Immigration Chambers
New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand is replacing 47 RSE accommodation standards with 15 standards, expected to start in the second half of 2027. Changes include new minimum bedroom sizes (6 m² for one person, 10 m² for two) and Healthy Homes Standards applied as far as practicable. A transition period will apply. Introduction If you employ workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, the housing you provide is one of your biggest compliance questions each season. Immigrat

New Zealand Partnership Based Visas: 2026 Age and Evidence Rules From 25 September 2026, both partners must be at least 18 when applying for a dedicated New Zealand partnership-based visa, and INZ only counts relationship evidence from when both were 18. Because residence requires 12 months of living together, the practical minimum age for partnership-based residence is 19. New Zealand Partnership Based Visas: What the New Age and Evidence Rules Mean If you are planning a par

From 16 November 2026, graduates of a Level 7 Graduate Diploma can get a New Zealand Post-Study Work Visa if they studied full-time in New Zealand for the full course, used no credit transfers, and hold a bachelor’s degree from any country. The visa lasts up to one year with open work rights. Post Study Work Visa New Zealand: What Changes on 16 November 2026 Already hold a bachelor’s degree and considering a one-year Graduate Diploma in New Zealand? That plan becomes a much s

New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa: NZ's New 6-Month Pathway The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is a New Zealand visa opening 16 November 2026 for graduates with NZQCF Level 5 to 7 qualifications who don't qualify for the Post-Study Work Visa. It grants six months of open work rights, cannot be extended, and requires application within three months of the student visa expiring. New Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens on 16th Nov. 2026 If you studied in New Zealand and your qual

From December 2026, the Active Investor Plus Visa NZ will accept eligible Build to Rent developments as a Growth category investment option. Investors must invest through managed funds approved by Invest New Zealand. The Growth category minimum investment remains NZD 5 million, and applicants cannot live in the funded property. Active Investor Plus Visa NZ: Build to Rent Joins the Growth Category Investor migrants exploring residency through New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus

If you looked at the Business Investor Work Visa NZ before July 2026 and walked away because your business plan involved a franchise, a company structure, or family capital, it's worth another look. Immigration New Zealand has removed three specific restrictions that were quietly ruling out well-qualified applicants on structural grounds rather than merit. The core visa hasn't changed. You still need NZD $1 million for the standard pathway or NZD $2 million for the fast-track

Immigration New Zealand updated the Active Investor Plus visa on 13 August 2026. Changes require borrowed funds to match the jurisdiction of the assets backing them, clearer proof that funds were lawfully earned, and evidence gifted funds were unconditional. Managed fund investors no longer need a non-revocable agreement. Investment thresholds remain unchanged. Active Investor Plus Visa Changes: What Investors Need to Know for 2026 If you’re planning an Active Investor Plus (

Planning to bring family to New Zealand, host a tour group, or simply visit yourself? Immigration New Zealand is rolling out a major system upgrade - and the timing matters. From 24 September 2026, most visitor visa categories will only be accepted through INZ's Enhanced Immigration Online platform. The older portal is being phased out in stages, and by 8 October 2026, any draft applications still sitting unfinished there will be wiped for good. Here's the rollout in a nutshe

If you have been waiting on a Parent Resident Visa decision, you already know how draining the uncertainty can be. You submit an Expression of Interest, then you wait, with no real sense of whether this year's ballot will finally include your parents or pass you by again. That is about to change. Immigration New Zealand has confirmed a new hybrid selection model for the Parent Resident Visa Category, replacing the fully random ballot that has frustrated families since 2022. T

For years, a hepatitis B or hepatitis C diagnosis was one of the quiet reasons people hesitated to apply for a New Zealand Resident Visa. Not because they weren't otherwise eligible, but because they'd heard, correctly, that the health requirement could be an automatic dead end. That's no longer the default outcome. From 3 August 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has removed hepatitis B and hepatitis C from its list of high-cost health conditions used to assess New Zealand

If you are preparing a New Zealand student visa application, one small document can now decide whether your application moves forward or gets declined outright. From 1 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires applicants to submit their police certificate at the same time they lodge their student or temporary visa application. A receipt showing you have applied for one is no longer enough. INZ has confirmed it will generally not pause an application or reach out to as

From 20 July 2026, New Zealand’s Pathway Student Visa gives secondary school students (Year 12/13) students more flexibility (no need to name an exact tertiary course), expands eligible study pathways to NZQCF Levels 1 to 4, and extends the English language study allowance for first-time holders from 20 to 30 weeks. Introduction If you’re a Year 12 or 13 student planning to study in New Zealand, or a parent trying to map out that path, the rules around the Pathway Student Vi

Introduction From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa gains two new pathways, Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician, alongside an updated points system. Wage threshold rules also change, so applicants generally only need to meet the threshold in place when their skilled work experience began. If you’re planning to apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, 2026 is the year to pay close attention. Immigration New Zealand has confirme

If you are a skilled migrant working in New Zealand, establishing your career is only half the journey. For many, the ultimate goal is bringing loved ones to join you. However, with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) introducing significant policy updates in March 2026, the financial requirements to support your family are shifting. While the work experience you have already gained might be protected under previous wage rules, the rules for sponsoring family members are much

If you are a skilled migrant working toward residency in New Zealand, recent announcements have likely caused some anxiety. With significant changes coming to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) policies in both March and August 2026, many of our clients at Immigration Chambers are asking the same urgent question: "Do I need my employer to immediately raise my pay to $35.00 per hour to keep my residency dream alive?" A lot of misleading information is circulating at the momen

Applying for a visa with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) demands complete honesty and accuracy, as even small mistakes, missing details, or any false, misleading, or withheld information can lead to delays, refusals, or future character concerns. Many applicants face complications due to incorrect disclosures or errors made by agents, yet responsibility always remains with the applicant to ensure every detail submitted is truthful, complete, and verifiable. At Immigration Cham

New NOL Roles for AEWV and Median Wage Hike Explained As licensed immigration advisers, we're alerting employers and migrants to significant policy changes affecting New Zealand's work visa landscape from March 2026. New Zealand's immigration landscape is set for a significant update on 9 March 2026 . Key changes to the National Occupation List (NOL) and a new immigration median wage will impact Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications and pathways to residence. It

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa Opening Dates & Quotas 2026 If you are planning to apply for a Working Holiday Visa New Zealand (WHS) in 2026, timing is everything. Each country has a fixed annual quota, and applications are approved strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Once places are filled, the scheme closes immediately. All quotas and opening dates for Working Holiday Visa New Zealand are managed by Immigration New Zealand, and there are no extensions once limi

How to Meet the Character Requirement for New Zealand Citizenship Securing citizenship in New Zealand involves more than simply meeting residence days and completing paperwork. The character requirement, assessed through a detailed character evaluation, is one of the most decisive legal filters applied by the Department of Internal Affairs, and even technically eligible applicants may be refused if these character standards are not fully satisfied. As licensed immigration law

AEWV Maximum Stay: When to Leave NZ After 3 Years Understanding the AEWV Maximum Stay Rules in New Zealand The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) establishes a structured framework for temporary skilled workers to live and work lawfully in New Zealand. Under the policies administered by Immigration New Zealand, most AEWV holders are subject to a maximum continuous stay of 3 years, depending on the ANZSCO skill level, wage rate, and job classification tied to their visa appr