News and notifications

National state of emergency declared – stay at home. Updated information on border closure and extensions for visa holders.

On 24 February 2020, we are making changes to the allocation of Skilled Migrant Category and Residence from Work Category applications. We will continue to prioritise people with occupational registration and those earning twice the median wage (currently NZD $51 an hour and NZD $106,080 a year). However, applicants for Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visas will no longer be prioritised.

All migrant workers from the Pacific who are in New Zealand on temporary work visas will be offered the MMR vaccine to prevent the spread of measles

When refugee and protection claimants apply for a temporary visa, we will pay for a chest x-ray and may accept a statutory declaration if they cannot provide police certificates.

On 24 February 2020 the wage or salary thresholds for Skilled Migrant Resident Visas and Essential Skills Work Visas will increase.

We have contacted a group of people who were recently declined visas to visit a New Zealand citizen or resident partner. These people have been told they may apply for a visitor visa which will be assessed against updated guidelines. The fee for this application will be waived.

The Pathway Student Visa will become permanent from January 2021 and the pilot project will continue until then.

We are updating the Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa so that people who had arranged marriages overseas can apply for a visitor visa, and giving more guidance for getting a general visitor visa to join a partner.

A new version of ANZSCO has been released. We will continue to use the previous version until the middle of next year, although not for every occupation.

From October 2019, visa applicants only need to provide a Notarised Police Certificate with their visa application.

The review is underway and your views are crucial. Find out how to get involved and give feedback on the proposals.

The Government recently announced an increase of 1550 RSE workers for 2019/20. We have now agreed how those extra workers will be allocated to RSE employers.

Applications for the Parent Resident Visa will open again from February 2020 with new criteria that applicants and sponsors must meet.

The Minister of Immigration has announced how many RSE workers can come to New Zealand for the coming season and changes to accommodation employers must provide.

An initiative aimed at creating thriving and inclusive communities is going nationwide.

The Minister of Immigration has announced changes to the way employers support migrant workers for temporary work visas.

From 7 October we are changing the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.

On 7 October the Silver Fern Job Search Work Visa will close permanently.

If you are applying for a visa in China do not use an unlicensed, undeclared agent to assist you with your visa application.

A New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be opening in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday 2 September 2019.

The New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Beijing is moving.

Visa holders in New Zealand are being contacted by a person pretending to be from Immigration New Zealand. They are demanding money to be sent to them, in order to maintain or correct their immigration status in New Zealand. This is a scam.

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

From Monday 1 July 2019 New Zealand Visa Application Centres (VAC) in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore will operate from new locations.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has published the successful registration numbers for the 2019 Pacific Access Category.

From Monday 3 June 2019 the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Guanzhou will be in a new location. The Beijing VAC relocation has been delayed until further notice.

From 13 May, we are raising the minimum income for some visa holders to reflect changes to New Zealand benefit rates.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has completed its regular review of the Essential Skills in Demand (ESID) lists, and changes to the lists will take effect on 27 May 2019.

From Monday 13 May 2019 the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Ankara will be in a new location.

People directly affected by the terrorist attacks in Christchurch and their families can now apply for permanent residence in New Zealand if they want to.

On 1 May 2019 the service fee you pay to some Visa Application Centres (VACs) is changing.

We are committed to doing everything we can to support all those who have been affected by this tragedy.

On 25 February 2019, the Government confirmed details of the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which is a new security and facilitation measure that will help to speed things up at the border.

The Government has decided on the New Zealand Residence Programme (NZRP) Planning Range through to the end of the year.

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has declared a 6-week seasonal labour shortage across Hawke’s Bay, which will run from 25 February to 5 April 2019.

From Monday 25 February 2019 the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Moscow will be in a new location.

On 18 December 2018, the Government announced it is consulting on proposed changes to employer-assisted temporary work visa settings to ensure that work visas issued reflect genuine regional skill shortages. The consultation will close on 18 March 2019.

Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) Auckland Central Visa Services counter services at 280 Queen Street will close permanently at 16:00 on 21 December 2018. There will no longer be a drop box at this location.

From Monday 31 December 2018 the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Sydney is moving.

On 17 December 2018, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will establish the Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List (CISSL) to support the government’s construction and infrastructure commitments.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is currently receiving high numbers of visa applications. This is likely to continue until March 2019.

To avoid delays with your temporary visa application, you should provide certified English translations of your key supporting documents.

Expression of interest (EOI) selections over the holiday period will stop in mid-December 2018 and start again in late January 2019.

From 26 November 2018 visa labels will not be issued for student visas granted through Provider Direct.

On 8 August 2018, the government announced changes to the Post-study work visa policy to ensure that post-study pathways for international students are fit for purpose and provide the skills and qualifications New Zealand needs. These changes will come into effect on 26 November 2018.

Remuneration thresholds in Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills policies will be increasing on 26 November 2018.

Students from some countries use the FTS to transfer the money they must have to support themselves when they study in New Zealand. From 1 October 2018 the scheme will be easier to use.

In 2019 the Government will introduce an Electronic Travel Authority for some groups of travellers. It is a new security and facilitation measure that will help to speed things up at the border.

Immigration New Zealand will open Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Karachi, Ankara and Tehran on 1 October 2018.

Successful registration numbers for the 2018 Samoan Quota are now available.

Following the ballot draws that occurred on 8 June 2018, all successful registration numbers for the Pacific Access Category are now available.