New Zealand Decides To Tighten Visa Rules After Recording High Migration Numbers; Details On New Rules & Changes Inside

After a record influx of migrants last year, New Zealand has decided to tighten its employment visa rules. The New Zealand government has introduced immediate modifications to its employment visa program. They have introduced criteria like skills, language requirements, and shorter stay duration for certain roles for international citizens. Here is everything you need to know about the new changes in New Zealand’s employment visa program.

What Prompted New Zealand To Tighten Its Visa Rules?

New Zealand has recently announced immediate modifications to its employment visa program. This move comes after the country saw a record influx of migrants in 2023. So, keeping in mind these high “unsustainable net migration” levels, the New Zealand government has introduced some changes in their international employment visa.

According to reports, New Zealand saw a surge in migration from 2022. In 2023, 173,000 non-New Zealanders migrated to the country. With New Zealand’s 5.3 million population, these high immigrant numbers have sparked concerns about inflation. With these new rules, the New Zealand government aims to protect the employment of its citizens and develop a smart immigration system.

New Zealand has seemed to follow their neighbour Australia with these tightened rules. Australia, too, experienced a significant increase in migration recently. They have decided and taken steps to halve its migrant intake over the next two years.

Also Read: Women Claim They Were Asked To Deboard Air New Zealand Flight For Being “Too Big”; Airlines Responds

New Changes Implemented By New Zealand Govt For Visa Applicants

Here are the new changes in New Zealand’s employment visa rules.

1. Proficiency in the English language. The NZ government has mandated proficiency in the language for foreigners seeking employment in lower-skilled level 4 and 5 roles.
2. Skill requirements. They have set a baseline requirement for skills and work experience for the majority of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) positions.
3. Shorter stay duration. They have also lowered the maximum duration of continuous stay from five years to three years for level 4 and 5 roles.
4. Mandatory authorisation. The NZ government has mandated that employers seek authorisation from authorities to recruit migrants for level 4 and 5 positions.

What’s your take on these new visa rules in New Zealand? Let us know in the comments!

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva