Visa restrictions in New Zealand expected to impact Indian immigrants

Following the lead of Australia and Canada, New Zealand has introduced stricter visa regulations aimed at regulating immigration numbers by raising the criteria for job qualifications in the country.

New Zealand said on Sunday (Apr 7) that it was immediately making changes to its Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV) following a near-record migration last year which it said was "unsustainable."

While the effectiveness of these newly added criteria is uncertain, the measures are expected to affect Indians seeking employment in New Zealand.

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The updated requirements includes English proficiency, work experience, and skill criteria, while also reducing the duration of stay permitted with a work permit. Through this overhaul of the immigration system, the New Zealand government aims to manage the influx of migrants it deems "unsuitable" for entry into the country.

Notably, there has been a stable rise in the number of Indians in New Zealand. As per the 2018 New Zealand census, Indians made up about 4.7 per cent of the population.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in October 2023 said New Zealand has approximately 2,50,000 persons of Indian origin and NRIs, most of whom are settled there permanently. Data on ENZ.org (a New Zealand government affiliate) indicates that approximately 18,000 Indians have migrated to the country since 2011.

In October 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that New Zealand is home to around 250,000 individuals of Indian origin and NRIs, the majority of whom have established permanent residency there. Data from ENZ.org, an affiliate of the New Zealand government, suggests that approximately 18,000 Indians have immigrated to the country since 2011.

Rebuilding the economy

Immigration Minister Stanford added that at the same time, it had to be ensured that New Zealanders were put to the front of the line for jobs where there were no skills shortages.

“Getting our immigration settings right is critical to this Government’s plan to rebuild the economy," she said and highlighted that by having an English language requirement, migrants would be better able to understand their rights or raise concerns about an employer early.

In 2023, nearly 173,000 migrated to New Zealand

Last year,nearly 173,000 people migrated to New Zealand, a near record. Stanford also said in the statement that most of the changes in AEWV were not new, but rather a return to the pre-pandemic settings that better balanced the needs of business with the wider interests of the country.

“It is important that the AEWV settings facilitate the right mix of skilled temporary migrants to address genuine skill and labour shortages, support rebuilding the economy, and help manage numbers and pressures on core infrastructure, such as schools, housing, and the health system,” she added.

With a population of about 5.1 million, New Zealand has seen a rapid growth in its migrant numbers since the end of the pandemic, raising concerns in 2023 that it was fanning inflation.

(With inputs from agencies)