The 2021 Resident Visa Scheme is not as easy as it seems
Raj Pardeep and Ashima Singh
Auckland, October 1, 2021
The government announced yesterday (September 30, 2021) a pathway to residence for people living and working in New Zealand.
While the process seems simple at the first glance, it is not so. There are guidelines and criteria that should be satisfied to be eligible for the new Resident Visa.
It is critical that your application is ready for approval when it is submitted to Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
The deadline to lodge applications is July 31, 2022.
There are two phases in the application process.
Who can apply?
People who have been in New Zealand on September 29, 2021 will be eligible to apply for the one-off Resident Visa. Those who had applied for an eligible visa on or before September 29, 2021 (that is later granted) can also apply.
You must also meet one of the three criteria listed below on September 29, 2021: (a) You have lived in New Zealand for three years or more (that is arrived in New Zealand on or before September 29, 2018 and spent a minimum of 821 days in New Zealand between September 29, 2018 and September 21, 2021) or (b) You have been earning the median wage ($27 per hour) or above on September 29, 2021 or (c) You work in a role on a scarce list.
Jobs on the Long-Term Skill Shortage List
Chef (chef de partie or higher), Chemical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Civil Engineering Technician etc; Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector), Electric Line Mechanic, Electrical Engineer, Electrical Engineering technician, etc;
ICT Business Analyst, ICT Customer Support Officer, ICT Support Engineer, Software Engineer, Software Tester etc;
Multimedia Specialist (Film Animator), Multimedia Specialist etc; Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications Network Engineer etc;
Jobs Requiring Occupational Registration in the Health or Education Sector, Clinical Dental Technician, Clinical Dental Therapist, Dental Hygienist etc; Dispensing Optician, Medical Laboratory Scientist/Technologist etc; Midwives, Nurse etc; Paramedic, Pharmacist, Physiotherapist etc;
Teacher (including Principals and Registered Early Childhood Education), Personal Carer and other Critical Health Workers, Aged and Disabled Carers, Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers, Technical and Support Staff Working in various services including Theatre, Laboratories, Radiology, Pharmacy Services, Oncology, Haematology, Pathology, Hyperbaric Medicine and Mortuaries;
Workers who install, operate or maintain medical equipment; Workers delivering Mental Health And Addictions Services, Aged Care, Respite, Home Care and Support, Child Health, Palliative and Hospice Care, Forensic Health, and Disability Support; Specified Primary Sector jobs; Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator, Agricultural Consultant, Agricultural Engineer, Anaesthetic Technician, Arborist etc;
Beef Cattle Farm Worker, Poultry Farm Worker, Poultry Farmer, Livestock Farm Workers not elsewhere classified, Livestock Farmers, Crop Farm Workers not elsewhere classified, Dairy Cattle Farm Worker, Dairy Farm Manager, Deer Farmer etc; Chef, Cook, Pastrycook, Pastrycook’s Assistant, Baker, Baking Factory Worker etc; Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers, Food and Drink Factory Workers not elsewhere classified, Food Trades Assistants not elsewhere classified etc;
Nurserypersons, Fruit and Vegetable Factory Worker, Fruit and Vegetable Packer, Fruit or Nut Farm Worker, Horticultural Nursery Assistant, Vegetable Farm Worker, Vegetable Grower, Vegetable Picker etc;
Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Technician not elsewhere classified, Pharmacy Technician etc;
Vineyard Worker, Wine Maker, Winery Cellar Hand etc.
Wood and Wood Products Factory Worker, Wood Machinist, Wood Turner etc;
If you meet the above criteria for eligibility but are in Australia and have been unable to return to New Zealand by September 29, 2021, you may be considered eligible.
Will everyone with a work visa qualify?
No. Only certain types of work visas qualify. To find out if you hold or may qualify for an eligible work visa, contact Legal Associates for advice.
There are more details of the new rules and the process that will be released later this month. We will keep you posted.
The Immigration Team at Legal Associates is on standby to guide can help.
Raj Pardeep Singh and Ashima Singh are respectively Principal and Partner at Legal Associates, Barristers & Solicitors with their offices at Level 1, 31, East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland. Phone: 0064+9 279 9439; Website: www.legalassociates.co.nz
