New Zealand is updating its visa rules because of a big increase in people moving there. The government says it's changing its work visa policies right away. These changes are kind of like what Australia is doing, where they're planning to cut the number of migrants by half in the next couple of years.
What's New with New Zealand's Visa Rules?
Here are the main updates from the New Zealand government:
source:- istock
Need for English:
If you're looking for a job that doesn't require much skill (level 4 and 5 jobs), you now have to prove you can speak English well.
Skills and Experience:
For most jobs under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), you need to show you have the right skills and work experience.
Work and Income Checks:
Employers who want to hire people from other countries for level 4 and 5 jobs must talk to Work and Income first.
Shorter Stay:
You can only stay for up to three years now if you're working in level 4 and 5 jobs, instead of five years.
No More Franchisee Category:
If your business was in this category before, you now have to apply for worker visas through the standard ways.
The Government's View
Erica Stanford, the Immigration Minister, says these visa changes are to make sure New Zealand gets the skilled workers it needs without putting migrants at risk of being treated unfairly. The government wants to attract people who are really skilled, especially in areas where there are not enough workers. They also want to make sure jobs are available for New Zealanders if there’s no shortage of skills for those jobs.
Will Indian Migrants Be Affected?
With the new rule requiring good English, Indians who want to work in lower-skilled jobs might find it tougher to get those jobs. But, there might be more chances for highly skilled Indian workers because of the focus on filling skill gaps.
Looking at the Numbers
Last year, almost 173,000 people moved to New Zealand, which is a lot for a country with about 5.1 million people. This huge number of new arrivals is causing worries about rising prices and too much pressure on things like roads and hospitals.
So, New Zealand is making its visa rules stricter to control how many people move there. For Indians, especially those with great skills, there might still be good opportunities despite the new challenges.
