Announced by INZ - 12 August 2021

Changes have been made to immigration instructions to:

• allow partners and dependent children who are applying for a visa based on their relationship to an Essential Skills work visa holder or applicant, to NOT have to provide police or medical certificates if they have provided these certificates with a previous visa application
  
  
• allow Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) applicants, who have been working in New Zealand for a sustained period due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to not have to provide police certificates with their visa application.
  
  

These instructions are effective from 5 August 2021.

Until 30 August 2021, visa applications made on the basis of the applicant’s relationship (partner or dependent child) to an Essential Skills Work Visa applicant or visa holder, should be made using the updated paper form (INZ 1198, INZ 1012 or INZ 1017). From 30 August 2021, the updated online forms will be available from here.