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NEW ZEALAND – Updates to Permanent Resident Visa and Working Holiday Visa Schemes
February 6, 2024
By: Soo Gurtcheff-Smit
The government of New Zealand has introduced updates to its Permanent Resident Visa and Working Holiday Visa schemes, with moves towards more streamlined and user-friendly processes.
Online Submissions for Permanent Resident Visas
Immigration New Zealand has transitioned permanent resident visa filings to an online platform. The new filing route will streamline the processing of applications as it will eliminate the requirement to submit physical documents and the application’s status can be tracked online.
Paper-based permanent resident visa applications may still be accepted in exceptional circumstances and for certain visa types such as the Global Impact Permanent Resident Visa and the Afghan Emergency Resettlement Permanent Resident Visa.
Working Holiday Visa Caps and Opening Dates
Opening dates for 2024 Working Holiday Schemes (WHS) have been released by Immigration New Zealand and are outlined here together with this year’s cap for each country.
From the scheduled opening date, authorities will start accepting applications until the quota is reached, leading to the temporary closure of the scheme until the subsequent year. It is worth noting that working holiday schemes with remaining slots from the previous year will continue to be open until the allocation is exhausted and will reset on the 2024 opening date.
The opening date for applicants from Vietnam for the 2024 scheme is pending confirmation as ongoing discussions are being made to finalize an agreement to increase Vietnam’s WHS cap from 100 to 200.
Newland Chase Insights
The shifting of permanent resident visa filings to an online platform is a notable update as the change facilitates application tracking and removes the need to file for physical document submissions. This offers convenience for both clients and immigration authorities.
Information on the working holiday schemes for 2024 is crucial and places emphasis on the importance of filing the applications promptly, given the quota limitations. Newland Chase will continue to monitor the pending information on this year’s quota and opening date for applicants from Vietnam.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Newland Chase dedicated contact or submit an inquiry here should you have any specific questions regarding this announcement.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
