Immigration Archives - New Zealand Shores

New health screening rules for dependent children

17/04/2025

New Zealand has recently updated its health screening requirements for dependent children of temporary visa holders, affecting those children applying for student or visitor visas. What has changed? As of March 17, 2025, children under 21 who are dependents of work, student, or military visa holders must meet stricter health criteria. Specifically, children with severe cognitive or developmental disabilities requiring substantial support—such as significant intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or brain injuries—are now deemed not to meet the acceptable standard …

More interim visa holders allowed to work

02/04/2025

From April 8, 2025, applicants will be granted temporary work rights when applying for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) while holding any type of work visa or a student visa that permits work during term time. This will allow applicants to work in New Zealand if their visa expires while their application is being processed. In most cases, Interim Visas are automatically granted to eligible applicants. The visa letter includes detailed conditions which confirm whether you are allowed to work. …

Updated Travel Conditions for 2021 Resident Visas

01/04/2025

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has recently identified and corrected an issue with the travel conditions on some 2021 Resident Visas. Approximately 4,300 individuals were granted visas with incorrect travel conditions or entry dates for their first arrival in New Zealand. To address this, INZ has amended the travel conditions for these visas and issued more flexible conditions than usual to make up for the disruption. Affected visa holders have been contacted and informed of the updated travel conditions, which now offer …

Exciting Changes to New Zealand’s Investor Category

21/03/2025

The updates to New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa offer an excellent opportunity for potential investors seeking to contribute to New Zealand’s growth. Starting on April 1, 2025, the new visa settings introduce two simplified investment categories—Growth and Balanced. These changes are designed to make investing in New Zealand more attractive and to support the country’s economic development. Questions? Contact us! New Investment Options The updated system brings more flexibility with the introduction of the Growth and Balanced categories. For …

Important Updates to the AEWV scheme and Median Wage

07/03/202525/02/2025

From March 2025, several changes will be introduced to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and the median wage framework. These adjustments, part of broader reforms announced in December 2024, aim to provide more flexibility and cater to the unique needs of businesses in various sectors and regions. Watch our webinar What are the key changes? Median Wage Requirement Removal Starting March 10, 2025, employers hiring through the AEWV or seasonal Specific Purpose Work Visas (SPWV) will no longer need …

Looming teacher shortage calls for overseas teachers to move to New Zealand

25/02/202524/02/2025

A recent report from New Zealand’s Ministry of Education highlights a looming teacher shortage, with an estimated 1,250 teachers needed by 2025. INZ is already taking steps to encourage overseas teachers to move to New Zealand The shortage is especially prominent in primary and secondary education, with regions like Northland and Bay of Plenty facing the greatest gaps. One of the key strategies to address this issue is the recruitment of overseas teachers. New Zealand is actively seeking qualified international …

New Zealand Working holiday visa Quota opening dates for 2025

14/02/202511/02/2025

Did you know? A number of countries have a bilateral agreement with certain New Zealand to allow young workers/travellers aged 30 and below (up to 35 for some countries) to visit and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months! Certain countries/schemes have a quota and opening dates for each scheme and the number of available places for the year 2025 are listed below. Applications will be accepted until the designated quota is filled once each scheme becomes available. …

Changes to New Zealand investment visa rules

14/02/202510/02/2025

The Government is streamlining the Active Investor Plus Visa to enhance New Zealand’s appeal for investment and stimulate economic growth. What are these changes? Effective from 1 April 2025, the following modifications will be implemented for this visa: Simplifying the calculation of investments The current weighting system will be replaced by two straightforward investment categories: Growth and Balanced. Lowering the investment required The minimum investment threshold will be lowered from $15 million to $5 million for Growth investors and to …

New visa rules for “digital Nomads” in New Zealand

29/01/2025

The New Zealand Minister for Economic Growth Nicola Willis has announced a change aimed at allowing visitors to work while in New Zealand under certain conditions. The visa policy change for “digital nomads” will allow all overseas visitors, including tourists on NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) and people visiting family, to work in New Zealand for up to nine months without breaching their visa conditions. Check your eligibility What is allowed under the digital nomad visa rules? Only remote …

Big Shake-Up for New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Scheme

20/12/202419/12/2024

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced exciting updates to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, making it easier, faster, and more accessible for migrants to live and work in New Zealand. These changes aim to simplify pathways for skilled workers, reduce unnecessary hurdles, and ensure fair opportunities for migrants in the workplace. What is changing for migrants? Immediate Changes – Effective 27 January 2025 No More Online Modules Migrant workers will no longer need to complete Employment New Zealand’s …