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Qualified to work in New Zealand?
When they begin filling in the paperwork and sorting out the finances, the last thing most migrants think about is whether they’re actually qualified to work in New Zealand
However, regardless of how many years experience you have in your field and the training you've undergone, transferring your skills to New Zealand is more than a case of simply sticking your certificates in the post along with the rest of your documents. The organisation that deals with overseas qualifications is the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Within the NZQA, which deals with all professional and educational training and certification, the Qualifications Recognition Service (QRS) is specifically focused on international qualifications for migrants who wish to work in New Zealand. There are two potential routes a skilled migrant can go down to obtain accredited qualification recognition from the QRS.
A pre-assessment result application is more limited as it can only be used for the Expression of Interest (EOI) that is sent off to Immigration New Zealand, and not as a binding document for employment purposes. With a pre-assessment result application, you are able to fill out the forms either online or via the post, and receive a provisional assessment of your qualifications within ten days.
It's not necessary to actually send hard copies of your professional certificates along with the application forms, and has a fee of NZ$75 (£25). The second option, a full assessment, is more useful as it can be supplied as evidence in you EOI as well as used in seeking employment in your professional field. It comes with a heftier fee, NZ$450 (£150), with an optional fast-track service for an additional NZ$150 (£50), ensuring you receive a result within ten working days instead of the standard 20 day period. Furthermore, with a full assessment, you will need to send original or certified copies, as well as photocopies, of your school and professional certificates (which the NZQA will return to you for a small fee).
If this sends you frantically searching in the attic for high school diplomas that haven't seen the light of day for twenty or more years, there's no need to panic. There is some amount of discretion when it comes to your qualifications assessment, and if you are unable to get a copy of school certificates but have all tertiary and professional accreditation in order, it may not be an issue, although it's always worth getting in touch with the NZQA directly to enquire about your specific circumstances.
Before you get to the stage of sending off documents, however, it might be worthwhile checking to see if you have certification from an institution that is recognised by New Zealand employers. City & Guilds diplomas, for example, have traditionally been accepted by the NZQA, while others have failed to meet the criteria and have no equivalent in New Zealand. The NZQA endorsed KiwiQuals (see below) website has a searchable database where you are able to find out if your qualification is listed.
For some professions, it is also necessary to register with an accredited registration board before you can start working. Engineers, electricians, nurses, architects, teachers, medical practitioners, plumbers and estate agents are a few of the occupations that require registration.
A list of the professional registration bodies are available from the New Zealand Embassy.
For further information:
NZQA
KiwiQuals
New Zealand Embassy
Skilled migrant category
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) for residence in New Zealand works on a points system. If you earn 100 points or more, based on criteria such as qualifications, work experience and a New Zealand job offer, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) into the SMC pool.
Every two weeks EOIs are ranked, a selection is made from the pool, and selected people are verified and invited to apply for residence. Each selection is adjusted to make sure enough applicants are selected to meet the annual number of places set under the residence programme. Currently, EOIs with 140 points or more are selected automatically from the pool. Applicants who score between 100 and 135 points and have a New Zealand job or job offer will be ranked and selected in sufficient numbers to meet the annual quota of skilled migrants.
If enough places are available, other EOIs may be selected on the basis of specific criteria which the Minister of Immigration will set every six months. For example, in the 26th April selection 352 EOIs were selected with 140 points or more, 77 EOIs were selected with 100 to 135 points including points for a job or job offer. An additional 244 EOIs were selected which had 100 points or more and claimed points for occupations in an area of absolute skill shortage.
Your EOI remains in the pool for six months. If it is not selected within that time, you are able to try again. However, you may be able to get a temporary work visa and apply for residence at a later date via either the Skilled Migrant Category or Work to Residence policy.
People who are eligible for a Talent Visa are able to apply for New Zealand residence after they have worked here for two years under the Work to Residence policy. Talent Visa applicants must either have a job offer from an Accredited Employer, have an exceptional talent in arts, culture or sport, or experience and skills in an occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List.
The Long Term Skill Shortage List contains recognised occupations that New Zealand needs skilled people to work in. Click here to see those occupations.
Many employers accredited by Immigration New Zealand are listed on the official website.
People with exceptional talent in arts, culture or sport sponsored by a New Zealand organisation of national repute may also attain a Talent Visa. Young people aged 18 to 30 years from the UK, Ireland and many other countries may apply for a Working Holiday Visa. This is a temporary work option which allows people to get a taste of living in New Zealand. Conditions vary depending on your country of residence.
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