NZ SKILLED MIGRANT VISAS EXTENDED

From 19 July 2021, the length of the New Zealand Essential Skills Visa for workers earning below the median wage will be doubled from 12 to 24 months. This will especially help workers in service sectors such as tourism, hospitality, retail, and age care to stay longer in the country.

​

In addition, to help employers through the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of reapplying for a skilled work visa has been temporarily simplified. Thus, if workers are seeking to retain their existing job, employers will not have to convince Immigration NZ that there were no suitable New Zealand citizens or residents available for the role.

But in doing so, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has also pushed out reforms for the new Accredited Employer Work Visa regime, which will now come into effect in the middle of 2022, at a date yet to be determined.

If you have any questions about New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visas, or need assistance to get your visa approved, please get in touch with the team at BK Immigration Law. We would be happy to help.