[Breaking] A big announcement has been made by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Immigration today.
Some key points are:
Border fully open two months early from 11:59pm 31 July
Full resumption of international education from 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
There will be changes for post-study work rights:
Students in non-degree level courses will not get post-study work rights except where they are studying and then working in specified shortage and skilled occupations
For degree-level and other eligible international students the length of time they can work after their studies will mirror the time they study in New Zealand.
Masters and PhD students will retain the right to work in New Zealand for up to three years after their studies
Students will also not be able to apply for a second post-study visa in New Zealand.
Our team is working on understanding the new policies.