Introduction of the South Island Contribution Work Visa (WR7)

Policy effect

Introduced the temporary work visa stage of the South Island Contribution pathway (WR7). Essential Skills work visa holders who had completed at least 5 years of full-time, lawful employment in the South Island between 22 May 2012 and 22 May 2017, were 55 years of age or younger, and met character and health requirements became eligible for a work-to-residence visa tied to employment in a specific South Island region and industry.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Essential Skills work visa holders who had completed at least 5 years of full-time, lawful employment in the South Island between 22 May 2012 and 22 May 2017, were 55 years of age or younger, and met character and health requirements became eligible for a work-to-residence visa tied to employment in a specific South Island region and industry.

Official source excerpt

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

WR7.10 Requirements to be granted a South Island Contribution work visa (22/05/2017) WR7.10 Requirements to be granted a South Island Contribution work visa (22/05/2017) To be granted a visa under the South Island Contribution work instructions, an applicant must: hold an Essential Skills work visa at the time their application is made, which specifies as a condition employment to be undertaken at a location within the South Island; and be in full-time (see W2.2.10), lawful employment in the South Island; and have undertaken full-time, lawful employment in the South Island as the holder of an … Essential Skills work visa, or an interim visa, for five years between 22 May 2012 and 22 May 2017 (see WR7.10.1); and have acceptable ongoing employment, or an offer of acceptable employment, in the South Island (see WR7.10.5); and meet the health and character requirements for residence set out at A4 and A5; and meet the requirements for bona fide applicants set out at E5; and be 55 years of age or younger on the date their application is accepted for processing; and apply before 23 May 2018 (except where WR7.25 applies). WR7.10.1 Time working outside the South Island Time spent working in New … Appendix 10). WR7.10.10 Applicants who do not meet the requirements for the grant of a visa An immigration officer must consider granting a visa as an exception to instructions if an application does not meet the requirements for the grant of a South Island Contribution visa (see E7.10). In particular, an immigration officer should consider the objective of this visa category and the applicant’s circumstances if they fall marginally short of the five year requirement set out at WR7.10(c). Effective 22/05/2017 …

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
• 2017-05-22RW8 Residence instructions for holders of work visas granted under South Island Contribution work instructions
• 2017-08-28Essential Skills Work Visa Remuneration Thresholds and Duration Adjustments
• 2017-08-28SM3.5 Skilled Migrant Category requirements
• 2017-12-20Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme Cap Increase (December 2017)