New Zealand has tightened its visa rules due to "unsustainable" levels of net migration, aiming to safeguard jobs for its citizens.
The United Kingdom and New Zealand have agreed to extend the Youth Mobility and Working Holiday schemes, allowing younger individuals to live and work in both nations for longer. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have agreed to raise the age limit for applicants from 30 to 35 and increase the maximum stay to three years.
New Zealand has taken immediate action on its Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV), implementing new language and skill requirements for potential migrants and reducing work permit durations. Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford announced these changes, stressing the priority to employ New Zealanders, particularly in areas with no skill shortages.
This move follows 173,000 non-New Zealand citizens migrating to the country in 2023.
The modifications to the AEWV include a new minimum English proficiency requirement, a skill threshold that can be met through work experience or qualifications, and a reduced maximum continuous stay of three years.
Employers must ensure migrants meet these new criteria before hiring, declaring that no suitable New Zealand citizens applied and justifying why local applicants were not chosen. Job vacancies must now be advertised for a minimum of 21 days to give New Zealanders ample opportunity to apply.
Certain sectors, such as transport and care, will have exemptions from some new requirements, acknowledging their unique demands and shortages.
Australia also made changes in 2023 for New Zealanders moving there. Under the new legislation, Special Category Visa holders can apply for citizenship without becoming permanent residents first, provided they meet four-year residence and other criteria.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that this change aligns Australia's treatment of New Zealanders with New Zealand's treatment of Australians, strengthening the enduring friendship between the two nations, especially as they mark the 50th anniversary of the trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
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