New Zealand tightens work visa rules after migration registration

New Zealand tightens conditions for work visas Immigration Minister Erica Stanford made the announcement in a statement on Sunday. The country was said to have seen “unsustainable” migration last year. In total, nearly 173,000 people immigrated to New Zealand, prompting national concerns about hyperinflation.

Changes to the visa program for working in the country will be implemented immediately. Henceforth, migrant workers must be proficient in English for “low-skilled jobs,” employers must set skills and work experience requirements for work visas, and the maximum length of stay for most low-skilled positions is reduced from five years to three years.

With the changes, Stanford wants to meet the “economic needs of the country.” “The government is focusing on attracting and retaining highly skilled migrants such as secondary school teachers,” the minister said. But where there is no skills shortage, New Zealanders should be “at the front of the queue”, Stanford adds. Neighboring Australia has also indicated it wants to halve immigration over the next two years.

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