Over the lockdown, have you had the time to save up money, work out plans for your family, and consider that the best route for a better future lies in moving to New Zealand? Have you begun the immigration process and the job search? Are you updated with the new changes to the Essential Skills Work Visa that the New Zealand Immigration office has released?
Suppose the answer to any of these questions is – Yes! Read on!
On the 19th of July 2021, some major changes were made to the application procedure’s Essential Skill Work Visa requirements.
Here are the changes that you should be aware of while planning your future in New Zealand:
- The duration of stay for those with the Essential Skills visas for jobs that paid below the considered median wage has been increased from 12 months to 24 months. This works in favour of those seeking to permanently immigrate to New Zealand. For more in depth information regarding this, book an appointment with your preferred immigration advisor in New Zealand.
- There are changes to the requirement for the provision of medical and police verification certificates if the applicant has previously applied and been rejected within the last 36 months. This change was stipulated and came into effect on the 5th of August, 2021. This change in requirements also applies to a partner immigrating with the one applying for the essential skills work visa. It is also applicable to a dependent child.
Additionally, if the applicant remains with the same employer for the entire period, without changing their role or region of work then, these new rules also apply:
- If such is the case, the employer in question is not required to meet a labour market test, and
- Both the employer and the applicant can make declarations, providing evidence that all requirements for said skills are met.
In order to skip the labour market test and provide desired evidential requirements, either one of the following criteria needs to be met:
- Applicant must hold any type of work visa (even a working holiday visa)
- Applicant must hold a student visa that subjugates the applicant to work with unlimited work rights.
- Applicants could have a critical purpose visitor visa to work as a critical health worker that stands for at least six months or more.
However, Labour market tests will require those employers for vacant roles or when an applicant intends to switch jobs or regions during the visa period.
Given the situation, if an applicant’s skills are listed in the Immigration New Zealand’s skills shortage list, and if the applicant meets all the said work experience and qualifications requirements, then a labour market test may not be required.
These are the most recent changes in the requirements for a work visa. Contact your immigration adviser in New Zealand to further clarify doubts of any sort.
To find out more about New Zealand immigration or New Zealand work visa requirements or even just to enquire about resettlement services, ensure to contact immigration advisers in New Zealand.