HR feature: 3 ways to keep migrant staff

HR feature: 3 ways to keep migrant staff

Friday 6 Jun 2025

Work visa stand-down periods looming: 3 ways to keep migrant staff

Do you have staff on work visas? Are they in skilled or lower-skilled roles? Do you know when those visas expire? If not, you may be caught off guard by Immigration NZ’s stand-down rules. In the last few years, lower-skilled visa holders (ANZSCO levels 4 and 5) have been limited to three years in New Zealand. After that, they must leave the country for 12 months before they can return.

This can have big impacts on your business. You will likely have to rehire or re-train. Migrants and their families will have to leave.

Here’s what has worked for the employers we support in the timber, manufacturing, and trades industries:

Identifying lower-skilled visa holders early and tracking visa expiry dates
Upskilling eligible staff into skilled roles and skilled visas
Reviewing residence options for those in higher-skilled roles (ANZSCO levels 1–3).

Employers who plan ahead of visa timelines avoid the last-minute scramble to retain staff, especially in remote or hard-to-staff locations. Greenstone Immigration’s 9 licenced immigration advisers work widely with employers across New Zealand to assist in retaining employees. Our experience is that, by helping your staff with their visa pathways, staff feel more valued, overall morale is boosted and the employer-employee relationships is strengthened.

For tailored advice, contact Greenstone Recruitment on (+64) 7 850 1411 or visit our websites at www.greenstoneimmigration.co.nz and www.greenstone-recruitment.co.nz

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