Changes to NZ Family Sponsored Stream
October 1, 2006
The NZ Minister of Immigration, David Cunliffe, has announced changes to residence policy for New Zealanders wanting to bring family members back to NZ.
From July 2007 there will be no cap on the number of residence places available to partners and dependent children of NZ residents and citizens. As well as having more places available this should also, in general, reduce waiting times for these applications.
Parents, siblings and adult children of New Zealand sponsors will remain in a capped stream of the residence programme. Also, in another policy change, the principle applicant for residence under the sibling or adult child policy must be aged 55 years or younger at the time the application is lodged - this is with immediate effect.