The government of New Zealand has provided updated criteria for employer accreditation.

Key Points:

  • New Zealand authorities require employers to prove that they are a viable and operating business for employer accreditation.
  • The new accreditation criteria include requirements for employers to provide employees settlement support information within one month of the employee’s start date, including accommodation and transportation options, access to healthcare services and specific industry training information and options.
  • Employers who do not satisfy accreditation criteria may be fined, incur delays in accreditation and will have their ability to access migrant resources negatively impacted. A full list accreditation penalties is available here.

BAL Analysis: Employers should note the new accreditation policies and ensure their employment agreements satisfy the new requirements.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The government of New Zealand has introduced a new 2022 Special Ukraine Visa for family members of Ukrainians in New Zealand.

Key Points:

  • Applications for the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa are open now and until March 15, 2023.
  • In order to apply, a family member in New Zealand must nominate an applicant for the visa by competing an expression of interest (EOI) form. To be eligible to sponsor an individual for the 2022 Special Ukraine visa, sponsors must:
    • Be a New Zealand national or resident visa holder, live in New Zealand regularly, have been born in Ukraine or held citizenship or permanent residence in Ukraine and meet the requirements to sponsor a temporary-class visa.
  • Individuals who receive the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa will be able to live and work in New Zealand for two years.

Additional Information: Eligible family members in New Zealand can sponsor their parents, grandparents, siblings and adult children for the visa. Each of those sponsored individuals can include their spouse and dependent children in the visa application. More information regarding the application process is available here.

BAL Analysis: The government of New Zealand continues to consider other immigration concessions for Ukrainian nationals and their family members. Employers and employees are reminded that actions taken as a result of the invasion of Ukraine may change with little or no notice.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

 

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The government of New Zealand has provided immigration concessions for Ukrainian nationals.

Key Points:

  • Ukrainian nationals who are in New Zealand and whose visas are set to expire before the end of 2022 can now legally stay in New Zealand for an additional 12 months.
  • Ukrainian nationals who hold a valid New Zealand visa can now enter the country without having to wait for borders to reopen. Such individuals are still required to meet current COVID-19 health requirements to enter the country.
  • Immigration New Zealand is now prioritizing urgent visa applications for Ukrainian nationals.

Additional Information: The Visa Application Center (VAC) in Kyiv is currently closed until further notice. Individuals are encouraged to apply for visas online through this website. More information regarding New Zealand’s immigration concessions for Ukrainian nationals is available here.

BAL Analysis: The government of New Zealand continues to consider other immigration concession for Ukrainian nationals and their family members. Employers and employees are reminded that actions taken as a result of the invasion of Ukraine may change with little or no notice.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The government of New Zealand has announced that it will ease its COVID-19 border measures and entry requirements on March 3.

Key Points:

  • Beginning March 3, all travelers who are fully vaccinated and eligible to enter New Zealand will be able to do so without having to undergo a mandatory quarantine regardless of their departure country. A valid negative COVID-19 is still required before to departure.
  • Beginning March 5, the government will begin “Step 2” of the border reopening plan. More information regarding the plan is available here.
  • More information regarding New Zealand’s COVID-19 border measures is available here.

BAL Analysis: While the border reopening plan signals that traveling to New Zealand will be easier in the coming months, entry restrictions and health protocol can change with little or no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The New Zealand government has announced that it will allow certain foreign nationals to submit 2021 Residence Visas (2021RVs) beginning Feb. 21.

Key Points:

  • Beginning Feb. 21, foreign nationals who submitted Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Expression of Interest (EOI) applications on or before Sept. 29, 2021, can submit 2021RV applications before March 1, 2022, using a staggered early opening system.
  • New Zealand Immigration (INZ) will allow 1,500 EOI applicants per day to apply early for a 2021RV. Eligible applicants will receive an email from INZ on the day that they are able to apply for a 2021RV based on the day that their EOI application was submitted.
  • Individuals who are applying for a 2021RV must submit medical certificates with their application unless their previous certificate is still valid.

Additional Information: More information regarding 2021RVs is available here, and an overview of 2021RV processing is available here.

BAL Analysis: New Zealand authorities are intending to process 2021RV applications faster than normal and hopes to limit the number of applicants at any given time to not overload the system. Eligible foreign nationals should submit their 2021RV applications in a timely manner to avoid possible delays.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The New Zealand government has announced a new border reopening plan.

Key Points:

  • Beginning Feb. 28, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and eligible travelers will be able to travel to and from Australia if they quarantine using a self-isolation system for 10 days and take three rapid antigen tests throughout the quarantine period.
  • Beginning March 14, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and eligible foreign nationals will be able to enter New Zealand from the rest of the world if they quarantine using a self-isolation system for 10 days and take three rapid antigen tests throughout the quarantine period.
    • Critical and skilled workers who earn at least one and a half times the median wage, as well as highly skilled workers’ family members will be allowed to enter the country.
    • The Working Holiday Scheme will also reopen.
  • Beginning April 13, 5,000 students and temporary visa holders who meet the relevant visa requirements will be able to enter the country.
  • Beginning no later than July, Australian foreign nationals and other visitors and business travelers who can normally enter New Zealand without a visa will be allowed to travel to New Zealand.
  • Beginning in October 2022, all visa categories will re-open and normal processing will resume.

BAL Analysis: More details regarding the reopening plan are expected to be released in the weeks and months ahead. While the border reopening plan is signals that traveling to New Zealand will be easier in the coming months, entry restrictions and health protocol can change with little or no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The New Zealand government has announced it will increase testing and quarantine requirements.

Key Points:

  • Beginning Jan. 7, travelers must have proof of a negative PCR taken within 48 of their scheduled departure.
    • Antigen and LAMP tests will no longer meet the pre-departure testing requirements to enter the country.
    • Authorities decreased the validity of PCR tests from 72 hours to 48 hours.
  • As of Dec. 23, travelers from countries that New Zealand does not have quarantine-free travel must undergo a 10-day quarantine at a designated facility.

Additional Information: The New Zealand government said it would delay its border reopening until the end of February. Individuals who are not New Zealand citizens or residents must obtain approval from Immigration New Zealand before traveling to the country.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

New Zealand has announced plans to ease entry requirements for up to 600 tech specialists and their families.

Key Points:

  •  Authorities will provide exceptions to COVID-19 entry rules for four categories of tech specialists:
    • Software and Application Programmers.
    • Information Communication Technology (ICT) Managers.
    • ICT Security Specialists.
    • Multimedia Specialists.
  • The exception allows specialists, specialists’ spouses/partners and dependent children, to apply for a Critical Purpose visitor visa.
  • Employers hiring foreign nationals under the new exceptions must pay:
    • At least $120,000 a year for software and application programmers, ICT managers and ICT security specialists.
    • At least $95,000 a year for multimedia specialists.
  • The exception is expected to be implemented in early 2022, but authorities have yet to provide the exact date.

Additional Information: New Zealand has enforced strict entry rules during the COVID-19 pandemic but has implemented targeted exceptions for foreign nationals filling jobs that are in high demand. A full list of exceptions is available here. Currently, a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) voucher will need to be secured before travelling to New Zealand and additional requirements met.

BAL Analysis: Authorities are hoping the new exceptions help New Zealand meet current labor market demands. It is possible that New Zealand may push back previously announced dates to allow for entry into New Zealand without mandatory MIQ. BAL will continue to monitor class exception changes and will provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The New Zealand government has announced it will implement a new traffic light system also known as the COVID-19 Protection Framework to categorize regions of the country.

Key Points:

  • The traffic light system will categorize regions of New Zealand as “green,” “yellow” or “red” based on their risk for spreading COVID-19.
  • Officials will consider factors such as vaccination coverage, capacity of the health system and the rate of the spread of COVID-19 to determine each region’s color status.
  • Depending on the color of the region in question, travelers may not be able to enter certain areas without a vaccination certificate.

Additional Information: Officials have said the traffic light system will be implemented soon but have not provided an exact date. More information on the COVID-19 Protection Framework can be found here.

BAL Analysis: The new traffic light system is intended to be more flexible than the old system, allowing different regions to be classified at different risk levels. The system does not affect New Zealand’s border policy. Foreign nationals and residents must submit a border exception request to travel to New Zealand as an exception to current border restriction. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The New Zealand government recently announced that the Talent Work Visa and the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa would close to new applications on Oct. 31.

Key Points:

  • The Talent Work Visa and the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa is set to be replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa on July 4, 2022.
    • Individuals who currently hold one of or applied for these visas can continue on their current pathway to residence and apply for subsequent visas if a residence from work (RFW) application is submitted.
  • Employers can continue to support migrant worker on an Essential Skills Work Visa until July 3, 2022, along with other types of work visas, without accreditation.
    • Beginning July 4, 2022, employers can support temporary migrant workers through the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Additional Information: Work to residence (WTR) visa holders may be eligible to apply for the new 2021 Resident visa. More information regarding the eligibility requirements for the 2021 Resident visa can be found here.

BAL Analysis: Employers and employees should be aware of the upcoming Oct. 31 visa application deadline. BAL will continue to monitor New Zealand’s visa changes and will provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.