Latest News
December 2009 Quarterly Global Visa and Permit Survey
Thursday, 19 November 2009
We will shortly be emailing a survey invitation to a number of recent visa and permit applicants. The December 2009 Quarterly Global Visa and Permit Survey asks visa and permit applicants questions about their application experience.
Visa waiver for Taiwanese visitors
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
From 30 November 2009, Taiwanese passport holders travelling to New Zealand for less than three months on business, as tourists, to visit friends or relatives or for short-term study under three months, will no longer be required to apply for a visa before they travel.
Essential Skills Policy new minimum income requirement
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
From 30 November 2009, applications for a visitor or student visa/permit for dependent children of Essential Skills work visa/permit holders will need to include evidence that the parent meets a minimum income threshold of NZ$33,675 per annum gross in order to live with them in New Zealand, unless the parent held a work permit on and before 30 November 2009.
New Entrepreneur Plus Category questions and answers
Thursday, 12 November 2009
The Entrepreneur Plus Category comes into effect from 30 November 2009. It provides a faster track to residence for migrants who can demonstrate they have been actively participating in business and contributing to New Zealand’s economic development.
Argentina Working Holiday Scheme full
Friday, 30 October 2009
There are no places remaining under the 2009-2010 Argentina Working Holiday Scheme. The quota for the Argentine Working Holiday Scheme opened on 30 October at 00.01 New Zealand time (29 October 08.01 Argentine time). The 1000 places were filled in approximately 14 hours.
Chile Working Holiday Scheme: no places remaining
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
There are no further places available under the Chile Working Holiday Scheme for the year to 30 September 2010. The scheme opened on Thursday 1 October and attracted so much interest, it caused an overload on our information technology system.
New Zealand Residence Programme: Investor (Investor 2 Category)
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Migrant Investment Policy, Investor (Investor 2 Category), took place on Wednesday, 9 September 2009. Eight EOIs were selected. All EOIs with a claim of between 20 and 160 points were selected.
Information about international surrogacy
Friday, 4 September 2009
Immigration New Zealand, Child Youth and Family, and the Department of Internal Affairs have got together to provide some information about international surrogacy,
Forms and guides updated in July
Monday, 3 August 2009
As part of our July Release of updates to Operational Policy and systems, we changed several of our forms and guides, and introduced some new publications.
Fees changes for applications lodged outside New Zealand
Friday, 31 July 2009
The fees that Immigration New Zealand charges for immigration services will change on 17 August 2009. The changes will only affect payments made outside New Zealand, not payments made in New Zealand dollars.
New medical forms available now
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
On 27 July we released new redesigned medical certificates (Medical and Chest X-Ray Certificate (INZ 1007) and Temporary Entry Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096)).
New Migrant Investment Policy
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
The Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Economic Development have jointly announced that a new Investor Policy – the Migrant Investment Policy is effective as of 27 July 2009. This replaces the existing Active Investment Migrant Policy.
Operational Manual will be updated tomorrow
Monday, 27 July 2009
Several changes to policy which come into effect today were due to be published in our Operational Manual this morning. Because a further policy change is to be announced tomorrow we are delaying the release of the updated manual until tomorrow, Tuesday 28 July.
Client Complaint Resolution Process
Thursday, 23 July 2009
We have put in place an updated process for Immigration New Zealand clients or representatives with a complaint about a matter handled by Immigration New Zealand.
Annual Global Visa and Permit Survey
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
We have emailed a survey invitation to a number of recent visa and permit applicants. The Annual Global Visa and Permit Survey asks visa and permit applicants questions about their application experience.
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) biannual review
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
The biannual review of the LTSSL, which is administered by the Department of Labour, sees eight occupations removed from the list. The list comprises occupations deemed to be in long term shortage in the New Zealand labour market.
Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) biannual review
Friday, 12 June 2009
The biannual review of the ISSL, which is administered by the Department of Labour, sees 44 occupations removed from the list. The list comprises occupations deemed to be in immediate short term shortage in the New Zealand labour market.
Immigration Advisers Licensing Act effective today (UPDATED)
Monday, 4 May 2009
From 4 May 2009 anyone who provides immigration advice in New Zealand must have a licence from the Immigration Advisers Authority, unless they are exempt from the requirement to hold a licence. From 4 May 2009, Immigration New Zealand will refuse to accept applications from unlicensed onshore advisers.
Forms updated for Immigration Advisers Licensing Act
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
We have added questions to several of our forms in order to collect more information about immigration advisers, in preparation for the implementation of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act on 4 May 2009.
Effects of Immigration Advisers Licensing Act
Thursday, 2 April 2009
From 4 May 2009, the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 requires that anyone who provides immigration advice in New Zealand must have a licence from the Immigration Advisers Authority, unless they are exempt from the requirement to hold a licence. From 4 May 2009, Immigration New Zealand will refuse to accept applications from unlicensed onshore advisers. From 4 May 2010, offshore advisers giving advice to people seeking visas or permits will also have to be licensed.
Greek passports
Monday, 18 December 2006
The Greek Government has announced that as of 31 December 2006 Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 are no longer valid, regardless of the date of expiry.
Updated immigration policy
Monday, 18 December 2006
Immigration policy has been amended to give effect to the New Zealand government’s sanctions against Fiji following the coup on 6 December.
Seasonal Work Permit Policy – region removed
Thursday, 14 December 2006
Western Bay of Plenty has been removed from the Ministry of Social Development's list of regions with an absolute labour shortage, effective from Friday 15 December 2006.
Immigration Act Review
Tuesday, 5 December 2006
The government has unveiled a package of proposals for a new Immigration Act.
Seasonal Work Permit Policy – region added
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Central Hawkes Bay has been added to the Ministry of Social Development's list of regions with an absolute labour shortage, effective from Friday 1 December 2006.
Seasonal Work Permit Policy - region added
Wednesday, 15 November 2006
Waikato has been added to the Ministry of Social Development's list of regions with an absolute labour shortage, effective from Monday 13 November 2006 to 30 April 2007.
Seasonal Work Permit Policy – region added
Friday, 3 November 2006
Marlborough has been added to the Ministry of Social Development's list of regions with an absolute labour shortage, effective Monday 6 November 2006.
Visitors Online no longer available
Friday, 13 October 2006
From Tuesday 24 October 2006, Visitors Online (a web-based visitor permit application service) will no longer be available. Customers are advised that applications lodged before this time will still be processed.
Seasonal Work Permit Policy – region removed
Thursday, 28 September 2006
Marlborough has been removed from the Ministry of Social Development's list of regions with an absolute labour shortage, effective 28 September 2006.
Progress of Immigration Advisers Licensing Bill
Tuesday, 12 September 2006
The Transport & Industrial Relations Select Committee reported back on the Immigration Advisers Licensing Bill on 5 September 2006.
On 15 December 2005, the Immigration Advisers Licensing Bill was referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee. Submissions to the Bill were taken until 24 February 2006.
Sibling and adult child policy change
Wednesday, 23 August 2006
Sibling and adult child policy has been amended to require that principal applicants be aged 55 years or younger at the time their application is lodged.
Changes to the Family Sponsored Stream
Monday, 21 August 2006
A change to residence policy will make it easier for New Zealanders to bring family members back to New Zealand, Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe has announced.
Changes to fees
Tuesday, 1 August 2006
A number of Immigration New Zealand's fees for applications lodged at branches outside of New Zealand changed on 24 July 2006. The changes were made to reflect currency exchange rates.
Changes to student processing in the Auckland region
Friday, 7 July 2006
From the 17th of July 2006 all paper based student permit applications will be processed at Immigration New Zealand’s Student Processing Unit in Palmerston North. This does not affect applications lodged with Students Online partners, which will continue to be handled by eBranch.
Immigration Education Conference May 22-23, 2006
Friday, 2 June 2006
The Department of Labour recently held its annual education sector conference at the Waipuna Conference Centre in Auckland. The conference was held over two days and was attended by over 100 participants from throughout the education sector and the Department of Labour.
EOI selection delayed
Thursday, 25 May 2006
As a result of the technical issues being experienced, the EOI selection that was due to take place on Wednesday 24 May 2006 has been delayed to allow more time for clients to submit their EOIs. The selection will now take place at 1pm Monday 29 May 2006 (NZ time).
Page Last Updated: 24 Nov 2008