Major changes to New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa will take effect on 24 August 2026. Alongside the existing Points-based Pathway, two new pathways will become available: the Skilled Work Experience Pathway and the Trades and Technician Pathway. Immigration New Zealand has issued further answers and amendments explaining how the new rules will work in practice. The clarifications show why an assessment cannot be based only on a person's current occupation

The New Zealand Government has announced significant changes to the Parent Resident Visa Category, intended to make the Expression of Interest selection process fairer and more predictable for families. From 5 October 2026, the existing ballot-based selection system will be replaced by a hybrid model. Most Expressions of Interest will be selected according to the date they entered the pool, while a smaller proportion will continue to be selected by ballot. For families who ha

New Zealand has unveiled one of the most significant changes to its skilled residence system since the introduction of the six-point Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) in 2023. Through Amendment Circular 2026-16 and subsequent announcements by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), the Government has confirmed that substantial reforms to the Skilled Migrant Category and certain Work to Residence pathways will take effect from 24 August 2026. These changes are intended to provide addition

Immigration New Zealand has announced significant changes to post-study work rights that will come into effect from 16 November 2026. These changes introduce a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa and expand eligibility for the existing Post Study Work Visa (PSWV), providing more pathways for international graduates to remain and work in New Zealand after completing their studies. New Short-term Graduate Work Visa A new Short-term Graduate Work Visa will be available for eligibl

This is a significant AEWV policy change that many employers and migrants may not have anticipated. What has changed? From 1 June 2026, the minimum English language requirement for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) has been extended to ANZSCO and National Occupation List (NOL) Skill Level 3 occupations. Previously, this requirement only applied to Skill Level 4 and 5 roles. This means many occupations such as cooks, chefs, tradespeople, hospitality workers, and various

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has introduced important changes to open work visa conditions, effective from 20 April 2026. These updates aim to provide greater clarity around what type of work visa holders can undertake, while ensuring fair and compliant employment practices across New Zealand. Why These Changes Matter Open work visas have always provided flexibility, allowing migrants to work for almost any employer without needing a job offer. However, this flexibility some

Immigration New Zealand has announced important changes to post-study work opportunities for international students , including the introduction of a new Short Term Graduate Work Visa and an expansion of eligibility for the Post Study Work Visa . These changes, expected to come into effect later in 2026. Below is a breakdown of what these changes mean for international students planning to study or work in New Zealand. A New Short Term Graduate Work Visa Immigration New Zeal

Immigration New Zealand has announced further updates to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) that will take effect from late August 2026. These changes aim to simplify the residence pathway for skilled workers, address immigration risks, and ensure New Zealand continues attracting talent needed for long-term economic growth. For migrants and employers, these changes introduce new pathways, updated occupation lists, revised qualification rules, and wage policy improvements. Bel

New Zealand will introduce important updates to employment conditions for open work visa holders, effective 20 April 2026 . These changes aim to provide greater clarity around permitted work activities, ensuring migrants clearly understand their rights and obligations while promoting fair, safe, and compliant employment practices. Purpose of the Changes Open work visas have traditionally offered flexibility, allowing holders to work for most employers in a wide range of roles

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced important updates taking effect from 9 March 2026 , including the addition of new occupations under the National Occupation List (NOL) for Accredited Employer Work Visa applications and the annual increase to the immigration median wage. This update forms part of the ongoing transition to a new occupation classification system and will have practical implications for employers, migrant workers, and applicants planning residence path

Effective 3 November 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will begin recognising 91 new occupations under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) programme.This update ensures that higher-skilled roles listed in the National Occupation List (NOL) are properly recognized within New Zealand’s immigration system. What is the National Occupation List (NOL)? The NOL is New Zealand’s new job classification system , replacing the long-standing Australia New Zealand Standard Cla

The New Zealand Government has announced important changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa. These changes are...

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is introducing updates to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program following the July 2025 update...

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced significant updates to the Job Check stage of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme...

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced an important change to the police clearance certificate (PCC) requirements for Indian...

The New Zealand Government has announced a major update to its business immigration settings, closing the long-standing Entrepreneur Work...

Immigration New Zealand has announced a new visa option for parents of New Zealand residents and citizens. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa...

The New Zealand Government has announced the introduction of two new seasonal visa pathways under the Accredited Employer Work Visa...

On 14 July 2025 , the New Zealand Government announced the ambitious International Education Going for Growth Plan , aiming to make New...

Immigration New Zealand has announced important changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) wage thresholds that will impact both...