected to rise, the Immigration Minister is refusing to explain where the government will find $100m a year.

11/04/2024

The Government has just announced major changes to the Green List Work to Residence and Straight to Residence pathways.

Some previously announced roles will no longer be added.

Read more here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-work-to-residence-and-occupations-on-the-green-list

11/04/2024

"Immigration Minister Erica Stanford is looking at reforms to family visas this term, bringing hope of long-stay visits for overseas parents and grandparents.

She also signalled she wants changes to the partnership visa policy, describing the culturally arranged marriage visa as not fit for purpose."

Read more here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/513313/visa-conditions-for-parents-grandparents-to-be-revised-this-term-immigration-minister

Erica Stanford is looking at reforms to family visas this term, bringing hope of a five-year visitor visa for parents and grandparents .

11/04/2024

"While she is turning the tap down for now, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the reverse might be the case next year, depending on how the economy goes.

Stanford unveiled a range of changes to the Accredited Employer Worker Visa scheme on Sunday, saying they would help protect against exploitation and address "unsustainable" levels of migration."

What do you think?

Read more here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/513686/immigration-tightening-might-only-be-temporary-erica-stanford

While she is turning the tap down for now, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the reverse might be the case next year.

07/04/2024

The Government has just announced a raft of major and sudden changes.

The Minister of Immigration has mentioned the following immediate changes:
- English language requirements have been introduced for migrants applying for ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) roles.
- Minimum skills and work experience thresholds have been introduced for most AEWV roles.
- For AEWV roles that fall into ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5, employers will need to engage with Work and Income.
- The maximum continuous stay for most ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 roles will be reduced from 5 years to 3 years.
- The AEWV franchisee employer accreditation category will be disestablished and these businesses will be able to apply to bring in workers from overseas under standard, high-volume, or triangular employment accreditation.
- The Government is not progressing plans to add the 11 roles to the Green List.
- The Green List Work to Residence pathway for bus and truck drivers is also closing to new applicants.

Read more here: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-responds-unsustainable-net-migration-0

We will continue to post updates.

03/04/2024

Stay Legal - Specialist New Zealand Immigration Law Firm's Principal Immigration Lawyer, Lauren Qiu, was recently invited to present at Legalwise Seminars' Immigration Law Summit 2024.

Lauren provided practical considerations and insights about:
- The Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa;
- The Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Act 2023;
- Employer Accreditation pitfalls & compliance considerations;
- Job Check tips; and
- Accredited Employer Work Visa case studies.