Essential Skills Work Visa Remuneration Thresholds and Duration Adjustments

Policy effect

Introduced a maximum cumulative stay of three years for lower-skilled or below-median-wage workers on Essential Skills Work Visas, requiring a 12-month stand-down period outside of New Zealand thereafter.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Introduced a maximum cumulative stay of three years for lower-skilled or below-median-wage workers on Essential Skills Work Visas, requiring a 12-month stand-down period outside of New Zealand thereafter.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… appropriate registration body that you are eligible for New Zealand registration. Check if you need occupational registration for your job Note You do not have to provide these if you are applying for an Essential Skills visa to work in the same full-time role you currently hold, with the same employer and in the same region, and you make a declaration in your visa application form (INZ 1266) that you hold the required registration. Stand-down period You must not currently need to spend time outside of New Zealand as part of a stand-down period. You cannot be granted a visa to do work paid below the … median wage if you are subject to a stand-down period. Note The stand-down period policy has been deferred until mid 2022. You may be subject to a stand-down period if you have spent 3 years working in lower-skilled or below median wage employment in New Zealand on an Essential Skills Work Visa. The only way to satisfy the stand-down requirement is to spend 12 consecutive months outside of New Zealand. Being subject to a stand-down period does not prevent you from being granted an Essential Skills Work Visa for work paid at or above the median wage, or any other kind of visa that you qualify for. Visas applied for before 28 August 2017 are not considered when calculating the time spent working in lower-skilled employment. How to pay and submit We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your details so we can show information that is relevant to you. When you arrive Entry requirements As part of New Zealand’s entry requirements, everyone must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). This form collects information about your travel, including customs, immigration, and biosecurity details. When you can submit your …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2017

• 2017-05-08Application of Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Scheme to Character Checks for Supporting Partners in Partnership Category Applications
• 2017-05-22Introduction of the South Island Contribution Work Visa (WR7)
• 2017-05-22RW8 Residence instructions for holders of work visas granted under South Island Contribution work instructions
• 2017-08-28SM3.5 Skilled Migrant Category requirements
• 2017-12-20Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme Cap Increase (December 2017)