24/02/2022 - IMPORTANT UPDATE INZ

• Email a Friend

Immigration New Zealand advises the following;

Applications for the next phase of the 2021 Resident Visa will open from 10am on 1 March 2022. 

Those eligible will be able to apply online any time from then until 31 July 2022.  

We have made some operational decisions that mean there is no advantage to submitting an application in the first week.  

Applications made in the enhanced Immigration Online system received from 1 March will be held in our system. We will not start processing these until the end of March.   

Applications will then be released for processing in order of the principal applicant’s current visa expiry date at the time of their 2021 Resident Visa application.  

A medical certificate will not be needed to apply in the enhanced Immigration Online system. If a medical certificate or any further information is required, we will ask. 

Applicants will need to provide information from a valid passport. They will not need to send the document itself to us.

Anyone who needs a new passport has plenty of time as applications for the 2021 Resident Visa are open until 31 July 2022. 

Our enhanced Immigration Online system has been designed to cope with more applications, as this is expected under Phase 2.  

However, there is still a maximum number of people that can use the system at one time.  

When the Immigration Online system reaches maximum capacity, people already using the system will be able to submit their applications. However, those who try to log on will be advised to try again later or will be asked to wait until a space becomes available.  

We encourage you to be patient and to come back later, or the next day. We would like to make it clear that there is no advantage to applying on the first day or in the first few weeks. 

There is no limit to the number of applications a person can submit each day in the enhanced Immigration Online system. 

This means you do not have to apply for 'High Volume User' status. 

Advisers will need to upload a Resident Visa Declaration Form (INZ 1242) with all applications. 

Advisers should also note that from 1 March 2022 there will be two forms available on the INZ website: 

• The current form for those who have a Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), Residence from Work (RFW), or expression of interest (EOI) for Skilled Migrant Category in process. Payment is not required upfront when using this form. 
• A new form on the enhanced Immigration Online system for all other applicants. Payment is required upfront if applying on this form. 

Source INZ

03/02/2022 - BREAKING NEWS - FIVE STEPs to open border

• Email a Friend

In diagramme format

The Government’s five-step plan to reopen New Zealand’s borders this year will allow more families to reunite, sectors and employers to access more skilled workers from offshore, business travel and international events to resume, and more international students to return to New Zealand.  

Vaccination, COVID-19 testing and isolation requirements will continue.

Managed Isolation & Quarantine (MIQ) requirements will remain for the unvaccinated. MIQ requirements for other travellers will be lifted in the following steps.

Read more: 03/02/2022 - BREAKING NEWS - FIVE STEPs to open border

03/02/2022 - Covid-19 NZ: Border reopening to begin from late February, to proceed in five stages

• Email a Friend

BREAKING NEWS, read up about it here

24/01/2022 - Thousands become New Zealand residents under new scheme

• Email a Friend

About 5000 people have become residents under a fast- track government scheme launched last month, with migrants from India, South Africa, and Philippines topping the approvals.

Britons were the next most common nationality - and a UK family-of-four are among those celebrating their permanent status.

Michelle Shaw, her husband, Mic, and two children - Scarlett, 14, and Jarrad, 19 - were allowed to apply last month in the first phase of the scheme.

Mic, a senior software engineer, got the in-principle approval on 7 January, making them among the first to get approval this year.

Michelle, who works in a Christchurch vaccination centre, said when she got a message from him while she was at work, it took a moment to sink in.

Read more: 24/01/2022 - Thousands become New Zealand residents under new scheme

23/01/2022 - Plea for more government support for businesses worst-hit by Omicron

• Email a Friend

The government is being urged to explore a targeted wage subsidy and labour support for tourism and hospitality businesses as the Covid-19 restrictions are tightened up.

The move to the red traffic light setting means hospitality venues using vaccine passes are limited to 100 people, based on one-metre distancing.

Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce chief executive Leeann Watson said tourism and hospitality businesses were not only going to be hurt by revenue losses, but also staff shortages due to isolation rules.

Read more: 23/01/2022 - Plea for more government support for businesses worst-hit by Omicron

24/01/2022 - Please note

• Email a Friend

Our office will be closed temporarily on Monday 14 February to 21 February 2022. During that time I will have very limited access to email. Please rest assured that I will respond to you once back in the office.

20/12/2021 - Border Updates

• Email a Friend

The planned re-opening of the NZ borders has been pushed back

Fully vaccinated Kiwis and other eligible travellers now won't be able to travel to New Zealand from Australia or other countries without staying in MIQ until the end of February 2022

Change to MIQ - length of stay increased to 10 days for all travellers, with no self-isolation component.

All countries removed from Very High Risk country list, this means New Zealand citizens or New Zealand residents and eligible visa holders will be able to travel directly to New Zealand from Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mozambique, or Malawi.

Pre-departure test requirement to enter NZ reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours before travel

20/10/2021 - Covid-19: Chief Ombudsman investigating MIQ booking system after hundreds of complaints

• Email a Friend

The Chief Ombudsman is launching a "broad investigation" into the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) booking system after receiving hundreds of complaints.

Managed Isolation and Quarantine online booking page with no availability.

Peter Boshier said there were common themes in the 200 complaints he had received.

"The complaints fit into four broad categories - they claim the allocation system is unlawful, unfit for purpose, unfair, and poorly managed. I have decided to do my own independent investigation into them all."

He said one the specific complaints was that disabled people were being disadvantaged.

"I have concerns about whether the online booking system is accessible and whether suitable alternatives are being offered for those who have difficulty using this digital platform."

He acknowledged the MIQ system was "set up quickly in response to an immediate crisis" and border restrictions and managed isolation and quarantine facilities are going to be "a fact of life for some time to come".

"I want to find out how MBIE is responding to these concerns and whether it has a robust plan in place for allocating places in the coming months and years. If there is not, I will recommend it makes improvements."

Source: RNZ News

15/10/2021 - NEW Travel requirement

• Email a Friend

As from 1 November 2021, non-New Zealand citizens aged 17 years and over must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter New Zealand. 

New Zealand permanent residents and temporary visa holders are not New Zealand citizens and will need to declare vaccination or exemption (evidence of either will be required): 

• when booking places in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) 
• when checking in for the flight, and 
• to Customs officers in New Zealand. 

The last dose of an approved course of vaccine must have been taken at least 14 days before travel. Travellers who fail to meet requirements will not be permitted to board their flight. 

New Zealand citizens, children aged under 17 and travellers who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons do not need evidence of vaccination to enter New Zealand. 

Please find the list of approved COVID-19 vaccines here at; https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/vaccines/approved/#vaccine-list

11/10/2021 - From the NZ Herald

• Email a Friend

Visa ruling 'a delight' after long battle