Renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and progressive policies, New Zealand is tightening its visa regulations after a surge in migration.
With approximately 173,000 non-New Zealanders immigrating to the country in 2023 alone, concerns over the sustainability of such high migration levels have prompted the government to take action.
The latest measures, announced by Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, aim to prioritize the employment of New Zealand citizens while still attracting and retaining highly skilled migrants where there are shortages in specific sectors.
Effective immediately, the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV) scheme will undergo significant changes, including the implementation of stricter criteria such as skills and language requirements, along with shortened work permit durations for international workers.
"The Government is focused on attracting and retaining highly skilled migrants, such as secondary teachers, where there is a skill shortage," stated Minister Stanford.
"At the same time, we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages.", she added.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in October 2023 said New Zealand has approximately 2,50,000 persons of Indian origin and NRIs, most of whom are settled there permanently.
Data on ENZ.org (a New Zealand government affiliate) indicates that approximately 18,000 Indians have migrated to the country since 2011. There has been a stable rise in the number of Indian in New Zealand.
As per the 2018 New Zealand census, Indians made up about 4.7% of the population.
Key alterations to the visa regulations include the introduction of English language requirements for migrants applying for low-skilled roles, mandatory demonstration of work experience and specific skills for most work visa applicants, and reduced work visa durations to two years with a maximum continuous stay period of three years.
There are further plans to expand the Green List, which includes highly skilled roles eligible for fast-track citizenship, have been revised.
Previously proposed additions to this list, such as welders, turners, and fitters, have been postponed.
Employers intending to hire migrants under the AEWV scheme will now face stricter obligations, including ensuring that migrants are employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, acknowledged the challenges posed by the country's immigration system, describing it as "a complete hash."
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