Upcoming changes to Essential Skill Work Visa

Many people heard about changes to Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.  However, they may not know about upcoming changes to Essential Skills Work Visa which will also be implemented by the end of August this year.

New Essential Skills Work Visa will introduce remuneration thresholds to determine skill levels and associated visa conditions.  There are three categories.

1. Higher-Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa
Applicants would get a work visa up to five years.  
Their ANZSCO skill level can be any level but must earn at least $35.24 per hour.  Visas will be available for partners and dependent children.

2. Mid-Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa
Applicants would get a work visa up to three years.  
It will be only for ANZSCO skill level of 1, 2 & 3.  
However, the applicants must earn $23.49 per hour. 
Visas will be available for partners and dependent children.

3. Lower-Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa.
Applicants would get a work visa up to one year.  
Their skills will be ANZSCO skill level of 4 or 5 earning below $35.24 per hour.  

No visas will be available for their partners and dependent children unless they qualify in their own right.  

It means the partners of Low-Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa holder would be no longer eligible for Partners of a Worker Work Visa or a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa.  They would be able to come to NZ if they meet the requirements of a visa in their own right.   A partner would be able to work in NZ if they applied for an Essential Skill Work Visa and satisfied the labour market test.   

The similar approach to the children of Low-Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa holder.  The children would no longer be eligible for a student visa which would give them domestic students status.  It means they would be able to come to NZ only if they meet the requirements of a visa in their own right.  They would be able to study in NZ, if they applied for, and were granted, a student visa as international students. 

Once Low-Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa holders have reached a maximum duration allowed on a lower skilled Essential Skills Work Visa which would be up to one year, there would be a stand down period of one year before they are eligible for another Lower Skilled Essential Skill Work Visa.  

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