Wrapping Up 2023 (Immigration)
I think I say this every year, but I cannot believe how quickly the end of this year has arrived - and what a year it has been. There has been plenty going on in New Zealand over the last 12 months and there is potentially a lot more to come on the Visa front in 2024. With a new coalition Government in place, who have a vastly different view of the world, we are all shuffling towards the edge of our seats to see what might be announced (I dont expect it to be soon however).
We wind up the year with a bit of a recap and a look to the future. We also line up for more of our free immigration seminars in 2024 (the first one takes place in January) and we have a small (and very useful) gift available for our regular readers (more below or in the original email).
2023 - A Year of Change
2023 saw a number of changes occur with the Visa system, the more notable ones including a change to work rights for partners of Work Visa holders, removal of 90-day trial periods for AEWV applicants and INZ changing gear on processing - going from “light-touch” to heavy handed. We saw the previous Skilled Migrant Category being ushered out the door, with the last draw in August and then the new six-point system being introduced in October. We also had a last-minute change in Minister, and then again when the Government swapped sides in our national elections.
It has been a pretty interesting year for advisers, once again trying to stay ahead of the myriad of often small, but usually very important tweaks and adjustments being made to how our Visa system is delivered. For the most part however this year, whilst full of change, felt a little more settled than our post-covid, border reopening, big-bang. Having spoken to a lot of potential migrants throughout 2023, I think the most commonly requested item on their Christmas list is “stability”, knowing that when they start this process, they can finish it, under the same rules, with the same requirements.
I believe we are now in that space and whilst there will be more changes in 2024, I suspect they will be less “big-bang” and more “steady as she goes”. The new Government and its various players have suggested some new Visa pathways for parents, options for the tech-sector and pulling apart some previous changes to loosen things up a bit. This may not mean we invite a flood of people, but I think it will strip away some of the relatively silly rule changes that we have had rolled out over the last few years.
Read the full blog on our Immigration Site >>
