Fully open border and immigration changes speed up economic growth
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today announced a major package of reforms, which include an early opening of New Zealand’s border and a simplification of immigration settings, to address the immediate skill shortages in New Zealand and speed up the economic recovery from COVID-19.
Border fully open two months early from 11:59pm 31 July
Significantly simplified immigration processes that provide faster processing for businesses
New Green List that includes over 85 hard to fill roles created to attract and retain high-skilled workers to fill skill shortages
Green List will provide streamlined and prioritised pathway to residency incentivising high skilled healthcare, engineers, trade and tech sector workers to relocate to New Zealand long term
Visa extensions for around 20,000 migrants already in New Zealand to ensure skilled workers stay in country
New sector specific agreements, to help industries transition from a reliance on low-wage, low skill migrant labour, including additional measures to support the rebuild of our tourism sector
Cruise ships able to return with the opening of the maritime border from 31 July
Full resumption of international education from 31 July
Apprenticeship Boost extended to the end of 2023, supporting an extra 38,000 New Zealanders into trades
Online visitor visa applications reopen to Pacific Island Forum countries (excluding Australia) from 16 May
We know a major constraint on business is access to skilled labour. This plan will increase the available pool of labour, while also speeding up our tourism recovery.
By helping to relieve urgent skills shortages, opening up tourism and putting our immigration settings on a more secure footing, we are building on our proven plan to secure New Zealand’s economic future,” Jacinda Ardern said.
Through the Accredited Employer Work Visa, employers won’t need to provide as much information, can use their own recruitment processes to prove no New Zealanders are available for work, and Immigration New Zealand will endeavour to have these visas processed within 30 days once an employer is accredited.
