In December 2022, the Minister of Immigration and Transport announced a transport sector agreement with a 2-year work to residence pathway for truck and bus drivers, and later announced that this would be extended to include critical maritime transport roles.<\/p>\n
Median wage exemption for bus drivers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Employers will have a median wage exemption set at $28 an hour when hiring bus drivers for an eligible role on an Accredited Employer Work Visa. This exemption takes effect immediately.<\/p>\n To be eligible for the exemption, the role must either:<\/p>\n \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n Bus drivers hired under the sector agreement will be eligible for Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) for 3 years, despite being paid below the median wage. This will ensure that they have enough time to complete their 2 years of work in New Zealand required to apply for residence.<\/p>\n Other roles covered by the transport sector agreement are not exempt from the median wage threshold, as the market rate for skilled workers in these roles is already above the median wage.<\/p>\n Under the sector agreement the following professions will have a 2-year work to residence pathway:<\/p>\n \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n All roles covered by the sector agreement will be able to apply for residence from 29 September 2023 if they have completed the 2 years of work requirement.<\/p>\n The agreement is uncapped and will be reviewed after 12 months. Any changes made to the sector agreement after this review will not affect migrants already on their 2-year work to residence pathway.<\/p>\n\n
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