News and notifications

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

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is congratulating the Hamilton City Council for achieving a significant milestone in the Welcoming Communities programme.

The Government has announced a new faster timeline for reopening the border and reconnecting New Zealand with the world. New Zealand’s border will now be fully reopened by the end of July – three months earlier than originally planned.

Students can apply for visas to come to New Zealand from 31 July – three months earlier than planned.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) welcomes the recommendations of the independent review of its processes and procedures relating to the detention of asylum seekers.

An initiative aimed at getting better economic and settlement outcomes for new migrants in Auckland has been re-confirmed.

New Zealand and Australia have agreed a resettlement arrangement for refugees in Nauru and temporarily in Australia under regional processing arrangements.

Working Holiday Schemes are reopening from Monday 14 March.

Our web tool at nzready.immigration.govt.nz is changing.

The Government has introduced a new policy to allow parents and wider family members of Ukrainian New Zealand citizens and residents to come here.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) commends the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago District Councils for achieving a significant milestone in the Welcoming Communities programme.

The Government has announced a number of new border exceptions to bring skilled workers into New Zealand while our border restrictions are in place.

Domestic tertiary student eligibility change for dependent children of migrants applying for 2021 Resident Visa

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will resume processing offshore residence applications received prior to the border closure in March 2020.

Changes have been made to the humanitarian border exception category to better reflect the Government’s policy on people who are allowed to travel to New Zealand during the current border restrictions.

Immigration New Zealand has confirmed HOST Aotearoa New Zealand as the umbrella organisation for the extended 3-year trial of the Refugee Sponsorship programme.

The Navigator service helps Convention refugees to have their needs assessed and helps them to find coordinated support to be link to appropriate services.

The Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa close to new applications on 31 October 2021 at 11:59pm.

The Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Kiribati and Nauru are closing.

The Government has announced a new one-off residence category, the 2021 Resident Visa.

A continuation of INZ’s adaptation to the impact of COVID-19.

30 July is the United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

New temporary visa and reporting tools provide migrants with a pathway to quickly leave exploitative situations and encourage people to report migrant exploitation.

In preparation for the introduction of the Accredited Employer Work Visa, 3 of the existing accreditation and approval in principle policies are being phased out.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) congratulates the Whanganui District Council and its community for its success in implementing the Welcoming Communities programme.

A continuation of INZ’s adaptation to the impact of COVID-19.

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.

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.

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

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has published the successful registration numbers for the 2019 Samoan Quota.

Afghan nationals who assisted the New Zealand Defence Force or other government agencies during New Zealand’s deployment to Afghanistan may be considered for resettlement in New Zealand.