New Zealand has introduced further restrictions on work visa rules, targeting specific categories of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders.
According to an announcement on the Immigration New Zealand website the new regulations, individuals holding AEWVs in jobs classified at levels 4 and 5 by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), and without a pathway to residency, can no longer sponsor work, visitor, or student visa applications for their partners and dependent children.
This change is part of a broader suite of amendments to the AEWV scheme introduced earlier this year, reverting the settings to those similar to the previous Essential Skills Work Visa.
The criterion is aimed at ensuring foreign workers better understand their rights and can effectively address potential issues with their employers.
Moreover, the new rules have reduced the maximum stay for low-skilled workers from five years to three years and have set minimum skill and work experience requirements for most roles.
Despite these tighter restrictions, New Zealand continues to aim at attracting and retaining highly skilled foreign workers, especially in sectors facing shortages, such as secondary education.
The government clarified that affected partners and dependent children can still apply for visas independently, such as the AEWV or international student visas, provided they meet requisite criteria.
However, the new rules exempt individuals already holding visas as partners or dependents of AEWV holders, as well as those in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles with residency pathways like the Green List or sector agreements.
Workers also earning at least 1.5 times the average salary threshold for the Skilled Migrant Category remain unaffected.
These changes aim to ensure that foreign workers understand their rights and can effectively address employment issues.
Despite these stricter measures, New Zealand continues its efforts to attract and retain highly skilled workers, particularly in sectors experiencing shortages such as secondary education.
