New Zealand has introduced a major change to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process, replacing the previous fully random selection model with a hybrid system from 5 October 2026. Under the new system, approximately 90% of eligible Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be selected according to the date they were submitted, while the remaining…
Four families paid tens of thousands of dollars for study and immigration packages in New Zealand, only to discover that many of their student visa applications had never been submitted. The case has resulted in convictions for two individuals accused of providing immigration advice without the required licence. On September 15, 2026, Paola Walker-Rodriguez was…
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is making a major change to the way most visitor visa applications are submitted. From 24 September 2026, new applications for most visitor visas will have to be submitted through INZ’s enhanced Immigration Online system rather than the older online application system. The change is part of INZ’s longer-term transition toward…
New Zealand has released the New Zealand Trafficking in Persons National Action Plan 2027-2031, setting out a five-year framework to strengthen prevention, victim identification, protection, enforcement and coordination against trafficking. The plan forms part of New Zealand’s Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Strategy 2026-2030 and is designed to strengthen the existing system rather than…
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has released its latest estimate of people currently in the country who have overstayed their visas, showing that approximately 19,153 people were unlawfully present in New Zealand as of 1 July 2026. The New Zealand visa overstayer estimate 2026 represents an 8.7% decrease compared with the previous estimate of 20,979 people…
New Zealand will launch the Short-Term Graduate Work Visa on November 16, 2026, giving eligible international graduates up to six months of open work rights. The new pathway is designed for graduates whose qualifications do not make them eligible for the country’s Post-Study Work Visa. The New Zealand Short-Term Graduate Work Visa will provide a…
2025 marked a landmark year for Immigration New Zealand (INZ), with record-breaking visa decisions, faster processing times, new immigration pathways, and strengthened border controls. According to official figures, INZ made over 1 million visa decisions in 2025, covering people seeking to visit, study, work, invest, or settle in New Zealand, reinforcing the country’s position as…
