Changes to the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa Tuesday, 17 September 2019

From 7 October we are changing the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.

What we are changing

We are:

increasing the annual salary limit from NZD $55,000 to NZD $79,560

removing the option to get a Permanent Resident Visa if you apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa, and

limiting the amount of time employers can be accredited to 24 months.

Increasing the minimum salary

As a migrant, the minimum salary you need to apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa will increase from NZD $55,000 to $79,560 a year.

The new salary applies to all Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa applications we receive from 7 October, regardless of when the employer became accredited.

The salary threshold was last updated in 2008. The new threshold is 150% of the current New Zealand median salary and will be updated each year in line with the median income.

The new salary is based on a 40 hour week, or NZD $38.25 per hour. If your job is for more than 40 hours a week, you must be paid at least NZD $38.25 an hour.

If your salary will be under NZD $79,560 from the 7 October, you can apply for an Essential Skills Work Visa instead.

Essential Skills Work Visa

Removing the option to get a Permanent Resident Visa

From 7 October, if you do not have a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa or a current application for one, you will no longer be able to get a Permanent Resident Visa if you apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa.

Currently if you have a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and you earn NZD $90,000 or more a year, you can apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa and get a Permanent Resident Visa.

If you get a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa you can still apply for a Permanent Resident Visa later.

Limiting employer accreditation to 24 months

From 7 October employers who apply for accreditation can only be accredited for 24 months before they have to reapply.

This limit is to allow for some changes we are making to the way employers recruit migrant workers.

Changes to temporary work visas

If you already have accreditation this limit will not affect you until you reapply for accreditation.

If you want to apply for accreditation now

Make sure you can pay migrant employees at least NZD $79,560. It currently takes us 3 months to process Accredited Employer applications so you will need to meet the new salary limit.

If you have a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa or you applied before 7 October

You are not affected by these changes and the conditions and length of your visa will not change.

If you later apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa you will only need a salary of NZD $55,000 or more.

If your salary is NZD $90,000 or more when you apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa, you may be eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa.

Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa

If your employer does not renew their accreditation

You can still keep working for them if you have a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.

If you no longer want to work for your employer you can apply to change your visa conditions so you can work for another employer.

Varying the conditions of a work visa