Great news for migrant families who have been separated due to the border closures! On 30 April 2021, the New Zealand Government is introducing a further exception to the border restrictions for the families of some temporary visa holders in New Zealand. This covers the following groups:
- Partners and dependent children who held (and continue to hold) a visa for New Zealand, but were unable to join their partner or parent in New Zealand before the border closed.
- Partners and dependent children of workers employed in critical health services.
- Partners and dependent children of highly-skilled workers.
Please note, to be eligible for the new border exception, the person currently in New Zealand must have 12 months or more remaining on their visa.
Partners and dependent children who held a visa before the border closure
To be eligible:
- Partners or dependent children outside of New Zealand must hold a current visa based on their relationship to the person in New Zealand
- The partner or parent must be currently in New Zealand and have 12 months or more remaining on their work or student visa when the request to travel is submitted
Partners and dependent children of workers employed in critical health services
To be eligible, you must:
- be the partner or dependent child of a person who is currently in New Zealand on a temporary visa.
The person in New Zealand must:
- be currently in New Zealand, and
- have a visa specifying they work in an occupation needed to deliver critical health services in New Zealand, and
- hold a visa that is valid for 12 months or more after the date the request to travel is submitted.
If your request is successful, you will be invited to apply for a visa and provide evidence of your relationship with the visa holder employed in a critical health service role.
Partners and dependent children of highly-skilled workers
To be eligible to enter New Zealand, you must:
- be the partner or dependent child of a person who is currently in New Zealand on a temporary visa.
The person in New Zealand must:
- be currently living and employed in New Zealand, and
- earn at least twice the median salary — currently NZD $106,080 per year
- hold a visa that is valid for 12 months or more after the date the request to travel is submitted.
- Meet one or more of the following criteria:
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- have unique experience and technical or specialist skills not readily obtainable in New Zealand
- have a role essential for the completion or continuation of a science programme under a government funded or partially government-funded contract, including research and development exchanges and partnerships, and have the support of the Science, Innovation and International Branch at MBIE to carry out this work
- have a role essential for the delivery or execution of; an approved major infrastructure project, or a government approved event or a major government approved programme; an approved government-to-government agreement; work with a significant wider benefit to the national or regional economy.
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If your request is successful, you will be invited to apply for a visa and provide evidence of your relationship with your partner or parent who is in New Zealand.
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for a border exception, get in touch with us.
