Temporary visa changes coming

New Zealand’s immigration sector is expecting the most radical shake up in temporary work visa policy in decades.

The Government announced pre-Christmas it was consulting on proposed changes to employer-assisted temporary work visa settings to “ensure that work visas issued reflect genuine regional skill shortages”.

Visas affected include:

• Essential Skills including the Essential Skills in Demand Lists (ESID)
• Approval-in-Principle
• Talent (Accredited Employer)
• Work to Residence – Long-term Skill Shortage List occupation
• Silver Fern (Practical Experience)
• Silver Fern (Job Search)

NZ employers will have to get approval to be an employer of migrants before they can offer a job to a migrant worker. Employers can get ahead of these changes expected in mid-2019 by becoming an accredited employer now. Minimum salary for a work to residence visa will increase from $55,000 to $78,000 per annum (leap of 41%). If your business is already accredited the salary hike could affect new offshore recruits.

Employers relying on migrant workers should get immigration compliant now. It is no different to health and safety regulation with heavy penalties on business for getting it wrong.