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Changes to Interim Visas

On 8 April 2025, changes come into effect to grant work rights for people on interim visas while they await the outcome of an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) application.

31 March 2025

1 minute read

From 8 April 2025, applicants will be granted interim work rights if they apply for an AEWV while holding any type of work visa or from a student visa that permits work during term time.

This includes:

allowing the applicant to take up the job specified in their new AEWV application (connected to their Accredited Employer’s Job Check), enabling them to move into the job more quickly
the time spent on an interim visa with work rights counting towards work experience needed for work to residence pathways; and
for a person applying for a second or subsequent AEWV, including time spent on an interim visa with work rights towards the maximum period they can stay in New Zealand on their AEWV. The maximum continuous stay period excludes any time spent on an interim visa granted before the applicant’s first AEWV.

Immigration rules and processes

New requirement for cargo ship crew and passengers is now in effect

From today, all crew members and passengers on foreign cargo ships must have an NZeTA (New Zealand electronic Travel Authority) before they can travel to New Zealand.

1 April 2025

2 minute read

Changes to online applications lodged by unlicensed or non-exempt people

If an application has, or is believed to have been submitted or prepared by an an unlicensed or non-exempt person (either online or a paper form), Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will decline the application.