Immigration NZ aims to respond to Expressions of Interests within two working days
Immigration New Zealand has told the Indian Weekender that it will endeavour to respond to Expressions of Interests for exception to the border closure within two working days, depending on complexity demand.
Responding to an enquiry sent earlier today, a spokesperson of the Immigration NZ said, “The New Zealand Government acknowledges that there may be extremely limited circumstances where it is appropriate for a person who is not a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or person returning to New Zealand as a resident, to travel to New Zealand.”
“If an individual’s circumstances are considered exceptional and justify travel to New Zealand for a critical purpose, or because they are the family of and travelling with a New Zealander, they will be invited to apply for a visitor visa or to vary their existing visa to allow them to travel.
“INZ will endeavour to respond to Expressions of Interests within two working days, depending on complexity demand.
“Visa applications from individuals who have been invited to apply for an exception will be prioritised,” the spokesperson said.
Eligibility for getting an exception to enter NZ
A process has now been put in place by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for requests to be made for exceptions to the border closure for exceptional circumstances, including Health and other essential workers.
An essential health care worker is defined as a current or new employee with a signed offer of employment from one of the listed agencies and who has a commencement date from March to June 2020. The employee will hold an acceptable key clinical or non-clinical position working in:
-
A District Health Board
-
The New Zealand Blood Service
-
Hospice or palliative care
-
A primary care practice such as urgent care or a medical or healthcare centre
-
Aged residential care, respite or continuing care facility.
This exception applies to people who hold the necessary qualifications and registration (if required) to work in NZ.
The COVID-19 All of Government Officials group will specifically identify and consider exceptions for other essential workers in occupations which are critical to delivering the response to COVID-19 and/or maintaining critical infrastructure.
However, these essential workers are not the same as the holders of “Essential Skills work visas, or people seeking to begin working in essential services.
People who are outside New Zealand and think they may be eligible for an exception can make a request to INZ by using a request form available on the INZ website.
Before submitting a request, the availability of flights to New Zealand and travel restrictions for any country required for transit should be considered.
List of essential health and disability services
The Ministry of Health is the lead agency for Health and is itself an essential Government service.
- Addiction providers
- Aged care workers
- Ambulance services (including air ambulances)
- Care facilities (eg, rest homes / retirement villages)
- Cemeteries and crematoria
- Community care coordinators and workers
- Community Radiology
- Correctional facilities
- Dentists (emergency and acute care)
- Disability Support Services
- District health boards and all DHB provided and funded services and support staff
- Doctors
- Funeral homes
- Health equipment producers, personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Health and Disability Commissioner
- Health Promotion Agency
- Health Quality and Safety Commission
- Home and Community Support Services
- Hospital Health Services (including private, radiology) – refer to essential hospital health services below
- Kaiawhina workers
- Medical laboratories
- Medical Laboratory Scientists
- Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Mental health providers
- Midwives and maternity providers
- Mortuary services
- National Telehealth services, including Helplines, Healthline, the 1737 mental health support number, bowel screening line and others
- Needle exchange
- Needs Assessment Service Coordinators (NASCs)
- NZ Blood Service (including transportation)
- Nurses and nurse practitioners
- Optometry (emergency and acute care)
- Paramedics
- Pharmac
- Pharmacy services (eg, pharmacies, deliveries, etc.)
- Primary care clinics
- Residential care providers
Immigration New Zealand has told the Indian Weekender that it will endeavour to respond to Expressions of Interests for exception to the border closure within two working days, depending on complexity demand.
Responding to an enquiry sent earlier today, a spokesperson of the Immigration NZ said,...
Immigration New Zealand has told the Indian Weekender that it will endeavour to respond to Expressions of Interests for exception to the border closure within two working days, depending on complexity demand.
Responding to an enquiry sent earlier today, a spokesperson of the Immigration NZ said, “The New Zealand Government acknowledges that there may be extremely limited circumstances where it is appropriate for a person who is not a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or person returning to New Zealand as a resident, to travel to New Zealand.”
“If an individual’s circumstances are considered exceptional and justify travel to New Zealand for a critical purpose, or because they are the family of and travelling with a New Zealander, they will be invited to apply for a visitor visa or to vary their existing visa to allow them to travel.
“INZ will endeavour to respond to Expressions of Interests within two working days, depending on complexity demand.
“Visa applications from individuals who have been invited to apply for an exception will be prioritised,” the spokesperson said.
Eligibility for getting an exception to enter NZ
A process has now been put in place by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) for requests to be made for exceptions to the border closure for exceptional circumstances, including Health and other essential workers.
An essential health care worker is defined as a current or new employee with a signed offer of employment from one of the listed agencies and who has a commencement date from March to June 2020. The employee will hold an acceptable key clinical or non-clinical position working in:
-
A District Health Board
-
The New Zealand Blood Service
-
Hospice or palliative care
-
A primary care practice such as urgent care or a medical or healthcare centre
-
Aged residential care, respite or continuing care facility.
This exception applies to people who hold the necessary qualifications and registration (if required) to work in NZ.
The COVID-19 All of Government Officials group will specifically identify and consider exceptions for other essential workers in occupations which are critical to delivering the response to COVID-19 and/or maintaining critical infrastructure.
However, these essential workers are not the same as the holders of “Essential Skills work visas, or people seeking to begin working in essential services.
People who are outside New Zealand and think they may be eligible for an exception can make a request to INZ by using a request form available on the INZ website.
Before submitting a request, the availability of flights to New Zealand and travel restrictions for any country required for transit should be considered.
List of essential health and disability services
The Ministry of Health is the lead agency for Health and is itself an essential Government service.
- Addiction providers
- Aged care workers
- Ambulance services (including air ambulances)
- Care facilities (eg, rest homes / retirement villages)
- Cemeteries and crematoria
- Community care coordinators and workers
- Community Radiology
- Correctional facilities
- Dentists (emergency and acute care)
- Disability Support Services
- District health boards and all DHB provided and funded services and support staff
- Doctors
- Funeral homes
- Health equipment producers, personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Health and Disability Commissioner
- Health Promotion Agency
- Health Quality and Safety Commission
- Home and Community Support Services
- Hospital Health Services (including private, radiology) – refer to essential hospital health services below
- Kaiawhina workers
- Medical laboratories
- Medical Laboratory Scientists
- Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Mental health providers
- Midwives and maternity providers
- Mortuary services
- National Telehealth services, including Helplines, Healthline, the 1737 mental health support number, bowel screening line and others
- Needle exchange
- Needs Assessment Service Coordinators (NASCs)
- NZ Blood Service (including transportation)
- Nurses and nurse practitioners
- Optometry (emergency and acute care)
- Paramedics
- Pharmac
- Pharmacy services (eg, pharmacies, deliveries, etc.)
- Primary care clinics
- Residential care providers
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