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Check out recent news and updates from INZ hereIf you think any policy affects you, get in touch with us to clarify.
The International Education Going for Growth Plan:
Changes to Student Visas
An announcement by the New Zealand Government was made on Monday 15 July 2025; Immigration New Zealand will be altering some specifications regarding Student Visas. These changes include:
● From 3 November 2025, all student visa applications (including applications that were submitted earlier) will have an increase in hours they can work during a semester. The increase will be from 20 to 25 hours.
However, it should be noted that if someone already has a student visa with a 20-hour work limit and they want to be able to work the new 25 hour limit, they will be required to apply for a variation of conditions or an entirely new Student Visa.
Certain regulations will still apply such as school students in years 12 and 13 requiring parental and school permission to be able to work. This will apply to the new 25-hour limit.
● For in-study work rights to be increased to include all tertiary students on Study Abroad and exchange programmes. This also extends to 1-semester courses.
● It’ll be made more evident that if you are going to change your education provider or decrease your level of study, you will have to apply for a new Student Visa rather than just a variation of conditions.
Provided the Government approves, more changes are set to come including a short-term work visa for vocational graduates and a more efficient, streamlined process for visa applications.
July 2025
More jobs have been added to the Work to Residence pathway's Green List
In June 2025, it was announced that the Green List has been expanded with its in-demand occupations. Ten new trades will be officially added to the Work to Residence pathway, giving skilled immigrants a wider pool of opportunity to live and work within New Zealand.
The 10 new occupations include:● Metal Fabricator● Meal Machinist (First class)● Fitter (General)● Fitter and Turner● Fitter Welder● Pressure Welder● Welder● Panel Beater● Vehicle Painter● Paving Plant Operator
From 18 August 2025 eligible applicants will need a full-time job offer in one of the above occupations in New Zealand, or been working full-time in a listed trade for at least 24 months in New Zealand. Further, they must be aged 55 years (or younger), be of upstanding moral character (this may require proof in the form of police certification), have decent health (this may require proof in the form of a chest X-ray and medical exam). Finally, there are changes to the median wage threshold that must be considered.
Median wage threshold changes
As of August 18 2025, the new wage threshold will be $33.56. This means this is the minimum that a job must be paying hourly for it to qualify for certain residence visa categories including:
● Skilled Migrant Category● Work to Residence and ● Straight to Residence.
Further, should you be claiming points for income, the new rates are as follows:
● 1.5 x median wage = $50.34 ● 2 x median wage = $67.12 ● 3 x median wage = $100.68
Specifically for Skilled Resident visas, the wage threshold must be met when you are submitting your Expression of Interest (EoI) and Resident Visa application, if under the Skilled Migrant category you are claiming points via work experience or income, and if you are beginning a job in an approved Green List trade for your 24 months of work, after 18 August 2025 (and there isn’t another specified wage to your occupation).
Impact on employers
For employers who have employed skilled immigrants looking for a means of residence, there are some things that will be vital for employers to do and consider. For example, it is imperative that employers check their pay rates in comparison to the new median wage threshold of $33.56 per hour. Furthermore, any new job offers or contract extensions after 18 August 2025 will be obligated to meet this increased wage rate. It should also be noted that applications before 18 August 2025 are not impacted by this.
Unsure if the above changes will impact you? Need more clarification on what your options might be?
Contact us and let us help you figure out what you need
Parent Boost Visitor Visa
On 29 September 2025, applications for the Parent Boost Visitor Visa will be officially open for applications. This multi-entry visa allows parents and grandparents to stay united with their family living in New Zealand. While this is not a pathway to residency, it’s still a means to keep families together for longer periods as the duration of the visa can go up to 5 years (with the option to reapply for an additional 5 years, making that 10 years total).
There are some obligatory aspects of the visa including that parents/grandparents must have a biological or adopted (grand)child/(grand)children living within New Zealand.
Further, a sponsor (who can be a biological/adopted child who is a resident of New Zealand) and must be financially responsible for the applicant during their stay. This can include accommodation, healthcare and potential issues with deportation (should that arise).
Financial breakdown:For the applicant:● Visa cost: NZD $3,000 or $2,450 for those eligible under the Pacific fee brand.● The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy: NZD $100.● An additional fee will be issued for a health check during the 3rd year: NZD $325 or $240 for those eligible under the Pacific fee brand.● They must have at the very least 1 year’s worth to cover things such as emergency medical care (NZD $250,000 a year) and cancer treatment (NZ$100,000). This also ensures the financial cover of things such as repatriation and returning of remains (if applicable).
For the sponsor:The sponsor’s financial obligations can be broken down as follows, though they only need qualify for ONE of the following:● A sponsor must earn the New Zealand median wage. In the case of joint sponsors, this is increased to 1.5 above the median wage. Additionally, for every additional parent the median increases by 0.5.● Personal income must be NZD $32,611.28 gross per annum (for a single parent) or NZD $49,552.88 (for a couple), or● Personal funds must contain NZD $160,000 (for a single parent) or NZD $250,000 (for a couple).
Other obligations:The applicant may also be required to prove they are of upstanding moral character (with police certification) and of decent health (with a chest X-ray and medical examination) in order to acquire this visa.
11 June 2025Update from INZ - Parent Boost Visitor Visa
The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a means for parents and grandparents to stay united and close to their family living in New Zealand. It should be noted that it is NOT a pathway to residency, though there are certainly other options for that. This visa is meant to bring families together over long periods of time.
As this is a new visa announced on 8 June 2025 with applications being opened on 29 September 2025, it can be fairly daunting navigating uncharted territory while wishing to be with loved ones within New Zealand. Under such circumstances, we encourage you to reach out to Zenith Immigration Solutions for how we can make this process smoother as we understand being with one’s family shouldn’t be a struggle.
What is the Parent Boost Visitor visa?
It is designed to let parents/grandparents visit their family living within New Zealand for up to 5 years. A sponsor is required for the parent/grandparent applicant.
Who can apply?
Parents/grandparents who must have a child or grandchild living in New Zealand who is either biologically theirs or their adopted (grand)child/(grand)children.
Further, applicants must be in decent health (a chest X-ray and medical examination may be required with proof provided) and of upstanding moral character (police certification may be required).
What fees are included?
Here is a breakdown:
Visa cost: NZD $3,000 or $2,450 for those eligible under the Pacific fee brand.
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy: NZD $100.
An additional fee will be issued for a health check during the 3rd year: NZD $325 or $240 for those eligible under the Pacific fee brand.
Who can be a sponsor and what are their requirements?
A sponsor must be the biological/adopted child of the applicant so a familiar connection is mandatory. They must also be a citizen or resident of New Zealand. Further, the sponsor must be able to be financially responsible for the applicant during their stay. This includes accommodation, healthcare and any incurring costs involved in possible issues such as deportation (if it applies).
What sort of funds are required?
Only ONE of the following needs to be fulfilled to qualify:
A sponsor must earn at the very least, the New Zealand median wage. In the case of joint sponsors, this is increased to 1.5 above the median wage. Additionally, for every additional parent the median increases by 0.5.
Personal income must be NZD $32,611.28 gross per annum (for a single parent) or NZD $49,552.88 (for a couple), or
Personal funds must contain NZD $160,000 (for a single parent) or NZD $250,000 (for a couple).
What about healthcare?
A sufficient amount of money is required by the applicant for healthcare and health insurance. They must have at the very least 1 year’s worth to cover things such as emergency medical care (NZD $250,000 a year) and cancer treatment (NZD $100,000). This also ensures the financial cover of things such as repatriation and returning of remains (if applicable).
How many times can a visa holder re-enter New Zealand?
This is a multi-entry visitor visa so the visa holder will be able to enter and exit New Zealand as they please during the designated visa time duration. However, it should be noted that the visa holder will be obligated to leave New Zealand during the 3rd year for a medical assessment.
Will the visa holder be able to study or work?
They will be able to study for up to three months.
As for work, they will be permitted to work remotely for an off-shore employer.
Update from INZ - Update to AEWV
Lower domestic workforce threshold for construction labour hire firms
The percentage of New Zealanders that labour hire firms in the construction sector must employ will reduce.
To hire workers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), construction labour hire firms will need to ensure that at least of 15% of their workforce are New Zealand citizens or residents, down from 35% currently.
This aligns with the requirements for labour hire firms in other sectors. These two changes are part of a suite of AEWV reforms announced in December 2024, which take effect throughout 2025.
New median wage to apply from February 2023
For the AEWV, migrants must meet the wage threshold in force at the time they apply for their visa. This means that if the wage threshold increases between the job check being approved and the migrant applying for the visa, the migrant may need to meet a higher wage threshold than was approved in the job check pay range.
For example, an employer is granted a job check on 1 November 2022 based on the current median wage of $27.76.
If the migrant worker they offer employment to applies for an Accredited Employer work visa before 27 February 2023, the worker must be paid at least the median of $27.76. This is because $27.76 will be the median wage in the immigration system at time of application.
If the migrant worker they offer employment to applies for an Accredited Employer work visa on or after 27 February 2023, the worker must be paid at least the new median of $29.66.
Residence visa categories and pathways with median wage-related criteria will also be updated. This includes the Green List and Highly Paid pathways, the Skilled Migrant Category and the Parent Category.
Previously, wage thresholds were updated regularly, but not always at the same time each year.
From 2023, there will be a standard process where the median wage is adopted in immigration instructions in February. This will be based on the June rate published by Stats NZ the previous year.
This timing means people will have plenty of advanced notice of the changes. The median wage calculator tool will also be updated well in advance.
Tourism and hospitality median wage exception
Many tourism and hospitality roles have also been provided an exemption to the median wage threshold under the AEWV, with a lower wage threshold of $25 an hour until April 2023.
This is a temporary exception that recognises these sectors have been hit hard by Covid-19.
The Government is continuing to support the industry and has decided to transition away from the exemption to the median wage threshold in two stages.
In April 2023 the median wage exception will increase from $25 to $28.18, or 95% of the new median wage.
In April 2024 the exception will end, and these roles will be required to be paid 100% of the median wage.