Reopening dates brought forward
After initially announcing a full reopening of New Zealand borders in October, the Government has decided to bring the date forward and lift all restrictions at our borders after 31 July 2022. This means all visa categories will reopen by then, including visitors and students, and the New Zealand border will be fully reopened by 1 August 2022.
On 4 July 2022 - applications for work visas open, including the Accredited Employer work visa
On 1 August 2022 - applications for visitor visa and student visas reopen
This is fantastic news for prospective migrants who have been patiently waiting to make the most of the countless career opportunities currently available in New Zealand. With 3.2% unemployment rate, there is a shortage of skilled talents across a wide range of industries.
New residence prospects
Fast-track Residence for "Green list" jobs
A new, fast tracked "Straight to residence" pathway will be available for people who come to New Zealand on a work visa from 4 July 2022 and apply for residence from September 2022. This residence application can also be applied for from offshore, from September. Eligible migrants include those who work or have a job offer in New Zealand in an occupation on the "Green List".
As an additional benefit, employers won't need to provide proof of advertising for these occupations when applying for a job check in anticipation for a work visa application.
These occupations include:
- Construction Project Manager
- Project Builder
- Quantity Surveyor
- Surveyor
- Chemical Engineer
- Civil Engineering Technician
- Civil Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Electrical Engineering Technician
- Electronic Engineering Technician
- Environmental Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Materials Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
- Production or Plant Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Engineering Professionals (Not Elsewhere Classified)
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Telecommunications Network Engineers
- General Practitioner
- Anaesthetist
- Psychiatrist
- Specialist Physicians Not Elsewhere Classified
- Surgeons (Including General Surgeons Cardiothoracic Surgeon Neurosurgeon Orthopaedic Surgeon Otorhinolaryngologist Urologist And Vascular Surgeon)
- Other Medical Practitioners (Including Dermatologist Obstetrician And Gynaecologist Ophthalmologist Diagnostic And Interventional Radiologist And Radiation Oncologist)
- Resident Medical Officer
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Clinical Psychologists & Psychologists Physicist (Medical)
- Orthoptist
- Veterinarian
- Other Spatial Scientist Environmental Research Scientist Food Technologist
- ICT Managers ($120,000)
- Software Engineer ($120,000)
- ICT Security Specialist ($120,000)
- Multimedia Specialists ($95,000)
Work to residence pathway
Eligible migrants in the following occupations will be able to apply for residence after two years working in New Zealand under:
- Anaesthetic Technician
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Imaging Technologist
- Medical Radiation Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Sonographer
- Podiatrist
- Audiologist
- All Registered Nurses (including but not limited to Aged Care)
- Midwife
- Teachers - Secondary with specialisations and registered ECE
- Automotive Electrician
Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector) - Electrician (General) - registered
- Plumber - registered
- Dairy Farm Managers
Any person paid at least twice the median wage will also be able to apply for residence after 2 years.
How about everyone else?
People whose role does not feature on these lists may still be eligible to apply under the Skilled Migrant Category.
