New Zealand introduced further limitations on work visa regulations, aimed at particular groups of holders of Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWVs).
An announcement about the new regulations can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website. Those with AEWVs who work in occupations that fall under levels 4 or 5 of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and do not have a pathway to residency are no longer able to sponsor applications for work, visitor, or student visas for their dependent children and partners.
This modification is a part of a larger series of changes made to the AEWV program earlier this year, which put the parameters back to what was formerly known as the Essential Skills Work Visa.
The government has made it clear that, as long as they fulfill the conditions, partners and dependant children of AEWV holders can still apply separately for New Zealand visas, including AEWV or international student visas.
The following people are exempt from the new regulations, which went into effect on June 26:
Those who currently have visas for dependent children or partners.
AEWV holders in sector agreements with residence paths or in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 positions that provide a road to residency, such as those included in the Green List.
Individuals who make at least 1.5 times the average wage criterion for the category of skilled migrants.
This current action comes after tighter work visa regulations were implemented by the New Zealand government, which cited unsustainable migration as a major issue. Additional adjustments were made earlier on April 7, such as requiring international applicants for low-skilled employment under ANZSCO levels 4 and 5 to speak English.
The purpose of the criterion is to guarantee that foreign employees are more aware of their rights and are able to resolve any problems with their employers.
New Zealand is still trying to draw in and keep highly trained foreign workers in spite of these stricter regulations, particularly in areas like secondary education where there is a labor shortage.
In the first three months of 2024, nearly a million individuals arrived in New Zealand, according to official figures. Visitor visas accounted for 602,404 of these arrivals; Australians (274,417), residents (158,867), and workers (51,338) followed.
