June Month Newsletter 2025

Highlights of this month...

🆕 New ‘Parent Boost’ Visitor Visa Announced

📈 Skilled Residence Visa Wage Thresholds Changing from August 2025

🛠️ 10 New Trades Added to Work to Residence Pathway

🎓 More Overseas Qualifications Now Exempt from Assessment

🇳🇿 Student Success Stories with Kiwiana Immigration

💙 Hope Beyond Policy: A Heartfelt Win Through Ministerial Intervention

🆕 New ‘Parent Boost’ Visitor Visa Announced

Bringing Families Closer, Long-Term

The New Zealand Government has introduced the Parent Boost Visitor Visa, a new long-term visa option allowing parents of NZ citizens and residents to stay in the country for up to 5 years, with a possibility to extend for another 5 years—offering up to 10 years of stay in total.

This multiple-entry visitor visa supports stronger family connections without creating additional pressure on public services. 

Note: This visa does not lead to residency.

🔍 Key Highlights:

• Sponsor must be a NZ citizen or resident (biological/adoptive child).

• Financial requirements apply for either sponsor or parents.

• Private health insurance is mandatory and must be maintained for the entire stay.

• Health checks are required initially and again in year 3.

• Visa fees: NZD $3,000 + NZD $100 conservation levy.

• Application opens: 29 September 2025.

For those aiming for permanent residency, the Parent Resident Visa remains available.

👉 Learn more about the Parent Boost Visa

Source: INZ

📈 Skilled Residence Visa Wage Thresholds Changing from August 2025

Immigration New Zealand will update the median wage thresholds for skilled residence visa categories on 18 August 2025. This change affects applicants under the following pathways:

• ✅ Skilled Migrant Category

• ✅ Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1)

• ✅ Work to Residence (Green List Tier 2)

These thresholds are being revised in line with the new median wage of $33.56/hour, based on June 2024 data from Statistics New Zealand. These regular adjustments ensure that immigration settings remain aligned with New Zealand’s labour market needs and skill demands.

Source: INZ

🛠️ 10 New Trades Added to Work to Residence Pathway

More Skilled Workers Fast-Tracked to NZ Residence

From 18 August 2025, ten trades occupations will be added to New Zealand’s Green List – Work to Residence pathway, opening a new door to residency for skilled tradespeople. This is part of the Government’s effort to address labour shortages and attract top talent in high-demand sectors.

🟢 New Green List Trades:

• Metal Fabricator

• Metal Machinist (First Class)

• Fitter (General)

• Fitter and Turner

• Fitter Welder

• Pressure Welder

• Welder

• Panel Beater

• Vehicle Painter

• Paving Plant Operator

✅ Who Can Apply:

• Must have current employment or a valid job offer in one of the listed roles

• Must have 24 months of full-time, paid work experience in New Zealand in that trade

• Must meet wage, health, character, and English language requirements

• Must be aged 55 or under

💰 Wage Requirements:

• $43.63/hour (or $90,750/year) for fabricator, fitter, machinist, and welder roles

• $38.59/hour (or $80,267/year) for panel beaters, vehicle painters, and paving plant operators

These changes reflect the Government’s continued efforts to align immigration with industry needs, targeting the most skilled and experienced workers in these trades.

Source: INZ

🎓 More Overseas Qualifications Now Exempt from Assessment

Streamlined Pathway for International Applicants

As part of ongoing efforts to simplify visa application processes, Immigration New Zealand has updated the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA). These changes will take effect from 23 June 2025.

This update allows more applicants with overseas qualifications to bypass the qualification assessment process—saving time and reducing complexity.

🌍 Newly Added Countries:

• France

• Germany

• India

• Italy

• Singapore

• South Korea

• Sri Lanka

• Sweden

• Switzerland

Additionally, updates for Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, the UK, and the USA have been made for better clarity and consistency.

If your qualification is listed under the LQEA, you may not need to submit your qualification for a formal NZQA assessment as part of your visa application.

Source: INZ

🇳🇿 Student Success Stories with Kiwiana Immigration

💙 Hope Beyond Policy: A Heartfelt Win Through Ministerial Intervention

At Kiwiana Immigration, we believe immigration is not just about rules—it's about people, resilience, and human stories that deserve to be heard.

In one such exceptional case, our team supported a woman who lost her eligibility for a partnership-based visa after the tragic loss of her New Zealand resident partner. With no standard visa pathways available, we sought a rare remedy: Ministerial Intervention—a discretionary and seldom-approved power under the Immigration Act 2009.

We shared her story with the Minister—her connection to Aotearoa, her strength in adversity, and her unwavering desire to stay in the country she now calls home.

📬 On 6 May 2025, the Minister made a decision:

“I have carefully considered your representations. I have decided to grant a resident visa [...] as an exception to instructions.”

This wasn’t just a visa approval—It is a reflection of the fact that immigration is about people—real people, with real stories, who sometimes need the system to pause and listen.

We share this story to remind our community that hope exists, even in the toughest situations. If you or someone you know is facing a complex immigration challenge, we’re here to help.

Read the full story

📞 Reach out to Kiwiana Immigration – because every story matters.