New Zealand: Changes for Residency Pathways

Key Points  

• New Zealand introduced new residency eligibility requirements for non-Accredited Employer Work Visa holders 

Overview  

The government of New Zealand will extend work to residency eligibility to include non-Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders. Residency pathways include the Green List and the Sector Agreement.  

When the visas open for applications from 29 September 2023, all temporary work visa holders and Critical Purpose Visitor Visa holders with work rights will be able to claim work experience to count towards them. Applicants will need to hold at least two years of work experience in a relevant role starting from 29 September 2021, and meet the relevant skill and wage thresholds. 

Beginning 31 August 2023, the government of New Zealand will no longer allow foreign nationals under certain residency pathways to apply to restart the path if they were located outside of New Zealand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border closures. These residency pathways include the Talent Accredited Employer (TAE) and the Long-Term Skill Shortage (LTSSL) Work visa. 

What are the Changes?  

The government of New Zealand will introduce several changes to its long-term residence pathways beginning in August 2023. The government of New Zealand stated that the change aligns these residence pathway settings with the new Skilled Migrant Category, which ensures the settings are consistent and reduces the complexity for applicants. 

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check the government of New Zealand’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.