New Zealand Relaxes Rules for Young Migrants

In a significant step to support young migrants, the New Zealand government has announced a new policy allowing those awaiting family residence approval to work part-time. Set to begin in October, this initiative will enable migrant school leavers to actively contribute to the country’s economy.

Part-Time Work Rights for Migrant Youths

Starting in October, young migrants aged 17 to 24 who are waiting for their family residence applications to be processed will be eligible for part-time work, according to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford. This policy aims to help these individuals support themselves and gain valuable work experience during this critical period.

“Many young migrants find themselves in limbo, unable to work while they wait for their family residence applications to be processed,” Stanford noted. “We want to ensure they can live meaningful lives in New Zealand while contributing to the community.”

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, young migrants must meet specific criteria:

• They must be applicants on an already-lodged skilled residence visa or Dependent Child Residence Visa application.
• Holders of an eligible visitor visa as a dependent child of a Work Visa holder or a New Zealand citizen/resident.
• Aged 17 and have completed high school, or aged 18 to 24.

Once eligible, these migrants can work up to 20 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during the summer holiday period, similar to the work rights of Year 12 and 13 students with a Dependent Child Student Visa.

Implementation

Immigration New Zealand will release detailed application guidelines by August 30, with the policy taking effect by the end of October.

Immigration Reform

This change is part of a broader effort to create a smarter immigration system. “Getting our immigration settings right is critical to this Government’s plan to rebuild the economy,” said Minister Stanford.

Eligible Residence Visas

To apply for these work rights, migrants must have already applied for one of the following residence visas:

• Dependent Child Resident Visa
• Skilled Migrant Category Visa
• Any Skilled Migrant Category sub-categories (Green List Straight to Residence Visa, Green List Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa).

This measure will provide young migrants and their families with greater financial security and opportunities to contribute to New Zealand society.

As New Zealand continues to refine its immigration policies, these new measures underscore the country’s commitment to supporting young migrants and ensuring they can thrive while awaiting permanent residency.