National wants to give the green light to residency for skilled migrants already in the country.

The party's proposing a three-year Covid Contribution Visa - to keep around 35 thousand essential skills workers and their families on our shores.

It's also keen for fast-track processing to clear the residency backlog.

Immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford says "if we want them to leave, we keep doing what we're doing, if we don't, you have to offer them a pathway to residence."

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