2025: New Year and New Policy

📢 Big Immigration Updates Announced for 2025!

Here are the key changes you need to know:

✅ No more median wage requirement Wage thresholds for AEWV roles will be removed, but employers must still offer market rates for the job and location. No changes to residence wage requirements.

✅ New earning threshold to bring children AEWV migrants must earn at least $55,844/year to bring children. This threshold hasn’t changed since 2019.

✅ Reduced experience requirements Migrants now need 2 years of experience instead of 3, helping to address skill shortages.

✅ New seasonal worker pathways (from Nov 2025)

3-year multi-entry visa for experienced workers. 7-month single-entry visa for lesser-skilled workers. ✅ Longer visas for Level 4 & 5 roles ANZSCO Level 4/5 AEWVs will now last 3 years, aligning with maximum stay limits.

✅ Simpler Work and Income process Employers will only need to declare good-faith efforts to recruit locally, with no fixed 21-day timeframe.

✅ Better work rights on interim visas (from April 2025) AEWV applicants can keep working while awaiting visa decisions.

✅ Employment NZ online modules no longer required As of Jan 2025, online modules will be replaced with helpful resources provided at key immigration stages.

✅ Lower domestic workforce threshold for construction Threshold drops from 35% to 15% for specific construction roles.

📅 More details coming in 2025!

Our Licensed Immigration Advisers are here to guide you through these updates. Reach out to us for tailored advice!