Hospitality Industry Welcomes New Pathways To Residency For Skilled Migrants

The Restaurant Association is welcoming the Government’s announcement of changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.

“We have long advocated for pathways to attract, recruit and retain overseas talent to help bolster our skills shortage in the short term,” says Marisa Bidois, Chief Executive of the Restaurant Association.

“While we are disappointed that we will have to wait almost nine months for these changes to be implemented, these pathways will ensure that those with a wealth of experience in crucial roles can help to upskill our domestic hospitality workforce by sharing their skills, without worrying about expiring visas.”

The Skilled Work Experience pathway will provide a pathway to residency for migrants in skilled roles who have at least five years of directly relevant work experience, including at least two years of experience in New Zealand where they’ve been paid at least 1.1 times the median wage.

“Staffing challenges and skills shortages, particularly for senior roles, have consistently been one of the most pressing issues raised by our members over recent years” says Marisa.

“Pathways to residency was also a key identified at our 2024 Hospitality Summit, which provided a comprehensive roadmap for addressing key challenges facing New Zealand’s hospitality industry, so we are pleased that these changes are being made.”

The Restaurant Association will closely monitor the implementation of these changes over the coming months to ensure they are fit for purpose and serve the needs of the hospitality industry.

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