[red]

Hi everyone,
My OH plans to go to NZ beginning of February to look for a job and if successful the rest of the family will follow. We plan to get a work permit and then apply for PR whilst living in NZ. My question is; does the job offer have to be in an area of skills shortage in order to qualify for a work permit? Do we need police checks, medicals from the UK to apply for a work permit?
Any help would be gratefully received; I know some people have done it this way but need reassurance that it is possible for jobs not on a skills shortage list. OH is a electrical/mechanical engineer and has worked in management in this field for over 20 years. We hope that getting a job offer will be possible but whether or not it will be on the skills shortage list is another matter.....

Thanks in advance folks.

[mgbridges]

Hi red,

Not sure about whether job offer would need to be on skills shortage list or not. However, you will need police check and (I think) medical to get work permit. In the UK its likely your police check will take the full 40 days that they say it will so get that in quick. Also don't forget that when you get to ITA stage you need a police check for every country that you have lived in for 12mths or more during the last 10yrs.

My OH got a work permit whilst waiting for PR to come through and he was able to reference the police check and medical that we'd already submitted with the ITA.

Good luck with it all,
Anneliese

[KerryS]

The police check and medical is only needed if you're applying for a work visa over 12 or 24 months - I can't remember which off the top of my head.

You can get your medical done in NZ though for a lot less money and hassle, but you'd need your police cert from the UK. A medical is only valid for 3 months, whereas the police cert lasts for 6.

I came over this way, and my job wasn't on any lists. But, because it was such a specialised role it was easy enough to get a work permit.

[red]

Thanks for the advice guys:nice1

[ourquest]

As mentioned in other threads you will also need police clearance from any countries of which you hold citizenship...relevant if you have dual citizenship.

[ruthyroo]

My memory of the skills shortage list is this: if the job IS on the skills shortage list then the employer does not have to jump through the hoops of proving that there is no NZ'er around to do the job. If the job is NOT on the SSL then the employer has to complete (yet) another form to demonstrate that the position has been advertised so many times in NZ, and that there have been no suitable applicants. In either case you can apply for a work permit - it's just a more straightforward process from the employer's POV if the job is on the SSL.

Best way of being reassured that you are proceeding correctly is to fill out the WP or ITA forms as if you were applying - even if just for a hypothetical job. That way you can work out if you need NZQA assessment / registrations / police checks / medicals / references / proof of previous experience etc etc and have it all in place before applying - and it means you are more prepared when an employer says they want you to start work in 3 weeks! It can take longer than that just to get the paperwork together never mind the WP processed!

[ourquest]

My memory of the skills shortage list is this: if the job IS on the skills shortage list then the employer does not have to jump through the hoops of proving that there is no NZ'er around to do the job. If the job is NOT on the SSL then the employer has to complete (yet) another form to demonstrate that the position has been advertised so many times in NZ, and that there have been no suitable applicants. In either case you can apply for a work permit - it's just a more straightforward process from the employer's POV if the job is on the SSL.


The skills shortage list exists in the first place because the govt have determined that not enough New Zealanders have those skills, which is why employers do not have the burden of providing proof that they looked for one.

Additionally, an accredited employer does not have to provide this proof at all; they may employ anyone (skilled) who can legally work in New Zealand without this additional paperwork. An offer from one of these companies is therefore a more secure offer. This categorisation is specific to NZIS and companies apply to NZIS for the status, which is valid for 12 months. There are currently 371 such companies, there is a list on NZIS website...to find it enter a search on the site for "accredited employer", and then at the bottom of the list of matches is a place to search for exact phrases: type "accredited employer list". It's quite deeply buried in the site.