BORDER POLICY UPDATE
A new category is opening up exception to the border restriction to allow certain Work Visa holders with strong connections to New Zealand to qualify for border entry.
Here’s what we know so far: to be considered for this category you must:
Still hold your job in New Zealand, or continue to operate a business in New Zealand, AND
Hold a work visa under one of these categories
Work to residence;
Essential skills, not subject to the stand-down period;
Entrepreneur visa;
AND
Have departed New Zealand on or after 1 December 2019, AND
Have lived in New Zealand for at least two years, OR
Have lived in New Zealand for at least one year, and meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
Hold an entrepreneur work visa and operating a business in New Zealand (and operated it before departing New Zealand), OR
Have dependent children with them in New Zealand (present in New Zealand for at least six months), OR
Have parents or adult siblings who are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, OR
Have already submitted a resident visa application by 31 July 2020;
AND
Have held a visa at the time of departing that expires after 2020, OR
Have held a visa at the time of departing that expires in 2020, AND
Have applied for a further visa by 10 August 2020.
The Government is expecting up to 850 visa holders may be eligible for this category and it will monitor numbers.