Background
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced
three major changes to New Zealand (NZ) temporary
work visas, to respond to the impact that COVID-19 is having on
migrant workers.
Extensions to existing employer-assisted work visas
Temporary workers in NZ whose visas were due to expire between
10 July 2020 and 31 December 2020 will have had their visas
automatically extended by six months. This includes those visas
previously extended to 25 September 2020 under the epidemic
management notice.
Importantly, this automatic extension does not apply to partners
or dependent children who hold visas based on their relationship
with a worker. Instead, partners and dependent children will need
to make a further application to INZ to extend their status in line
with the principal applicant worker visa holder.
