New Zealand Announces Major Changes to Immigration and Workforce Pathways

The New Zealand government has introduced significant changes to the country’s workforce and immigration pathways. These changes include adding 17 roles to the Green List, increasing the Recognised Seasonal Employer cap to 19,500 for the 2023/24 season, closing the Recovery Visa to new applicants from September 23, 2023, and adding additional roles to the Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement. These changes aim to streamline immigration processes and better meet the country’s workforce needs.

Key Points:

• Green List Updates: Seventeen roles have been added to the Green List, allowing migrants with the required work experience to apply for residence from March 2024. These roles include aviation engineers, corrections officers, welders, metal fabricators, and more.
• Work to Residence Pathway: From September 29, 2023, migrants with two years of eligible work experience in Green List or Sector Agreement roles can apply for residence, provided they meet other requirements.
• Increased RSE Cap: The cap for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme has been raised to 19,500 workers for the 2023/24 season to address labor shortages in the horticulture and wine sectors.
• Recovery Visa Changes: The Recovery Visa is closed to new applicants, but existing visa holders in New Zealand can apply for a 3-month extension to transition to longer-term work visas if needed.
• Construction and Infrastructure Roles: Additional roles will be added to the Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement, including driller’s assistants, earthmoving laborers, machine operators, and more. These changes will be implemented early next year.

These changes aim to improve New Zealand’s immigration and workforce systems to meet the country’s evolving needs and address labor shortages in various sectors.

More info here: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-immigration-settings-announced