Visas for hospitality workers
Visas for hospitality workers in NZ
Migrant workers play an important role in the hospitality industry in New Zealand. They make a valuable contribution by bringing their skills to us in
- cafes, restaurants, takeaway outlets
- catering businesses
- pubs, taverns and bars
- adventure activities and tours
- hotels, motels and backpackers.
Migrants can either work in hospitality in New Zealand on a residence visa or a temporary work visa.
- Holders of residence class visas can work and live in New Zealand indefinitely.
- Working holidaymakers can work in NZ for up to six months.
- Holders of temporary work visas can work and live in New Zealand for a set period of time.
IDESI LEGAL can assist you. The team of immigration lawyers at IDESI LEGAL has the training and experience to help with all types of New Zealand residency visa applications. Call us on 09 283 0157.
Hospitality in NZ relies on our overseas helpers
The hospitality sector has traditionally been one of the biggest employers of migrant labour. Before the pandemic New Zealand welcomed 50,000 working holidaymakers, usually aged 18 to 30, to work in the country for up to 12 months (or 23 months from the UK or Canada).
Getting more working holidaymakers and skilled migrants into the country in the coming weeks and months is a priority.
Hospitality businesses everywhere, and particularly those in Rotorua, had downsized staffing levels since the Covid-19 lockdowns began in 2020. At present there are probably no employers in the tourist trade in Rotorua who have got enough staff, and nobody in the tourist trade wants to put on poor service.
Working holidaymakers returning to New Zealand will be welcome news for many Rotorua employers, especially those in hospitality sectors facing worker shortages.
Call us on 09 283 0157. IDESI LEGAL specialise in New Zealand immigration law. We have the staff, experience and expertise to help you apply for New Zealand residency.
Lifting visa restrictions to meet demands
To meet the growing demand now the border restrictions are lifting is going to be a challenge. Rotorua accommodation providers may need to limit the number of rooms they make available, and bar and restaurant owners could limit the hours and number of establishments they open, depending on the number of staff available.
Welcoming back the working holiday visa holders
New Zealand has recently granted a new 12-month visa to about 19,500 people overseas who were unable to use their Working Holiday Visa because of border restrictions.
Those 19,500 people whose working holiday visas had expired will automatically be granted new 12-month visas by INZ so they will be able to travel to New Zealand.
New Zealand’s uncapped Working Holiday Scheme has reopened for Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. More countries are expected to join them as part of the government’s staged reopening plan for working holidaymakers.
At this stage the visas are just for three to six months, and the workers are limited to work in one place.
Nicola Hogg, general manager border and visa operations at INZ, said INZ would aim to process new working holiday visa applications within 20 working days – though this might depend on how much information as provided and the number of applications received. The processing timeframe would be regularly reviewed.
Skilled visa holders also needed
Hospitality NZ Chief executive Julie White welcomed the reopening of New Zealand’s borders to working holidaymakers, but says the sector is suffering from a shortage of labour and that government needs to be offering more skilled visas so hospitality businesses can get the staff they desperately need.
Labour difficulties have impacted hospitality and many businesses have reported finding front of house staff in particular a struggle, as the many European travellers who had professional careers in hospitality were no longer coming here. Talk to us about visas for hospitality workers.
One-off Resident Visa
Thanks to new residency rules announced by the government in 2001, migrant hospitality workers in Rotorua on Essential Skills Visas can now also put down roots. It is hoped the one-off Resident Visa will encourage many of our highly valued hospitality workers in Rotorua to settle permanently here in New Zealand.
Migrant hospitality workers are vital for Rotorua
The one-off Resident Visa is a simplified pathway to residency in NZ for as many as 165,000 migrants to New Zealand. The new rules provide a pathway for hospitality workers on different working visas, who were in New Zealand on September 29, to gain residency. The visas include the Essential Skills Visa, which many Rotorua based hospitality workers hold, as well as the Skills Shortage Visa, Post Study Work Visa and Accredited Employer Work Visa.
Working in a ‘specified role in primary industries’ listed on a government ‘scare list’ is one of the criteria for being eligible for the new Resident Visa announced in 2021.
Hospitality workers are on this list.
As a hospitality worker, you fulfil a specified primary sector job. If you have been in New Zealand for 821 days or more between September 29, 2018, and September 29, 2021, you are eligible to apply for a one-off 2021 Resident Visa.
Residence Visa 2021 – 2nd Wave of Applications
On 01 March 2022, the second wave of Residence Visas under the 2021 special category opened and the processing of applications will start on 31 March 2022. Instead of being processed in the order NZI received them, applications will be prioritised by date of visa expiry (e.g., someone whose work visa expires on 31 October 2022 will be processed before someone who has a work visa expiring 31 December 2022).
The last day to submit an application for Residence under 2021 Category is 31 July 2022. If you haven’t got around to doing your application, contact IDESI LEGAL for assistance. We’ll make sure you don’t miss out on New Zealand residency because you’ve left it until the last minute.
Applying for a one off 2021 resident visa
Getting a one off 2021 resident visa for NZ is not straightforward. Even though it has been presented as guaranteeing residency to virtually all applicants, not everyone will qualify. Getting a one off 2021 Residence Visa is not automatic.
Qualifications and restrictions will need to be met and it is vital that your application is prepared correctly. A badly completed application could mean a ‘decline’.
Asking your boss for help
Many employers like to help with visas for hospitality workers. However, In New Zealand, employers cannot provide immigration advice. The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 protects the interests of people receiving immigration advice, so anyone giving immigration advice must be licensed, which of course our Auckland immigration lawyers are.
We recommend that all migrants who are serious about working in New Zealand or applying for residency have qualified legal representation throughout the visa application process. Our immigration lawyers can manage all details through the entire process.
If you’re working in Rotorua, or would like to be, call us on 09 283 0157. IDESI LEGAL specialises in New Zealand immigration law. We have the staff, experience and expertise to help you successfully apply for New Zealand residency.
We can connect right across the world
Even if we can’t meet face to face, we can still connect and help. Our team of Auckland immigration lawyers can connect with you online and work with you using video calls. IDESI LEGAL uses Microsoft Teams, so we can help you with your visa application wherever you are in New Zealand or the globe. We’ll send you a link, you click on it, and we’ll do the rest.
Call us on 09 283 0157 to set up a meeting.
What if I don’t qualify for the 2021 NZ residence visa?
People holding, partnership work visas, and specific purpose work visas (SPV) are among those who are not eligible to apply. Also, if your visa expires at any time between now and when you can lodge your application, and you haven’t had a new eligible visa approved, you no longer qualify for a 2021 Resident Visa.
But don’t panic. Talk to one of our experienced immigration lawyers about exploring alternative pathways. IDESI LEGAL has successfully represented people who have had these visa application issues in the past. The Auckland IDESI LEGAL team may still be able to help.