New Zealand Work Visa Applications: Key Insights (2014-2024)

New Zealand Work Visa Applications: Key Insights (2014-2024)

ByCaesar Travel


New Zealand remains a highly favoured destination for people seeking work opportunities abroad. With its diverse visa programs, from the Accredited Employer Visa to the Working Holiday Schemes, the country attracts workers from around the globe. This article details key trends and statistics on New Zealand’s work visas from 2020 to 2024.

NZ Work Visa Applications (2014-2024): Key Statistics

  • 2014/15: A total of 196,808 applications were decided, with 186,018 approvals and 10,790 declines.
  • 2015/16: 221,647 total applications, with 209,590 approvals and 12,057 declines.
  • 2016/17: 242,673 total applications, including 226,369 approvals and 16,304 declines.
  • 2017/18: Approvals reached 230,254, while declines hit a peak of 19,884 out of 250,138 total decisions.
  • 2018/19: 242,391 work visas were approved out of 257,111 applications, with 14,720 declines.
  • 2019/20: A decline was seen with 197,818 approvals and 12,309 declines from a total of 210,127 decisions.
  • 2020/21: The pandemic led to only 152,174 approvals from 159,845 decisions, with 7,671 declines.
  • 2021/22: A recovery began with 173,865 approvals out of 180,349 applications, while 6,484 were declined.
  • 2022/23: Visa approvals rebounded to 226,065, while 8,922 were declined out of 234,987 total decisions.
  • 2023/24: A slight dip occurred, with 200,579 approvals and 10,421 declines from a total of 211,000 decisions.

Key Trends in New Zealand Work Visa Categories (2020/21 – 2023/24)

  1. Accredited Employer Work Visas:
  • Visa approvals dropped significantly, from 71,311 in 2022/23 to 50,962 in 2023/24.
  • The number of visa declines increased sharply, from 1,878 in 2022/23 to 4,729 in 2023/24.

Essential Skills Visas:

  • A dramatic reduction was observed, with 39,062 visas approved in 2020/21, but only 6 were approved in 2023/24.

NZ Working Holiday Visas:

  • Canada: Approvals rose from 438 in 2020/21 to 2,076 in 2023/24.
  • France: Increased from 84 in 2020/21 to 6,812 in 2023/24.
  • Germany: Approvals surged from 70 in 2020/21 to 6,262 in 2023/24.
  • Argentina: Visa approvals remained steady at 914 in 2023/24.
  • Chile: Approvals were stable at 917 in 2023/24.
  • United Kingdom: Approvals increased from 1,712 in 2020/21 to 6,954 in 2023/24, although declines also rose significantly to 10,210 in 2023/24.
  • Belgium: Grew from 144 in 2021/22 to 467 in 2023/24.
  • Sweden: Approvals rose slightly from 316 in 2022/23 to 307 in 2023/24.
  • United States: Visa approvals surged from 1,012 in 2021/22 to 3,569 in 2022/23.

Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Visas:

  • Visa approvals increased from 15,135 in 2020/21 to 18,986 in 2023/24.
  • For further information about Partner Visas make sure you check out Australian Migration Lawyers.

Asylum Seeker Visas:

  • Approvals nearly doubled, from 753 in 2020/21 to 1,895 in 2023/24.

Entertainers and Associated Workers Visas:

  • Visa approvals jumped significantly from 386 in 2020/21 to 2,481 in 2023/24.

Variation of Conditions Visas:

  • The number of approvals plummeted from 21,019 in 2020/21 to just 639 in 2023/24.

Korea Working Holiday Scheme:

  • Visa approvals dropped from 1,880 in 2022/23 to 1,240 in 2023/24.

Japan Working Holiday Scheme:

  • Approvals nearly doubled, from 2,404 in 2022/23 to 3,844 in 2023/24.

Domestic Staff for Consular Personnel Visas:

  • Approvals dropped from 16 in 2022/23 to just 5 in 2023/24

For Details, check the details on NZ Work Visa data points, Statistics and tread

In conclusion, the detailed analysis of New Zealand’s work visa trends from 2014 to 2024 offers valuable insights for individuals considering applying for a work visa. The fluctuations in visa approvals, especially the post-pandemic recovery, show that while some visa categories like Working Holiday Visas are growing, others like Essential Skills Visas are declining.

 This data can help prospective applicants understand which sectors or visa types are more favorable and what to expect in terms of processing times and approval rates. By aligning their applications with the current trends and labor market needs, individuals can increase their chances of securing a work visa and finding suitable employment in New Zealand.

Source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/

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