NZ parties are making immigration a battleground. Here’s what it means for you.
With Election 2026 on the horizon, immigration policy is front and centre - and the stakes for migrants and employers are real.
WHAT THE PARTIES ARE SAYING
ACT -The most aggressive policy package of the week: a $6/day surcharge on all temporary work visas, a five-year welfare stand-down for new residents, an INZ enforcement unit targeting overstayers, and annual expiry of employer skill categories - meaning employers must re-justify every role they sponsor, every year.
NZ First - Shane Jones has made it clear: NZ First will fight 2026 on immigration. Their concern is that fast-track residency pathways turn New Zealand into a “staging post” to Australia - expect a push to slow or cap new residency pathways.
National - Defending their recently introduced fast-track residency pathways for skilled workers, in direct tension with their coalition partner NZ First. A cleaner, more employer-friendly approach - but political pressure may constrain it.
Greens - Pushing back on tightened visa access for disabled children, calling out the Parent Boost visa as inequitable, and advocating for a special pathway for Palestinian nationals.
FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCE NOW
If you are currently eligible to submit a residence visa application - whether through Skilled Migrant Category, Green List, or another pathway - the time to act is now, not later.
Whatever government is elected later this year, pre-election policy announcements signal a clear direction: tighter criteria, higher thresholds, and less flexibility. ACT’s proposals alone - annual skill category reviews, stricter enforcement, and a welfare stand-down - could significantly raise the bar or reduce options for future applicants. Coalition dynamics mean any of these measures could become government policy quickly after the election.
Residence applications lodged under current policy settings are assessed against the rules in place at the time of application. Waiting risks being caught by new rules you didn’t need to meet today. If your situation qualifies you now, delaying is not a neutral decision - it’s a risk.
Need to know if you’re eligible to apply under current settings? Reach out to a Licensed Immigration Adviser before the election campaign reshapes what’s possible.
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