Standardized Definitions for Essential Skills Labour Market Test and Skill Level 5 Rule

Policy effect

Implemented binding mutual definitions agreed between the Minister of Immigration and Minister for Social Development for 'Available', 'Suitable New Zealand citizens or residents who can take up the work on offer', and 'Suitable New Zealand citizens or residents who can readily be trained to do the work on offer' across Essential Skills work visa applications, establishing that qualifications and work experience are not relevant for ANZSCO Skill Level 5 positions. Phase scope: Full operational application across Essential Skills work visa applications requiring a labour market test

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Definitions on key terms under the Essential Skills Work Visa category to support labour market tests. 27 March 2015 Definitions to key terms to support the labour market test for essential skills work visas The Minister of Immigration and the Minister for Social Development have recently agreed to mutual definitions for the following terms, which are used for labour market tests: ‘Available’, ‘Suitable New Zealand citizens or residents who can take up the work on offer’ and ‘Suitable New Zealand citizens or residents who can readily be trained to do the work on offer’. Defining these terms will improve the clarity and consistency of the advice Work and Income (W&I) provides to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and make the process for approving or declining visa applications more transparent.

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2015

• 2015-05-08Immigration Amendment Act (No. 2)
• 2015-08-06A designated person must not enter New Zealand or transit through New Zealand.
• 2015-11-01Entrepreneur Work Visa regional bonus increased from 20 to 40 points
• 2015-11-01Skilled Migrant Category Bonus Points Increase for Regional Employment Outside Auckland
• 2015-11-03Character exception for qualifying Filipino dairy workers with earlier false visa evidence
• 2015-12-07Joint declaration permitted as partnership evidence for a partner included in a visitor visa application
• 2015-12-07Pathway Student Visa pilot launched for consecutive study programmes
• 2015-12-07Recognised Seasonal Employers required to provide access to lawful remittance services
• 2015-12-07Refugee Family Support Category sponsorship extended to qualifying Afghan interpreters and accompanying family
• 2015-12-07Student visa provision for multiple short-term English language programmes
• 2015-12-20Korea Working Holiday Scheme annual places increased from 1,800 to 3,000
• 2015-12-20Korea Working Holiday Scheme three-month limit with one employer removed
• 2015-12-20Republic of Korea added to the Primary Sector Trainees route with 50 places
• 2015-12-20Special work route introduced for qualifying Korean citizens in specified occupations