New Zealand announces new visa rules that will come into effect from 1 June.
New Zealand has announced new visa rules that make it difficult for non-English speakers to obtain a work visa in the country, even for low-level jobs. The new rules will be implemented from June 1.
The English language requirements under the Approved Employer Work Visa will extend to skill level 3 roles such as hospitality and trades, bringing them in line with the current standard already in place at skill levels 4 and 5.“The ability to communicate in basic, everyday English ensures workers understand their rights and effectively engage at work and in the community while they are here,” Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said in a statement.
- Global Workforce Seasonal Visa applications and Maximum Seasonal Visa applications are not subject to English language requirements.
- Those who already have a valid visa and are in New Zealand will not be affected by the stricter English language requirement rule.
- People on an Approved Employer Visa (AEWV) whose visa expires on or before 1 December 2026 will be exempt from the new English language requirements when applying for another AEWV at skill level 3.
- Persons registered with the AEWV who have already provided evidence of their ability to speak and understand English as part of a previous AEWV application will also be exempt.
New Zealand visa: good news for wealthy immigrants
New Zealand will allow wealthy immigrants to count charitable donations toward the investment requirements for the Golden Visa category. From June 1, applicants under the growth category will be able to include donations to registered charities and designated conservation initiatives of up to 20% of their total investment of NZ$5 million ($2.9 million), with the remainder continuing to be invested in higher-growth assets, the minister said.
“Over the past year I have met a number of investors and potential investors, and heard from charities asking investors to be able to contribute directly to social, environmental, conservation or cultural good in New Zealand through a charitable gift,” Stanford said. “Charities make invaluable contributions to our communities, and for many, a charitable gift can make a huge difference to being able to continue their important work.
“The New Zealand Golden Visa offers residency in exchange for investments. As of May 20, there were 730 applications covering 2,390 people – a potential minimum investment of NZ$4.3 billion, according to Immigration New Zealand. About a third of applicants are from the United States.The growth category requires an investment of NZ$5 million in high-risk assets such as managed companies or funds, with migrants needing to spend just 21 days in the country over the three-year investment period. The balanced category requires investing NZ$10 million for five years in a mix of bonds, stocks or some real estate investments, with a stay of 105 days that can be reduced by increasing the investment.
