On August 9, 2024, the government of New Zealand announced increases to visa charges, effective October 1, 2024. The new visa charges are published here. Fees for visa applicants from Pacific countries will continue to be subsidised.
People using the immigration system will now fund 80 percent of costs for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) programmes in schools. The Government will continue to fund the remaining 20 percent.
New temporary visa option for some seasonal workers
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced a new subcategory of the Specific Purpose Work Visa to provide some short-term relief to employers in industries with upcoming seasonal peaks.
This is an interim, time-limited, streamlined pathway and is more in line with the length of seasonal work.
To be eligible, the seasonal work must be directly impacted by changes in weather, such as harvesting, ski instructing, or tree planting. The role must also start on or before 31 May 2025, and be for no longer than nine months. Horticulture, viticulture, and fishing crew work covered by other visas is excluded.
Applications from migrants must be received on or before March 31, 2025.
Employers will need to:
- hold employer accreditation
- pay at least NZD 29.66 per hour for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
- advertise the role beforehand, and provide evidence of this to the migrant to include in their application.
INZ is considering the need for a longer-term visa option for seasonal workers as part of the ongoing review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and will undertake targeted consultation shortly as part of this work.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.