05 Feb New Zealand 2018 immigration changes
The latest immigration news is that Immigration New Zealand has increased the remuneration thresholds for Skilled Migrant visa and Essential Skills visa applications, with effect from 15 January 2018.
What’s behind the 2018 immigration changes?
We’ve all seen how, year on year, annual surveys show that New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world in which to live. So we’re not surprised it’s also one of the most popular immigration destinations in the world too. However, while New Zealand needs and welcomes skilled migrants from all over the world to fill existing skills gaps in its workforce, it also has to make sure that its own citizens are not disadvantaged when it comes to finding employment in their own country.
As a result, New Zealand immigration law, and its rules and regulations, change constantly to be able to get the right balance between ensuring high employment levels for New Zealanders while at the same time making it possible for skilled migrants to work in New Zealand and help promote the country’s continued economic growth.
2018 immigration changes to remuneration thresholds in visa categories
In a previous article we explained how, in August 2017, Immigration New Zealand was tightening immigration rules and points categories by, among other things, introducing remuneration or salary thresholds in the Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills visa categories, to help better manage migration levels.
From 15 January this year, Immigration New Zealand has increased those remuneration thresholds for the Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills visa categories.
Why revise the visa salary thresholds?
The remuneration thresholds introduced last year for the Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills visa categories are indexed against the New Zealand median income, which is updated annually. As mentioned earlier, New Zealand immigration law is also focused on making sure that New Zealanders seeking employment in their own country are not pushed to the back to the employment queue by lower-paid migrants.
In a nutshell, the minimum income threshold for a resident visa application under the Skilled Migrant immigration visa category has increased from NZ$48,860 to NZ$50,523; while the minimum income threshold for the temporary Essential Skill work visa category has increased from NZ$41,537 to NZ$42,952.
Here’s an overview of what’s changed in the remuneration thresholds for these visa categories
| SKILLED MIGRANT IMMIGRATION VISA remuneration threshold for employment in a job at: | Before 15 January 2018 | From 15 January 2018 |
| ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) skill levels 1 to 3 | $23.49 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) | $24.29 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) |
| ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, or a level not included in ANZSCO | $35.24 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) | $36.44 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) |
| To earn bonus points | $46.98 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) | $48.58 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) |
| ESSENTIAL SKILLS WORK VISA remuneration threshold for employment in a job at: | Before 15 January 2018 | From 15 January 2018 |
| ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations) skill levels 1 to 3 | $19.97 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) | $20.65 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) |
| ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5, or a higher level not included in ANZSCO | $35.24 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) | $36.44 per hour or more (or equivalent annual salary) |
How do these changes to visa salary thresholds affect current visas and visa applications?
The 2018 visa remuneration threshold changes will not affect visas that have already been granted, nor will they affect work visa applications or immigration or residence visa applications received by Immigration New Zealand before 15 January 2018.
However, any new work visa applications or renewal, or immigration or residence visa applications made on or after 15 January will be subject to the new remuneration thresholds.
For more information about the recent immigration changes, simply contact the friendly Auckland immigration lawyers and consultants at Auckland law firm Quay Law.
The key to successful New Zealand visa applications
New Zealand immigration law is complicated, and, as mentioned above, the rules change constantly in response to the changing needs of the country’s labour market. The key to a successful New Zealand immigration or work visa application is to apply for the right visa category, and then present your visa application properly to Immigration New Zealand.
This is where your Auckland immigration lawyer at Auckland law firm Quay Law can be a great help. Our immigration lawyers understand the finer details and rules of New Zealand immigration law and can give you the best possible immigration advice for your unique situation. So contact the immigration consultants at Quay Law today.
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