Canada Govt. Announced a New One-Off Residence Visa Pathway for some temporary work visa holders currently in New Zealand

30 September 2021

The Government announced a new one-off residence visa pathway for some temporary work visa holders currently in New Zealand. Some critical purpose visa holders arriving in New Zealand between 30 September 2021 and 31 July 2022 on long-term visas may also be eligible for this new visa. Partners and dependents can be included as part of these residence applications.

Applications will be open in two phases from 1 December 2021 for some eligible applicants and from 1 March 2022 for remaining eligible applicants.

All applications must be submitted by 31 July 2022.

Eligibility
Applicants must have met the criteria on 29 September 2021.

To be eligible you must:
have been in New Zealand on 29 September 2021, and be on an eligible visa or have applied for an eligible visa on or before 29 September 2021 that is later granted.

You must also meet one of the three criteria:
have lived in New Zealand for three or more years, or earn at or above the median wage ($27 per hour), or work in a role on a scarce list.

If you meet the criteria for eligibility but are in Australia and have been unable to return to New Zealand by 29 September 2021, you may be considered eligible.

Eligible visas
On 29 September all applicants must have been on (or have applied for and later granted) one of the following visas:

Post Study Work Visa
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
Essential Skills Work Visa
Religious Worker Work Visa
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
Silver Fern Practical Experience Work Visa
Trafficking Victim Work Visa
Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa
Victims of Family Violence Work Visa
South Island Contribution Work Visa
Work Visa granted under Section 61 (provided the applicant held another eligible visa type within 6 months before being granted a Section 61 visa)

Some Critical Purpose Visitor Visas (CPVV):
Critical health workers for longer-term roles (6 months or longer), and
Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months).

Short-term visa holders are not eligible, such as visitors, students, working holidaymakers, and seasonal workers like those on the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme or those who enter as short-term critical workers.

Partners and dependent children, including those currently outside New Zealand, can be included in residential applications.

Critical Purpose visitor holders
Two groups of Critical Purpose visitor visa holders will be eligible, as long as you arrive in New Zealand and apply before 31 July 2022.

Critical health workers for longer-term roles (6 months or longer), and
Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months).

If you are in a short term or seasonal role on a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, including fishing crew, agricultural and horticulture mobile plant operators and shearers, you will not be eligible.