New Zealand has introduced stricter visa rules to control the number of immigrants coming into the country, following similar moves by Australia and Canada. The changes, announced on April 7, focus on raising job qualification standards under the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV).
The aim is to address last year’s high migration levels, which were seen as unsustainable. These new rules, including criteria like English proficiency, work experience, and skills, may affect Indian immigrants looking for work in New Zealand. Additionally, the permitted duration of stay with a work permit has been reduced.
This overhaul of the immigration system is meant to manage the flow of migrants considered unsuitable for entry. It’s worth noting that the Indian population in New Zealand has been steadily increasing, with about 4.7% of the population being Indian according to the 2018 census. The Ministry of External Affairs stated in October 2023 that around 250,000 people of Indian origin and NRIs live in New Zealand, with approximately 18,000 Indians having migrated there since 2011, according to data from ENZ.org.
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