24/11/09 - Rising influx of migrants reaches five-year high

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Tuesday Nov 24, 2009

The net inflow of migration continued to climb last month, pushing the annual gain to 18,600, its highest level for more than five years.

It compares with an average annual gain of 11,400 since 1990, but remains well below the peak of 42,500 in the year to May 2003.

October recorded a net inflow of 3000 permanent and long-term migrants - those intending to stay for more than a year less those leaving for at least a year. That is twice as many as in October last year.

Adjusted for seasonal effects, the net gain was 2120.

It reflected 1800 fewer people leaving for Australia and 200 fewer for Britain.

On the inbound side, there were 500 fewer migrants - 100 more returning expatriates but 600 fewer non-New Zealand citizens.

In the year ended October the net outflow to Australia was 21,200, down from 36,400 the previous year.

But the decline may be shortlived.

"With the Australian economy avoiding recession and starting to benefit from the pick-up in hard commodity prices, employment growth in Australia is likely to recover over the next year," ASB economist Jane Turner said. "Given New Zealand's relatively weak economy, relocating to Australia will look increasingly attractive to New Zealanders once again."

The pick-up in population growth had been fuelling demand for housing over the past six months, Turner said, while the supply of housing for sale had remained below average, creating very tight conditions in the housing market.

"Combined with low interest rates and a recovery in confidence, house prices have started to pick up substantially."

This threatened a return to an economy too leveraged to housing debt.

(Source NZHerald, Brian Fallow)

19/11/09 - December 2009 Quarterly Global Visa and Permit Survey

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Immigration New Zealand will shortly be emailing a survey invitation to a number of recent visa and permit applicants. The December 2009 Quarterly Global Visa and Permit Survey asks visa and permit applicants questions about their application experience.

18/11/09 - Visa waiver for Taiwanese visitors

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

From 30 November 2009, Taiwanese passport holders travelling to New Zealand for less than three months on business, as tourists, to visit friends or relatives or for short-term study under three months, will no longer be required to apply for a visa before they travel.

17/11/09 - Essential Skills Policy new minimum income requirement

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

From 30 November 2009, applications for a visitor or student visa/permit for dependent children of Essential Skills work visa/permit holders will need to include evidence that the parent meets a minimum income threshold of NZ$33,675 per annum gross in order to live with them in New Zealand, unless the parent held a work permit on and before 30 November 2009.

12/11/09 - New Entrepreneur Plus Category

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Entrepreneur Plus Category comes into effect from 30 November 2009. It provides a faster track to residence for migrants who can demonstrate they have been actively participating in business and contributing to New Zealand’s economic development.

Please also refer to Entrepreneur PLUS on our site

06/11/09 - Changes to policy taking effect 30 November

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Friday, November 06, 2009

A number of changes to Immigration New Zealand's operational policy will take effect on 30 November.

30/10/09 - Argentina Working Holiday Scheme full

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Friday, 30 October 2009

There are no places remaining under the 2009-2010 Argentina Working Holiday Scheme. The quota for the Argentine Working Holiday Scheme opened on 30 October at 00.01 New Zealand time (29 October 08.01 Argentine time). The 1000 places were filled in approximately 14 hours.

23/10/09 - Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category: List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

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Friday, October 23, 2009

On 30 November 2009 the List of qualifications exempt from assessment (Appendix 5) will be updated for the following countries.
•    Australia
•    India
•    Israel
•    Iran
•    Japan
•    Romania
•    Singapore
•    South Pacific countries (Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and the Marshall Islands)
•    Switzerland
•    Thailand, and
•    Zimbabwe (changes also made to the Zimbabwe list of qualifications recognised as an exception (Appendix 13)).

The changes include:

•    addition and removal of qualifications.
•    changes to the level of qualifications.
•    addition and removal of institutions.
•    inclusion of effective dates.

Details of the upcoming changes are available in the Amendment Circular below to enable people:

•    intending to express interest under the SMC, or
•    who have already submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), or
•    invited to apply for residence

to make an informed decision on their EOI and/or subsequent residence application.

07/10/09 - Chile Working Holiday Scheme: no places remaining

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Wednesday, 7 October 2009

There are no further places available under the Chile Working Holiday Scheme for the year to 30 September 2010. The scheme opened on Thursday 1 October and attracted so much interest, it caused an overload on our information technology system.

16/09/09 - Changes to the domestic student definition and the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

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