11. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
What announcements has the Government made on the introduction of the Silver Fern Visa?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
Today the Government announced the launch of the Silver Fern Visa. It is designed to attract highly skilled young people to New Zealand. The Silver Fern Visa creates a pathway to residency for young people educated overseas and fulfils the National Party’s manifesto commitment to access higher-level skills for the economy.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
Applicants with high educational qualifications aged between 20 and 35 will be eligible to apply for one of 300 Silver Fern Jobseeker Visas, issued annually. This gives them 9 months to search for a skilled job. Once they have skilled employment, they get a further 2-year permit that will allow them to gain points under the skilled migrant category and apply for residence. The Silver Fern Visa is about attracting the right skills and matching them to the employment needs of the economy.