PLEASE NOTE: THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS WORK VISA WAS REPLACED BY THE ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA IN 2022.

Skilled migration to New Zealand is looking different as of today due to changes made to the essential skills work visa as well as the skilled migrant visa.

To understand the changes, you need to understand how the rules worked up to now and how the rules have now changed.

We’re going to keep our explanation as simple as possible, but it does get complicated!

We encourage you to email us or call us on +27 (0) 21 202 8200 to have a chat instead. It is now more important than ever to work with a professional!

Old rules vs new rules

To qualify for an essential skills work visa up to now, you must have met certain skill level requirements. INZ determined whether or not you met these requirements by evaluating:

• Your occupation’s ANZSCO level.
• Your work experience and qualifications.
• Your salary. Specifically – Is it market related?

In cases where the outcome showed that you do qualify for an essential skills work visa, the visa was then issued for up to 5 years.

Now INZ is adding a fourth qualifier to establish skill your level:

• Your hourly remuneration.

That’s not all that’s changing though – INZ has also introduced three skill bands.

Together all of these qualifiers determine how long you will be permitted to stay in New Zealand. (Keep in mind that the essential skills work visa is only a temporary visa.For residency you have to qualify under the skilled migrant category.)

Diving into the skill bands and remuneration requirements

There are now three skill bands as mentioned. These are:

• Lower-skilled.
• Mid-skilled.
• Higher-skilled.

Remember – your remuneration and ANZSCO occupation level will determine in which skill band you fall.

Here is how this will work:

Here’s what these classifications mean:

We already mentioned that the skill bands will determine how long you’ll be allowed to stay in New Zealand.

BUT your skill band will also determine the type of visa your partner or dependent child(ren) will be able to apply for on the basis of their relationship to you:

Let’s explain this:

You can renew your visa, as many times as you like, for 5 or 3 years on the higher-skilled or mid-skilled bands respectively. You visa status supports your family’s applications to work, go to school or simply visit you.

The lower-skilled band is different though.

Let’s take a closer look at the lower-skilled employment band

Should you qualify for an essential skills work visa on lower-skilled employment, it will be subject to the following:

• Your visa is only valid for one year and may only be renewed for up to 3 years.
• Once you’ve held an essential skills work visa for 3 years, you must spend 12 consecutive months outside of New Zealand BEFORE you can make another application for an essential skills work visa for lower-skilled employment.
• Your partner and children are only eligible to apply for visitor visas based on their relationship with you. If your family would like to also live in New
• Zealand while working or going to school they MUST apply for their own New Zealand visas. This means your family will have to make applications for work visas, student visas and meet the requirements for the visas in their own right.

Are these essential skills work visa changes all bad news?

No, not necessarily.

Even if you qualify under the lower-skilled band, you’ll still be allowed to make an application for another type of visa or an essential skills work visa based on mid-skilled or higher-skilled employment.

How, you ask? You might get promoted or get a raise during your employment period, both of which could qualify you for one of the top two skill bands.

What if I’ve already submitted my essential skills work visa application?

The essential skills work visa changes discussed here are only applied to applications made on or after today, 28 August 2017.

Special arrangements are in place to provide for family members of current essential skills work visa holders who will now fall under the lower-skilled skill band.

Please chat to one of our advisers about this if you are concerned that you’ll be affected. Our number is +27 (0) 21 202 8200.

Skilled migrant visa changes that were first announced on 19 April 2017 are now coming into effect on 28 August 2017. This includes changes to the essential skills visa, also implemented on the same day.

These changes affect many aspects of the skilled migrant visa policy, including:

• The way that ‘skilled employment’ and ‘work experience’ are assessed and awarded points.
• The points awarded for work experience, qualifications and age.
• Some points are also being removed:
  • Points for employment, work experience and qualifications in identified future growth areas.
  • Points for qualifications in areas of absolute skills shortage.
  • Points for close family in New Zealand.

We understand that this amount of change in one of the most popular visa categories could raise a lot of questions and concerns. This is why we’re going to do two things for you now:

1. Answer some of the questions that you’re probably asking yourself.
2. Give a summary of the changes.

Afterwards you are more than welcome to call us on +27 (0) 21 202 8200 for a more detailed discussion.

Questions and answers on the skilled migrant visa changes

Is it all bad news for me?

No, not necessarily.

As per the New Zealand government, there will be an impact on some people in lower-paid employment. However, the changes expand the definition of skilled employment to allow some people to gain residence who have previously been unable to claim points for their employment in New Zealand.

How will this be possible?

People who are not currently considered to be in skilled employment because their job is not an ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 occupation will be able to claim points for their job if they meet the relevant remuneration threshold.

What particular types of applicants benefit from the changes?

The changes to the visa put more focus on:

• Skilled work experience;
• More recognition of skill levels in the 30 – 39 age group; and
• High remuneration levels.

Why is the skilled migrant visa changing?

Immigration New Zealand has said in their statement that the changes have been made to:

‘improve the skill composition of people gaining residence under the Skilled Migrant Category and ensure we attract migrants who bring the most economic benefits to New Zealand’.

Has the process for applying for residence under the skilled migrant visa changed?

No, the application process has not changed.

I have already submitted my skilled migrant visa application but it has not yet been finalised. What will happen to my application if it’s not decided until after the changes come into effect?

Your application will not be affected by the changes. Because it was submitted before the changes come into effect, your application will continue to be assessed under the instructions in place at the time you made your application.

Summary of the skilled migrant visa changes

The changes to the skilled migrant visa include:

• The introduction of remuneration thresholds as an additional means of defining skilled employment:
  • Jobs at ANZSCO skill levels 1, 2 and 3 must be paid at or above NZ$23.49 per hour. This equates to a salary of NZ$48 859 per year based on a 40 hour week.
  • Jobs that are not ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3 must be paid at or above NZ$35.24 per hour. This equates to a salary of NZ$73 299 per year based on a 40 hour week.
• More points available for work experience. However, points will only be awarded for work experience that is skilled.
• Ten (10) points will be awarded for skilled New Zealand work experience of 12 months or more.
• No additional points will be awarded for work experience of two years or more.
• Points for recognised level 9 or 10 post-graduate qualifications (Master’s degrees and Doctorates) will increase to 70 points.
• Points for people aged 30 – 39 years will increase to 30 points.
• Points will only be awarded for partners’ qualifications if the qualifications are either a:
  • Bachelor’s level degree or higher; or
  • Post-graduate (level 9 or 10) qualification.
• Points will no longer be available for:
  • Employment, work experience and qualifications in identified future growth areas.
  • Qualifications in areas of absolute skills shortage.
  • Close family in New Zealand.
• Applicants who meet the health, character, English and selection point requirements BUT who do not have either skilled employment or a higher degree gained in New Zealand, will be invited to apply for a ‘job search visa’ to enable them to find ongoing skilled employment in New Zealand.
• There will be greater flexibility for offshore applicants to travel to New Zealand within the 12 month validity of their ‘job search visa’.