News and notifications

Information for all travellers, student visa holders, migrant workers and employers.

The new Accredited Employer Work Visa and associated accreditation standards will be introduced on 1 November this year. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), announced in 2019, will replace 6 visas with a streamlined single visa process.

The Government’s temporary COVID-19 immigration powers have been extended to 2023, providing continued flexibility to support migrants, manage the border and industries facing labour shortages.

From 23.59 (NZST) Sunday on 16 May 2021, two-way quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands will begin again.

Between 1 July 2018 and 23 February 2020 (inclusive), Immigration New Zealand (INZ) allocated skilled residence class visa applications (under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), and the Residence from Work (RfW) Category) in accordance with an informal priority criteria. The Ombudsman has deemed this to be unreasonable.

From 11:59PM NZST on Wednesday 28 April 2021, only NZ citizens and their immediate family may travel here from Brazil, India, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea.

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is making changes to the under and oversupply lists following a quarterly review of where the labour shortages are in New Zealand.

On 1 May 2021 the service fee you pay to some Visa Application Centres (VAC) is changing.

From 16:00 NZST on Sunday 11 April 2021, travellers who have been in India in the previous 14 days cannot enter New Zealand.

Due to a RealMe upgrade, some Immigration New Zealand services will be unavailable from 9 to 11 April 2021.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is delighted to see new members join the Welcoming Communities programme.

A new system is now available to help workers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme send their earnings to their home countries.

Due to COVID-19, and the closure of New Zealand’s border, Immigration New Zealand is delaying the permanent introduction of the Pathway Student Visa.

The Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Noumea will be closing on 30 October 2020.

This measure assists Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to focus on processing applications from people in New Zealand or eligible to travel here while border restrictions are in place.

From 19 October 2020, the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Bali will move to a new location.

Employers can find out more easily if New Zealanders are available for jobs. Ministry of Social Development has identified under and oversupply of labour in sectors and regions.

Immigration New Zealand has extended its newcomer skills matching and job search assistance services programme to prioritise assisting skilled migrants who have lost jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government is making changes to allow some Work to Residence (WTR) visa holders to maintain their pathway to residence.

Holders of visitor visas in New Zealand for longer than expected can now study for an extra 3 months, up to 6 months in a year.

Resident visa holders currently outside New Zealand whose travel conditions have expired or are about to expire will get an extension or new visa.

Approved Australians seeking to reunite with a New Zealand citizen or resident partner can request entry from early October.

From Monday 7 September 2020, selected New Zealand Visa Application Centres (VACs) will reopen to accept applications from people who meet the border exceptions criteria.

Do you want to have a Welcoming Community? Immigration New Zealand (INZ) wants to hear from you.

The Government is changing the visitor visa system to help temporary migrants and visitors to remain in New Zealand lawfully while they arrange to leave the country.

From Monday 31 August 2020 the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Beijing will operate from a new office.

The Government will apply the same expiry date extension of employer-assisted work visas made in July 2020 to the partners and dependants of the principal visa holder, where their visa would have expired from 17 August onward.

The Government is extending Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme visas by six months, allowing workers the opportunity to stay and work in New Zealand.

From 10 August 2020 Immigration New Zealand will be charging fees for border exception Expression of Interests (EOIs), and temporarily suspending overseas visa applications.

Today, 30 July, is a significant day for those involved in the fight against human trafficking and slavery. It is the United Nations Global Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

From July 27 2020, we will be using a median wage threshold to decide how long someone can stay on an Essential Skills visa and their options to support family.

Appendix 7 is a list of occupations that can be treated as an exception to certain skill level assessments and will be updated on 27 July 2020.

Some victims and families of the Christchurch mosque attacks intending to travel to New Zealand for the August sentencing will be able to request a border exception under new humanitarian grounds.

On July 7, the Government made 3 key changes to temporary work visas. These changes are due to the impact that COVID-19 continues to have on businesses and temporary work visa holders in New Zealand.