Latest news with #GlobalWorkforceSeasonalVisa
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
New Zealand rolls out dual seasonal visas to ease peak-time labour crunch
New Zealand is reshaping the way it manages workforce surges, announcing two new visa categories that will open in December, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV). Both sit under the Accredited Employer Work Visa framework and are aimed squarely at industries where labour demand soars during environmental or production peaks, from fruit picking to ski slope operations. Officials say the move is about more than plugging gaps; it's about matching labour supply precisely to seasonal demand without eroding immigration safeguards. A seasonal solution with guardrails Both visas will come with lists of eligible roles, but applications won't be rubber-stamped. Immigration officers will check whether the job on offer genuinely fits within a sector's peak period, a move designed to ensure the visas are not misused to fill year-round positions. For employers, the change promises faster, more targeted recruitment during crunch times. For workers, from seasoned agricultural technicians to first-time harvest hands, it opens a clear, legal route into short-term work in New Zealand's seasonal economy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Global Workforce Seasonal Visa: For experienced hands The GWSV is built for skilled seasonal workers with a track record. To qualify, applicants must have worked at least three relevant seasons in the past six years and be willing to spend three months of each year outside New Zealand to keep their eligibility. It's valid for up to three years, with no Labour Market Test, no English language requirement, and the possibility to switch to another visa type if the criteria are met. The eligible roles read like a cross-section of the country's seasonal heartbeat — snow sports instructors, mountain guides, winemakers, shearers, primary products inspectors, and more. Peak Seasonal Visa: For entry-level roles If the GWSV is for seasoned professionals, the PSV is for those starting out. It covers entry-level and lower-skilled roles and lasts up to seven months. Applicants need just one relevant season in the past three years, plus comprehensive health insurance. Employers hiring under the PSV must be linked to, or endorsed by, Work and Income. Jobs include mussel farming, calf rearing, forestry, seafood processing, and wool handling. After seven months, there's a four-month stand-down before reapplying. No path to permanence Holders of either visa can't sponsor partners or dependents and can only change jobs within the same visa category. Interim work rights will be available for those switching from a student or work visa while their application is processed. Officials are clear: These visas are not a pathway to permanent migration. They are a precision tool to handle seasonal peaks, not a workaround for chronic labour shortages. Immigration officers will scrutinise contracts, production schedules, and industry cycles to ensure the system isn't gamed. Why it matters For New Zealand's seasonal industries, labour shortages can hit like a late frost, sudden and damaging. By introducing these two visas, the government is offering a buffer: A regulated way to get the right people in at the right time. For workers, it's a chance to step into a short-term role in one of the world's most dynamic seasonal economies, whether for the snow, the harvest, or the crush in the wineries. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
New Zealand to launch two new seasonal work visas from December 2025
Do you want to live and work in New Zealand for a few years? To meet workforce demand during seasonal peaks, New Zealand will introduce two new visa categories — the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) — under the Accredited Employer Work Visa framework. Available from December 8, 2025, these visas will allow accredited employers greater flexibility in hiring short-term workers for industries affected by environmental and production cycles, including agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and food processing. 'This will help fill urgent skill gaps while ensuring immigration rules remain fair and consistent,' said New Zealand's immigration officials. Both visas will specify seasonal jobs, but officials will still check that the role offered genuinely matches the industry's peak season. Global Workforce Seasonal Visa The GWSV is for skilled seasonal workers and is valid for up to three years. Applicants must have worked in a relevant seasonal role for at least three seasons in the past six years. Holders will also need to spend at least three months outside New Zealand each year to keep their eligibility. • No Labour Market Test or proof of English language skills is required. • Visa holders can move to other visa types if they meet the criteria. Eligible roles include: • Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operators • Agricultural technicians such as sheep or animal pregnancy scanners • Chairlift operators, snow groomers, and snow makers • Mountain or glacier guides, whitewater rafting guides, and outdoor adventure instructors • Wine makers and winery senior cellar hands • Shearers, slaughterers, and primary products inspectors • Snow sports instructors and snowsport equipment technicians Peak Seasonal Visa The PSV is for entry-level or lower-skilled seasonal work and lasts for up to seven months. Applicants must have at least one season of relevant experience in the past three years and hold comprehensive health insurance. After the seven-month period, workers must take a four-month break before reapplying. • No English language requirement. • Employers must be endorsed by or work with Work and Income. Roles covered include: • Mussel or oyster farm workers • Calf rearers and relief milkers • Forestry workers • Meat boners, slicers, and other meat process workers • Seafood process workers • Winery cellar hands and wool handlers Conditions and restrictions • Visa holders under both categories cannot sponsor partner or dependent visas. • They may change employers only within the same visa type. • Those switching from a student or work visa will keep interim work rights while their seasonal visa application is processed. • These visas are not a pathway to permanent residence. Officials said contract durations, industry cycles, and other indicators will be checked to ensure the visas are used for genuine seasonal needs, not as replacements for permanent roles.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
New Zealand to open new seasonal visa routes to ease peak worker shortages
Agencies To meet workforce demand during seasonal peaks, New Zealand will roll out two new visa categories, the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV), under the Accredited Employer Work Visa framework. Available from 8 December 2025, these visas are designed to give accredited employers more flexibility in hiring short-term staff for industries affected by environmental and production cycles, such as agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and food government says the move will help fill urgent skill gaps while ensuring immigration rules remain fair and consistent. Both visas will list specific jobs considered seasonal, but immigration officials will still confirm that the role offered genuinely aligns with the industry's peak season. Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) The GWSV targets skilled seasonal workers and offers a validity of up to three years. To qualify, applicants must have worked in a relevant seasonal role for at least three seasons in the past six years. Visa holders must spend a minimum of three months outside New Zealand each year to maintain eligibility. This visa does not require a Labour Market Test or proof of English language skills. Importantly, holders can transition to other visa types if they meet the criteria. Eligible roles include: Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operators Agricultural technicians such as sheep or animal pregnancy scanners Chairlift operators, snow groomers, and snow makers Mountain or glacier guides, whitewater rafting guides, and outdoor adventure instructors Wine makers and winery senior cellar hands Shearers, slaughterers, and primary products inspectors Snow sports instructors and snowsport equipment technicians Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) The PSV is designed for entry-level or lower-skilled seasonal work and is valid for up to seven months. Applicants must have at least one season of relevant experience in the past three years and hold comprehensive health insurance. After completing the seven-month period, workers must take a four-month break before is no English language requirement for this visa. Employers hiring under the PSV must engage with or be endorsed by Work and covered include: Mussel or oyster farm workers Calf rearers and relief milkers Forestry workers Meat boners, slicers, and other meat process workers Seafood process workers Winery cellar hands and wool handlers Visa holders under both categories cannot sponsor partner or dependent visas and may change employers only within the same visa type. Those switching from a student or work visa will retain interim work rights while their seasonal visa application is processed. The government emphasises that these visas are not a pathway to permanent migration and are meant strictly for genuine seasonal demand. Officials will assess contract durations, industry cycles, and other indicators to ensure compliance and prevent misuse as a substitute for filling permanent roles. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. 3 years on, Akasa's next challenge: Staying in the air against IndiGo's dominance Jane Street blow pushes Indian quants to ancient Greek idea to thrive Berlin to Bharuch: The Borosil journey after the China hit in Europe FIIs are exiting while retail investors stay put. Will a costly market make them pay? Stock Radar: TVS Motor breaks out from 1-month consolidation to hit fresh high; time to buy or book profits? FMCG sector: Both a consumption & tactical play; 7 stocks that have an upside potential of up to 30% F&O Radar| Deploy Short Strangle in Nifty for Theta decay benefits within index range These large- and mid-cap stocks may give more than 25% return in 1 year, according to analysts
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Fed Farmers welcomes seasonal worker visa changes
The head one of New Zealand's biggest exporters says new visas for seasonal workers will be vital in keeping the industry running. The government has introduced two new work visas for seasonal workers, which Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said visas would make it easier for employers to retain the same workers for multiple seasons. The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa is for up to three years for experienced seasonal workers in roles such as rural contracting, sheep scanning, winemaking, and snow instruction. Workers will need to return to their home countries for at least three months each year. The Peak Seasonal Visa is valid for up to seven months for short-term seasonal roles like meat and seafood processing, calf-rearing, and wool handling. Visa holders will have to have at least one season of previous relevant experience and people will need to leave New Zealand for at least four months before the visa can be renewed. For visas over three months there will be a new requirement for insurance with health coverage. Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said meat processors often struggle to find workers especially in peak season, when hundreds of workers are needed. "We are very mindful we need to prioritise and ... employ New Zealanders first and foremost but when labour is short and we can't find the necessary labour we are forced to look elsewhere." "We know the success of our seasonal industries is critical to growing the economy. These new visas will make it easier for employers to bring back experienced seasonal workers and to fill short-term roles that are hard to fully staff locally," Stanford said. Business New Zealand chief executive Katherine Rich said the move was a chance for sectors with periods of high demand to have consistency in workers from overseas. Agriculture and tourism operators would not have to "start from scratch" every year, and would know the person's skill level and whether they were a fit for the organisation. Simpler processes and certainty of workforce quality would provide better value for a wide range of businesses, she said. Rich was confident the new rules wouldn't disadvantage local workers, since employers still had to prove they could not fill the role with a New Zealander Federated Farmers said it would make a huge difference to the agriculture sector. Immigration spokesperson Karl Dean said having good staff who would be able to return three years in a row would help rural contractors. "It's awesome, because it's the training and getting people used to your processes, your health and safety, the farms you deal with, is what does cost a business." Applications for both visas open on 8 December. The existing recognised seasonal employer (RSE) scheme which will continue unchanged. The new visas will replace the interim seasonal Specific Purpose Work Visa, was introduced in 2024 as a short-term measure to meet seasonal workforce needs.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Two New Seasonal Work Visas To Grow Economy
Minister of Immigration The Government is introducing two new seasonal visa pathways to help New Zealand businesses access the workers they need during peak periods, while also prioritising jobs for New Zealanders. 'We know the success of our seasonal industries is critical to growing the economy. These new visas will make it easier for employers to bring back experienced seasonal workers and to fill short-term roles that are hard to fully staff locally,' Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says. 'We are making sure businesses can access the right people at the right time, while also protecting opportunities for Kiwis.' The Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) is an up to three-year visa for highly experienced seasonal workers in roles such as rural contracting, sheep scanning, winemaking, and snow instruction. It enables skilled workers to return for subsequent seasons on the same visa. Visa holders will need to spend a minimum of three months out of every 12 months offshore before returning to New Zealand. The Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) is a visa of up to seven months for short-term seasonal roles such as meat and seafood processing, calf-rearing, and wool handling. Visa holders will have to have at least one season of previous relevant experience and people will need to leave New Zealand for at least four months before the visa can be renewed. For visa over three months there will be a new requirement for insurance with health coverage. Employers will be required to advertise these roles, as well as engage with MSD, to ensure that New Zealand workers continue to be prioritised. 'These visas are designed to reflect the realities of seasonal work and the diverse range of skill levels involved. They'll help fill critical roles in industries where employers struggle to find enough New Zealand workers at peak times. From ski instructors guiding first-timers down the slopes to wine makers helping create next year's vintage, these visas are designed to keep seasonal industries humming.' 'These changes are part of our plan to deliver smart, flexible and nuanced immigration solutions to help grow our economy,' Ms Stanford says. Notes: Both visa pathways will open for applications on 8 December 2025 as subsets of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and will complement the existing Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, which will continue unchanged. The visas are only available for specified seasonal roles, listed on the Immigration New Zealand website The new visas will replace the interim seasonal Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWV), which was introduced in 2024 as a short-term measure to meet seasonal workforce needs. The seasonal SPWV allowed stays of up to nine months and was always intended as a temporary solution.
