Middle Eastern News

Proposed Immigration Changes Could Help NZ Educated Students Get Visas

Friday, 26 September 2008

Leading up to a November 8 election, New Zealand's National Party announced their plans for immigration policy, and applicants who have trained in NZ would benefit under their planned changes.

Under these changes, those with qualifications earned in New Zealand would have a better chance of earning the proposed "Silver Fern Visa", which would allow them to stay in the country to look for work. A New Zealand qualification would count for more points towards the visa than a qualification earned in another country.

The new visa is planned to help New Zealand fill shortages for highly-skilled workers in a variety of fields. Those with tertiary qualifications for other countries would also be eligible, but the renumeration threshold would be lower for those educated in New Zealand.

The National Party is currently the main opposition party in New Zealand, led by John Key. The current government is led by the Labour Party and their Prime Minister Helen Clark. The introduction of this proposed policy change is dependent on the National Party becoming the government after the November 8, 2008 election.