Skilled Migrant Category expression-of-interest fees removed

Policy effect

From September 7, 2023, New Zealand removed prescribed fees for Skilled Migrant Category expressions of interest, whether submitted online or in hard copy. The same amendment prescribed equal residence-application fees for online and hard-copy Skilled Migrant Category applications. It also clarified that an expression-of-interest fee need not always be prescribed.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: It also clarified that an expression-of-interest fee need not always be prescribed.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… a) In regulation 9(b), after “fee”, insert “(if any)”. 5 Schedule 4 amended In Schedule 4, under the heading— (a) Residence class visa, replace the item relating to residence class visa application—Skilled Migrant Category with: 5(1) and (2) (e) (i) Residence class visa application—Skilled Migrant Category (hard copy) 1,880 1,610 2,480 23AA(1) and (5) (i) or 23A(1) (a) and (4) (i), as applicable Residence class visa application—Skilled Migrant Category (online) 1,880 1,610 2,480 (b) Residence class visa—related matters, revoke the items relating to regulation 9(b) Skilled Migrant Category (har … d copy) and regulation 9(b) Skilled Migrant Category (online). Rachel Hayward,Clerk of the Executive Council. Explanatory note This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect. These regulations, which come into force on 7 September 2023, amend the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 (the principal regulations). Regulation 9(b) of the principal regulations is amended to provide that a fee may not necessarily be prescribed in relation to a notification of expression of interest in applying for a residence class vis … a. Schedule 4 of the principal regulations is amended to provide that— the fees for a residence class visa application—Skilled Migrant Category are the same, whether the application is made in hard copy or online; and there are no prescribed fees for a notification of expression of interest in applying for a residence class visa—Skilled Migrant Category. Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2019. Date of notification in Gazette: 10 August 2023. These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment. "Related Legislation "Related Legislation "Rel … Regulation 9 amended (Notification of expression of interest in applying for residence class visa) 5 Schedule 4 amended Explanatory note Administrative Information Regulations 1 Title These regulations are the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2023. 2 Commencement These regulations come into force on 7 September 2023. 3 Principal regulations These regulations amend the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010. 4 Regulation 9 amended (Notification of expression of interest in applying for residence class vis …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2023

• 2023-02-27Adoption of Updated Annual Median Wage Threshold ($29.66/hour)
• 2023-02-28Expansion of the Victims of Family Violence Work Visa Access
• 2023-04-26Implementation of Transport Sector Agreement Median Wage Exemption for Bus Drivers
• 2023-05-01Update to Parent Category Sponsor Minimum Income Thresholds
• 2023-05-31Implementation of Conditioned Partner Work Rights
• 2023-06-21Official mobile-app channel enabled for online immigration applications
• 2023-06-21Online applications for entry permission legally enabled
• 2023-06-21Online visa applications expanded at immigration control areas