New Zealand has improved its policies towards incoming immigrants who are coming to the country via scholarship. The European country has now implemented a bill into law, which would enable spouses of students on scholarships to work.
The policy goes across every pedigree in the university certifications. In other words, whatever level of degree an international student is vying for in New Zealand, his/her spouse can use the visa to apply for work permit.
Partners of students enrolled in these listed qualifications may now have an expedited route to residency, potentially securing immediate residence or after two years of working in their qualified roles. This update reflects New Zealand’s commitment to attracting skilled talent and supporting the families of international students.
According to an announcement on the Immigration New Zealand website, the new regulations stated that individuals holding AEWVs in jobs classified at levels 4 and 5 by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), and without a pathway to residency, can no longer sponsor work, visitor, or student visa applications for their partners and dependent children.
It also recently included a major policy change which allows Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) school teachers to qualify for the Straight to Residence pathway under the Green List of in-demand occupations.
Partners holding the newly accessible work visas can also support their dependent school-aged children, allowing them to apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa. This provision treats these children as domestic students, thereby exempting them from international tuition fees for attending school in New Zealand.