New Zealand has followed suit with Australia and Canada by increasing the qualifications required for foreigners to secure jobs in the country, tightening its visa rules in the process.

This change is expected to impact Indians looking for job opportunities in New Zealand.

The New Zealand government has introduced new visa guidelines to manage the flow of migrants considered ‘unsuitable’ for entry into the country.

The updated guidelines incorporate English language proficiency, work experience, and skill requirements, alongside a reduction in the work visa duration from 5 years to 3 years.

On Sunday, Erica Stanford, the Immigration Minister of New Zealand, revealed adjustments to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

Instituted in 2022 to address workforce shortages stemming from the pandemic and lockdowns, AEWV stands as the primary temporary work visa.

Erica Stanford emphasized the government’s commitment to drawing in and keeping highly skilled migrants, including secondary teachers, to address skill shortages. Concurrently, she stressed the importance of prioritizing job opportunities for New Zealanders in sectors where skill shortages aren’t prevalent.

Stanford also noted that the visa restrictions could be advantageous for migrant rights.

The updated regulations are likely to pose increased challenges for individuals from India and other non-Anglosphere nations seeking employment opportunities in New Zealand.

Around 18,000 individuals from India have immigrated to New Zealand since 2011, as per data from ENZ.org, a New Zealand government affiliate.

According to the 2018 NZ census, individuals of Indian descent make up approximately 4.7% of New Zealand’s total population.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported in October 2023 that New Zealand is home to around 250,000 individuals of Indian origin and NRIs (non-resident Indians), the majority of whom have established permanent residency there.

The statement noted that last year, nearly 173,000 individuals migrated to New Zealand, a country with a population of approximately 5.1 million.

Australia previously declared a plan to reduce its migrant intake by half within the next two years.

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