What’s new in New Zealand immigration? Here are our updates for 2025 so far.

If New Zealand has been on your radar—whether for work, travel, or investment—2025 has brought some interesting shifts in immigration policy. From visa upgrades to smoother paperwork, here’s a rundown of the latest changes, all rolled out this year.

1.   Accredited Employer Work visa gets a revamp

A raft of changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) have been introduced, which are being rolled out in 4 stages over 2025, including:

•   Removing wage thresholds for all AEWV and Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV) roles
•   Introducing a new earning threshold for AEWV migrants who want to bring their children to New Zealand
•   Reducing the work experience requirement for migrants from 3 years to 2 years
•   Introducing new pathways for experienced seasonal workers in November 2025
•   Increasing the visa duration for ANZSCO Level 4 or 5 AEWV holders to 3 years
•   Extending interim work rights to AEWV applicants
•   Removing the requirements for completion of Employment New Zealand online modules for all current and future accredited employers

These changes are aimed at making it easier for NZ employers to hire migrant workers, encouraging more skilled workers to choose New Zealand!

2.  Welcome news for digital nomads

New Zealand officially joined the global remote work trend. All visitor visas applied for on or after 27 January 2025 will allow you to work remotely in New Zealand.

Remote work includes:

•   answering emails and phone calls
•   coding and testing
•   writing reports
•   attending meetings or giving presentations to colleagues outside New Zealand
•   creating content as a social media influencer – as long as you are not promoting an activity, event or product for gain or reward from a New Zealand business or person in New Zealand

If you don’t want your career to be on hold while holidaying by the beach, then a New Zealand visitor visa is a great option.

3.  Investor pathway overhaul: Active Investor Plus visa

Investor visa options have also received a make-over. From 1 April 2025, changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa include the following:

•   Introduction of two simplified investment categories— Growth and Balanced. A minimum investment amount of NZD $5 million will be required for Growth category investors over a 3-year investment term. A minimum investment amount of NZD $10 million will be required for Balanced category investors over a 5-year investment term.

•   Increasing the scope of acceptable investments to include bonds and property investments. Property investments will be limited to new residential developments that increase the housing stock in New Zealand and new or existing commercial or industrial developments which add value, such as earthquake strengthening. Investments from the Growth category can be included as part of the Balanced category.

The Active Investor Plus Visa is intended to attract investors who take an active role in helping companies access global knowledge networks, capital, and markets. Recent changes have simplified the process, making it easier for migrant investors to choose the secure, stable market that is New Zealand.

4.   Translation requirements eased for visitor visas

In a welcome move for short-term travellers, Immigration NZ relaxed the rules around document translations for visitor visa applications, from 26 May.

This small change is expected to speed up processing and reduce costs for tourists and family visitors — a smart move as New Zealand continues to rebuild its tourism sector.

5.   Tighter health rules for children of dependent visa holders

New Zealand updated its health requirements for the children of temporary entry visas, so that they align with the requirements already in place for resident visas.

From 17 March, dependent children of work, student or military visa holders will no longer be eligible for student and visitor visas if they have a severe cognitive or development disability that requires significant support.

Aligning the health settings across these visas helps ensure consistency in New Zealand’s immigration system, as well as protecting New Zealand schools from potential resourcing burden. The goal is to provide clarity upfront for families who might be excluded from gaining residence because their child has high learning needs.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re a remote worker dreaming of the Southern Alps, a business investor, or planning a family move, these updates are worth keeping in mind. New Zealand’s focus this year has clearly been on making immigration processes smoother, smarter, and more future-focused. If history’s any guide, more tweaks are likely on the horizon — so stay tuned.

Sarah Caulton, Senior Associate
sarah@mcmillanco.nz