Immigration Update - January 2026
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and the government continue to make changes in the New Zealand visa, employer compliance, and investment visa spaces, we don’t anticipate a slowdown in changes.
We have set out below a summary of changes that have already been implemented and what we anticipate seeing in 2026:
Deportation Liability
INZ will likely introduce policy or law that expands deportation liability of resident visa holders who commit serious offences, potentially allowing historic crimes committed before arriving in New Zealand to trigger deportation liability and make other deportation liability related changes. These changes will likely impact temporary and residence visa holders in New Zealand.
AEWV changes
INZ will likely provide more information in 2026 on the shift from using ANZSCO to the National Occupation List (NOL) this year. Currently only 87 or so new occupations from the NOL have been incorporated into the AEWV scheme which still predominantly uses ANZSCO.
Skilled Residence Median Wage
The current Skilled Residence Median Wage rate of $33.56 for the Skilled Migrant Category reflects the June 2024 publication of median wage data by Statistics New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand published a new a Median hourly earnings from wages and salaries of $35.00 for the June 2025 quarter. It is likely that INZ will provide clarification later this year on whether the new June 2025 median wage will be adopted as the new Skilled Residence Median Wage rate or not.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
The Skilled Migrant Category will be expanded to allow more skilled migrant workers to apply for residence earlier and after August 2026, through changes that expand eligibility through the skilled work experience pathway and trades and technician pathway. We anticipate that the full policy with changes will be released before August 2026.
RSE changes
INZ have announced a new approach to accommodation costs for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers that will take effect from April 2026. Under the new system, weekly rent caps will range from NZD $150 to NZD $211, depending on the quality and features of the accommodation. Characteristics such as the number of people sharing a bedroom, the age of the building, and bathroom proximity and type of access from bedrooms will determine the allowable rent.
Employers will also need to table care around recovering the actual cost of providing accommodation and make sure that recovery is compliant with New Zealand’s employment laws, including the Minimum Wage Act and the Wages Protection Act.
Moving Forward
The New Zealand immigration space continues to change, and we expect changes across 2026. Our team of specialists are ready to help with bespoke and practical advice and solutions on navigating the tricky and constantly changing immigration landscape. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need help.
Disclaimer: We remind you that while this article provides commentary on employment law, health and safety and immigration topics, it should not be used as a substitute for legal or professional advice for specific situations. Please seek legal advice from your lawyer for any questions specific to your workplace.
