Extension for Pacific Quota applications
Friday, 19 December 2008
People from Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu who were successful in this year's ballots under the Samoan Quota Scheme (SQS) and Pacific Access Category (PAC) will have an extra month to apply for residence in New Zealand.

Fees changes for applications lodged outside New Zealand
Friday, 19 December 2008
The fees that Immigration New Zealand charges for immigration services will change on 12 January 2009. The changes will only affect payments made outside New Zealand, not payments made in New Zealand dollars.

Skilled Migrant Category – next selection postponed
Friday, 19 December 2008
Due to the Christmas holiday period, the next Expression of Interest (EOI) selection has been postponed until 14 January 2009.

New Zealand Residence Programme – General (Active) Investor Category selection
Thursday, 18 December 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the General (Active) Investor Category took place on Wednesday, 17 December 2008. The selection point was 95, and no EOIs were selected.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 17 December 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 3 December 2008.

New Brazilian Working Holiday Scheme opens Monday 8 December
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
From 8 December, 300 places will be available each year under the Brazil Working Holiday Scheme. Brazilian citizens aged 18-30 can make applications online or manually.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 19 November 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Thursday, 6 November 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 5 November 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 22 October 2008.

Implementation of update to skill shortage lists postponed
Monday, 13 October 2008
The results of the biannual review of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists (the Long Term Skill Shortage List and the Immediate Skill Shortage List) were scheduled to come into effect on 1 December 2008. Although the review is going ahead, the updated lists will not come into effect until 3 March 2009.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Thursday, 9 October 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 8 October 2008.

Chile Working Holiday Scheme full
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
The 1000 places available under the Chile Working Holiday Scheme for the year to 30 September 2009 have been filled. A further 1000 places will become available on 1 October 2009.

Changes to temporary entry health policy requirements for applicants intending to give birth in NZ
Thursday, 2 October 2008
From 3 October 2008, temporary entry health policy will include a specific health waiver for certain applicants who intend to give birth in New Zealand.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Thursday, 25 September 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 24 September 2008.

Change of receiving office in Brazil
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
From 1 October 2008 the Consulate General in Sao Paulo will no longer accept temporary entry applications for Immigration New Zealand. The New Zealand embassy in Brasilia will be processing these applications instead.

Policies arising from New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
On 1 October 2008, the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enter into force.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 16 July 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 21 May 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on Wednesday, 21 May 2008.

Change to minimum salary allowed for applicants under the Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy
Friday, 9 May 2008
As from 28 July 2008, the minimum allowable salary for applicants under the Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy will be NZ$55,000 per annum.

New Zealand Residence Programme — Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on Wednesday, 23 April 2008.

New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
Monday, 7 April 2008
The New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a treaty between New Zealand and China that liberalises and facilitates trade in goods and services, improves the business environment and promotes cooperation between the two countries in a broad range of economic areas.

Changes to ESOL requirements
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
From 31 March 2008 applicants under the Skilled Migrant or Business categories who have pre-purchased English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) tuition will now have up to five years to take up the tuition.

Additions to Transit Visa Country Waiver list
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
On Friday 4 April 2008 Colombia and Peru will be added to the Transit Visa Country Waiver list. Citizens from these countries will not require a transit visa for New Zealand.

Additions to list of regions with a seasonal labour shortage
Friday, 28 March 2008
The Ministry of Social Development has declared the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council areas as regions of seasonal labour shortage in the horticultural and viticulture industries. This is effective from 25 March 2008 until further notice.

New Zealand Residence Programme – General (Active) Investor Category selection
Thursday, 27 March 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the General (Active) Investor Category took place on Wednesday, 26 March 2008. The selection point was 95, and two EOIs were selected.

New Zealand Residence Programme — Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 26 March 2008.

Minister of Immigration announces new transit visa policy
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
The Minister of Immigration has announced today that on 28 March 2008 a new transit visa policy will come into effect. A copy of the media release can be found at the official New Zealand Government website.

New Zealand Residence Programme — Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on 12 March 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
The latest selection of Expressions of Interest under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on Wednesday, 27 February 2008.

Changes to Transitioning to Recognised Seasonal Employer Policy
Friday, 22 February 2008
The Transitioning to Recognised Seasonal Employer (TRSE) policy was put in place in November 2007 to assist employers in the horticulture and viticulture industries that were not yet ready to apply for full Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) status.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Thursday, 14 February 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on Thursday, 14 February 2008.

Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category effective 4 February
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category which were deferred in November 2006 will be introduced on 4 February. The changes primarily affect the way in which we assess whether an applicant's job or job offer is 'skilled employment', and which qualifications we recognise.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on Wednesday, 30 January 2008.

Refugee Family Support Category: no tier two ballot in 2008, and more information on tier one queue
Friday, 25 January 2008
Because we have received and provisionally entered enough registrations into the tier one queue to fill the number of places available under the Refugee Family Support Category for this financial year, there will not be a tier two ballot in 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Thursday, 17 January 2008
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category took place on Thursday, 17 January 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme — Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection delayed
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Today’s selection has been delayed due to technical difficulties.

Addition to list of regions with a seasonal labour shortage
Thursday, 20 December 2007
The Ministry of Social Development has declared the Central Hawkes Bay, Hastings and Napier as a region of seasonal labour shortage in the horticultural and viticulture industries. This is effective from 18 December 2007 to 30 June 2008.

New Zealand Residence Programme – Skilled Migrant Category fortnightly selection
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) took place on Wednesday, 19 December 2007.

New Funds Transfer Scheme helps Beijing students study in New Zealand
Monday, 3 December 2007
The new Funds Transfer Scheme aims to make it easier for Chinese students to come to New Zealand to study. Prospective students can deposit money into a remittance account in Beijing, and this deposit will be accepted by Immigration New Zealand as evidence of the applicant’s ability to support their intended study plan in New Zealand.