A16.1 General Instructions as to the order and manner of processing residence applications (24/02/2020)

Pursuant to section 26(4) of the Immigration Act 2009 and acting under delegated authority from the Chief Executive of the Ministry of the Business, Innovation, and Employment, I hereby give the following general instructions as to the order and manner of processing of residence class visa applications under Government residence instructions, effective from 24 February 2020:

1. First priority will be given to the following types and categories of applications for residence class visas in preference to applications under other types and categories:
   1. Christchurch Response (2019) Category will have priority;
   2. Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) applications with job offers; and within this category, priority will be given to:
      • Applicants with an hourly rate equivalent to or higher than twice the median wage (currently $51.00 per hour or an annual salary of $106,080 or more);
      • Applicants with current occupational registration where registration is required by immigration instructions;
   3. All business categories;
   4. Residence from Work Category applications (Talent (Accredited Employer), Talent (Arts, Culture and Sport), South Island Contribution, Religious Worker and Long Term Skill Shortage List); and within this category, priority will be given to:
      • Applications which include a job offer with an hourly rate equivalent to or higher than twice the median wage (currently $51.00 per hour or an annual salary of $106,080 or more);
      • Applications which include a job offer which requires occupational registration where occupational registration is required by immigration instructions;
   5. Refugee Policy;
   6. Partnership and Dependent Child applications where the partner or parent is,
      • a New Zealand citizen, or
      • the holder of a permanent resident visa, and who has been absent from New Zealand for a period of at least two years prior to the date of the application being accepted for consideration apart from short visits within that period. (Note that in the case of a partnership application the New Zealand partner and the applicant must have been living together for 12 months or more in a partnership that is genuine and stable).
2. Second priority will be given to the following types and categories of applications for residence class visas:
   1. Partnership and Dependent Child applications (other than those in instruction (a)).
3. Third Priority will be given to the following types and categories of applications for residence class visas:
   1. Parent Category.
4. Within the priorities set out above, applications should generally be processed in lodgement date order.
5. These instructions do not prevent immigration officers according urgency to the processing of any particular residence class visa application when the individual circumstances so warrant that.
6. The previous General Instructions made pursuant to section 26(4) of the Immigration Act 2009 are revoked.

Effective 24/02/2020