A new pathway to residency has been launched.

Today, 30^th September 2021 at 5.00 am, immigration New Zealand released a new pathway to apply for Residency. The TempsNZ team decided to write this article to help you navigate and understand this information.

Why is this information relevant?

As we live in a multicultural country there is a high chance that both you or your company would need this information in order to understand if you, your employees or colleagues can apply for this new residency pathway.

Here, is all you need to know about the New 2021 Resident Visa.

-According to ImmigrationNZ, this new pathway was created as a way to thank migrants for their hard work throughout the pandemic and help employers to maintain their settled, skilled and scarce migrant workers.

They are projecting that around 165,000 migrants currently in New Zealand will be eligible for residence under this new category.

Who is Eligible?

-Everyone that meets the criteria prior to 30 September 2021.

What is the criteria?

–You must be in the country and hold an eligible visa or have applied for an eligible visa before 29^th September 2021. In addition you would also need to fullfil at least one the following criteria:

Earn at least $27 per hour
Have your profession in “Scarce job list”
Have lived in New Zealand for 3 or more years.

What are the eligible visas?

As per immigration website:

Post Study Work visa
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
Essential Skills Work Visa
Religious Worker Work Visa
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
Sliver Fern Practical Experience Work Visa
Trafficking Victim Work Visa
Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa
Victims of Family Violence Work Visa
South Island Contribution Work Visa
Work Visa granted under Section 61 (provided the applicant another eligible visa type within 6 months before being granted a Section 61 visa)
Some Critical Purpose Visitor Visas (CPVV): Critical health workers for longer term roles (6 months or longer), and Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months)

Find out if you are eligible by replying to the questions on this link.

How would the process work?

-There are 2 stages to apply for this residency:

Stage 1: All the applicants that already submitted an expression of interest or applied for residency under Skilled Migrant and Residence from Work categories before 29^th September 2021, would be contacted by inmigration by the end of October to instruct them on what to do. You would be able to apply from 1^st December 2021

Stage 2: Eligible applicants that did not apply prior to 29^th September 2021, can apply from 1^st March 2022.

All the applications should be received by 31^st July 2022 in order to be considered.

How long is it going to take?

The government aims to process all the applications within a year. Although it was mentioned on their website that they are likely to process it sooner for most of the cases.

Need more information?

-Please reach out to Immigration at their Contact Center (Toll-free from NZ landlines only): 0508 558855 or +64-9-914-4100. Alternatively if you are Auckland: 09 914 4100 or Wellington: 04-910-9915.

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Juan

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