New Zealand Work Visa 2022 | long Term Skill Shortage Visa | How to apply?

Foreign workers can live and work in New Zealand with family. They have the option to migrate via permanent residency or New Zealand working visa either. Visitors cannot work on a tourist visa.

Therefore, aspirants need to get a work permit. New Zealand immigration allows foreign workers to work on a temporary or long-term basis. Usually, job seekers who are outside New Zealand want to know about the easiest way. Because there are various categories of the work permit.

Hence, in this blog, I am sharing some details about the long-term skill shortage work visa of New Zealand, because its requirements are very low.

First, I will discuss the importance of that work visa category. So, it will be easy for you to match your profile for eligibility. Afterward, you can go through the steps by step process of the program. So, let’s dig-out further details.

New Zealand work Visa requirement under a long-term skill shortage category

This work visa category offers candidates a pathway to New Zealand permanent residence. To qualify for New Zealand work visa under LTSSL, you’ll need to have the specific qualification, work experience, a job offer, and occupational registration in New Zealand.

Also, your age at the time of the application should be under 55 years. You can apply if it enlists your occupation on the long-term skill shortage list. Your spouse and children can also apply for visas on behalf of their relationship with you. 

You can work in New Zealand for 30 months under this visa. However, you can apply for a New Zealand PR after 2 years, if working in the same occupation. And your occupation should be on the long-term skill shortage list at the time of your residence application. So, let’s have a look at the skill shortage list.

Long Term Skill Shortage List of New Zealand

This list allows candidates to evaluate their eligibility for a New Zealand work visa under this migrant class. The long-term skill shortage list or (LTSSL) reflects the labor shortage in specific occupations all over New Zealand. The list also includes details & requirements about the absolute skill shortage areas of New Zealand’s economy.

So, you can easily check if your profession is on the LTSSL. Besides, you can go through the eligibility & requirements of the occupation. 

Importantly, overseas qualifications need to be comparable with the New Zealand qualification framework standards. Therefore, you may require a qualification assessment from New Zealand’s authority NZQF.

However, some occupations have exemption and do not require an assessment. Hence, you need to check your occupational requirements on the long-term skill shortage list.   

New Zealand immigration reviews and updates the long-term skill shortage list every 6 months. This means that the authorities may add or remove some occupations from the list. Usually, the LTSSL includes occupational groups such as;

• Construction
• Health & Social Services
• Engineering
• Finance & Business
• Information Technology
• Telecommunication
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Electrical Trades
• Mechanical Trades
• Science

You can go through the full list on the New Zealand immigration website. There are several occupations listed under occupational groups.

Job Offer Requirement

You need to get a full-time job offer to apply for a New Zealand work visa under the long-term skill shortage category. You can find a New Zealander employer online. Many websites are showcasing the current job positions such as;

• Seek Co NZ
• Trademe NZ
• NZ indeed

So, you can search for an employer who is currently hiring. Read the job description properly and ensure you are a suitable candidate for that vacancy. Visit the company or employer’s site to collect their work-related details and tailor your resume accordingly. 

Your employment contract must include your complete details, employer’s details, work and pay details. Make sure the job offer is genuine. Otherwise, the consequence will bring rejection and financial loss to you. 

New Zealand Accredited employers list

What jobs are in demand in New Zealand?

Corresponding to a Survey-Report 2021, in-demand jobs in New Zealand are:

• Information Technology: Software Engineers, UI/UX Designers, and Product Owners.
• Engineering: Civil Engineers, Technical Facilities Managers, Geo-technical Engineers, and Licencee Cadastral Surveyors.
• Construction: Project Architects, Revit Technicians. Project Manager, Site Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Contract Managers, Fore-people, Project Engineers.
• Business & Finance: Project Manager, Business Analysts, CA Accountants, Pay-rollers, Financial Accountants.

Eligibility Criteria

Once you get a genuine job offer, then you have to meet the criteria for eligibility. For that purpose, you need to visit the long-term skill shortage work visa official page. 

You will see a tab ‘Check Criteria’, click on that. In the drop-menu, fill in your nationality and location details. Then hit on the ‘view’ tab. It will redirect you to another page where you will see the program’s eligibility 9 factors and their detail. Such as;

1. Identity
2. Health
3. Character
4. Genuine Intention
5. Age
6. Job offer
7. Qualification
8. Work Experience
9. Occupational registration

To meet all eligibility criteria factors, you can go through the relevant details and links. 

How to apply for a New Zealand work visa under the LTSSL category?

You can submit your application for New Zealand work visa online or on paper. However, I am illustrating the method of online application here as it is relatively easy.

1st Step

So, to submit an online work visa application, you need to go to the New Zealand Immigration website and create an account called RealMe.

2nd Step

After you complete account creation on NZ RealMe, launch your application online for a New Zealand work visa. You must enclose scanned copies of your supporting documentation. Then, pay the New Zealand work visa fees of $635 online. Remember the fee is non-refundable, if your visa application declines.  

3rd Step

Authorities will review the New Zealand work visa application once it is submitted online. After that, New Zealand Immigration will then notify you of its decision via email. For New Zealand long-term skilled-shortage work visas, the processing time is four months. 

4th Step

If your work visa application is approved, the authorities will instruct you to go to the Visa Application Center (usually VFS Global) and submit your passport.

Final Step

Then, you can go to the Visa application Center (VAC) on the scheduled date to get your passport and a New Zealand work visa. Then, pack your bags and take off for New Zealand.

Qualification Assessment 

This is a very important factor for this program. Many candidates are interested to apply for a New Zealand Work visa. But they feel so confused to know whether they need qualification assessment?

No worries, keep in mind that is super easy. If it does not exempt your occupation, then you can apply for qualification assessment online. However, you can easily check by visiting the official site as below;

• NZQA
• Qualifications Exempt from Assessment 

Occupation Registration for New Zealand work visa via LTSSL

In order to work in New Zealand, you do not need to register your occupation such as ‘Accountant’. Unlike, for some jobs, registration is mandatory, for example ‘Dentist’. Thus, before applying for a work visa, apply for an occupational registration. 

To confirm if your occupation requires registration or not, simply visit the long-term skill shortage work visa website. Then click on the occupation registration section. By clicking on the registration button, you see another page to find your occupation details. 

FAQs

Conclusion

There are several categories of New Zealand work visas that are difficult to understand. So in this article, I have covered all the aspects of a category long-term skill-shortage list.

Additionally, all aspects of the eligibility test and the application process are explained in simple language for those who wish to work in New Zealand. However, if you still have a question, you can ask in the comment box.

Watch this video: New Zealand Work Visa 2021 | Long Term Skill Shortage Visa | How to apply?