Essential Skills Work Visa

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has changed the process for testing the labour to more effectively prioritise New Zealand job seekers. The new Skills Match Report is available from 19 July 2021 onwards.

The median wage has been increased from NZ$ 25.50 per hour to NZ$ 27.00 per hour. The new median wage ($27.00) will apply to applications that are made from 19 July 2021. Any applications made on 18 July 2021 or earlier will be assessed under the previous median wage threshold ($25.50).

Applicant paid below the median wage and therefore eligible for a 24 months visa, will be eligible for the full duration if their application is made before or on 30 June 2022. The stand-down will not apply until the end of that visa.

The applicants under these new instructions must apply using a new paper-based form available on the INZ website. However, from 30 August 2021, an online form will be made available on the INZ website.

• Employers no longer need to provide evidence of genuine attempts to recruit New Zealanders as the requirement for meeting the labour market test has been abolished for the time being.
• Providing an employment agreement with the application or evidence that the applicant is suitably qualified for the job they are currently in is no longer required.
• Providing medical and police certificates is no longer required if these were provided with a previous application.

Applicants no longer need to provide medical and police certificates if this information has previously been submitted to INZ. The application process for applicants remaining in their current role has been simplified.

If the client has been PPI’d on the LMT not being met, the Immigration Officer will contact the client/ adviser to let them know that this no longer needs a response.

The following changes have been made:

• For jobs paid below the median wage, the maximum duration of visa validity has beenextended from 12 months to 24 months.
• The requirement for a Labour Market test (LMT)has been removed if the applicant is-
  • working full time (30 hours per week) and
  • applying for a further visa in the same role, for the same employer and in the same region on a full time basis.

The new changes apply to applicants who, at the time of application, hold the following kinds of work visas:

• A work visa (this includes open work visas such as Working Holiday visas and partnership based visas)
• A student visa with conditions allowing unlimited work rights
• Critical Purpose visa holders granted as a critical health worker, or granted for more than six months as an Other Critical Worker (OCW) (including other critical workers who are part of a class exception).