ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi has told the Indian Weekender that the overseas partners of temporary migrant workers will be allowed entry into the country in the fourth stage of border re-opening in July 2022.
The Minister was responding to the Indian Weekender’s query about the palpable frustration within hundreds of temporary migrant workers and Kiwis who were being denied the ability to bring their overseas partners, while the government continued to prioritize tourists and travelers from the visa-free country ahead of them.
“From Step 4 (in July), short-term visitors from visa waiver countries will be able to enter New Zealand – enabling more people to be reunited, including eligible visitors who wish to come to New Zealand to live with their partner, in order to satisfy partnership visa requirements. Partnership visa processing will also commence in Step 4, for partners of work visa holders,” Minister Faafoi said.
Faafoi also stressed that at all stages of the border re-opening plan, more families will be able to reunite.
Temporary migrants earning 1.5 times median wage first in the queue
Continuing the broad emphasis that this government has pursued since last four years of dividing the temporary migrant workers based on their wages and salaries, the Minister of Immigration told the Indian Weekender that those earning 1.5 times the median wages will be able to bring their overseas partners at stage 2 (March 13) – ahead of others.
“From Step 2 (13 March), temporary migrants who earn 1.5 times the median wage, under the expanded “Other Critical Worker” criteria, will be able to bring their partners and dependents to New Zealand. Also anyone with a border exception or able to get one can travel to New Zealand and self-isolate, including people eligible under current family reunification border exceptions,” Mr Faafoi said.
However, it is not clear yet, when can overseas partners of Kiwis (New Zealand citizens) will be able to enter NZ.
Notably, Immigration New Zealand is reported to have said that the manner they are prioritizing entry of foreigners into the country is based on requirements placed upon them for visa processing.
It is to say that since visa processing of partnership visas for people based in non-Visa waiver countries is “resource-intensive” as per Immigration New Zealand, they have chosen to prioritize partners from visa waiver countries ahead of partners from non-visa waiver countries such as India.
Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi has told the Indian Weekender that the overseas partners of temporary migrant workers will be allowed entry into the country in the fourth stage of border re-opening in July 2022.
The Minister was responding to the Indian Weekender’s query about the palpable...
Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi has told the Indian Weekender that the overseas partners of temporary migrant workers will be allowed entry into the country in the fourth stage of border re-opening in July 2022.
The Minister was responding to the Indian Weekender’s query about the palpable frustration within hundreds of temporary migrant workers and Kiwis who were being denied the ability to bring their overseas partners, while the government continued to prioritize tourists and travelers from the visa-free country ahead of them.
“From Step 4 (in July), short-term visitors from visa waiver countries will be able to enter New Zealand – enabling more people to be reunited, including eligible visitors who wish to come to New Zealand to live with their partner, in order to satisfy partnership visa requirements. Partnership visa processing will also commence in Step 4, for partners of work visa holders,” Minister Faafoi said.
Faafoi also stressed that at all stages of the border re-opening plan, more families will be able to reunite.
Temporary migrants earning 1.5 times median wage first in the queue
Continuing the broad emphasis that this government has pursued since last four years of dividing the temporary migrant workers based on their wages and salaries, the Minister of Immigration told the Indian Weekender that those earning 1.5 times the median wages will be able to bring their overseas partners at stage 2 (March 13) – ahead of others.
“From Step 2 (13 March), temporary migrants who earn 1.5 times the median wage, under the expanded “Other Critical Worker” criteria, will be able to bring their partners and dependents to New Zealand. Also anyone with a border exception or able to get one can travel to New Zealand and self-isolate, including people eligible under current family reunification border exceptions,” Mr Faafoi said.
However, it is not clear yet, when can overseas partners of Kiwis (New Zealand citizens) will be able to enter NZ.
Notably, Immigration New Zealand is reported to have said that the manner they are prioritizing entry of foreigners into the country is based on requirements placed upon them for visa processing.
It is to say that since visa processing of partnership visas for people based in non-Visa waiver countries is “resource-intensive” as per Immigration New Zealand, they have chosen to prioritize partners from visa waiver countries ahead of partners from non-visa waiver countries such as India.
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