Despite being a popular expat destination, New Zealand is reviewing its immigration policies to become more selective. The expected changes will come into force from November 1, 2021. Any employer who wishes to hire foreign professionals must obtain an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
This single visa is meant to replace 6 types of temporary visa, namely, the Essential Skills Work Visa, the Essential Skills Work Visa - approved in principle, the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa, the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa, the Silver Fern Job Search Visa (which is no longer available since October 2019) and the Silver Fern Practical Experience Visa. However, student visas, working holiday visas, and partner work visas are not concerned.
What employers and candidates should know
For employers, there will be three essential stages before hiring foreign professionals. First, the employer will have to apply for a visa under the new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system. They will then be submitted to a check to ensure that the skills required for the position offered are not available locally. Only then the candidate can apply for a visa. But it is not as simple as it looks.
There will be three further checks to ensure that the foreign candidate is the best fit for the position offered. First, the employer must prove that they are hiring a foreign professional with essential skills. Therefore, they will need to obtain two accreditations -- accreditation as a Talent Accredited Employer and a Labor Hire employers' accreditation for essential skills work visas. However, that these accreditations will only be valid for 12 months and must be renewed every two years. Once these accreditations have been obtained, there will be a market study to ensure that the employer has met all the set requirements.
Subsequently, the candidate will have to prove that he meets the criteria required for the position offered. Among the documents required are diplomas, identity documents, a clear criminal record and a certificate of good health. The fees for all these procedures haven't been announced yet. Any employer who wishes to recruit foreign professionals from November 1 must start applying for accreditation from the end of September. For more information, visit the New Zealand Immigration website.
Priority to essential professions
In our article What makes New Zealand a great place to live in after the crisis, we mentioned a lot of the benefits, including abundant career prospects in various fields and other opportunities. Still, the country is currently prioritising its skills shortage list that includes healthcare, finance, ICT, engineering, etc. But the changes announced have now become a critical issue for New Zealand businesses, especially with the rising unemployment rate since the start of the pandemic. It's worth noting that the “skilled migrants" category has remained closed for more than a year, and this has affected the national labour market in a significant way.
What about residency in New Zealand?
New Zealand's strict immigration policy aims to attract the best talent to meet the country's economic needs. Especially since the country has an ageing population, as is the case with many developed countries, such as Canada. To maintain a stable workforce, the government is also emphasising the age criterion. What should we take away from it?
Hence, working for several years in New Zealand does not mean that you can become a resident. It all depends on the duration and the conditions of your visa. But it's worth noting that the age limit to apply for residence in New Zealand is 55 years old. When applying for residence, you must be less than 55 years old, keeping in mind that the processing may take a certain time. However, holders of Work to residence visas can apply for New Zealand residency even if they have reached the age of 55.
Foreign nationals over the age of 55 who are in a relationship with a New Zealander may also be eligible for a partnership visa which paves the way for residency as long as the latter is less than 55 years old. But beware! This visa does not allow you to retire in New Zealand! There is a retirement visa for people aged over 66 years old and which is valid for two years only. But applicants are required to meet strict financial criteria to meet.
There's still another option for those who wish to become New Zealand residents. Business and investment visas, for example, are excellent means even if the conditions seem quite prohibitive, particularly in terms of financing. Either way, it is better to have a good backup plan before getting started.
