Immediate Skills Shortage List (ISSL)

This list is used in the approval of temporary work visa and permit applications.

If your occupation is listed on this list, and you have an offer of employment in that occupation, the INZ officers will automatically accept that there are no suitably qualified New Zealand citizens or residents available to undertake the role.

The current revision has seen the following occupations being deleted off the ISSL:

• Architectural Designer

• Architectural Draughtsperson (Civil CAD Designer)

• Architectural Draughtsperson

• Graphic Artist

• Fire Alarm Technician

• Florist (Senior)

• Gas Fitter

• Vehicle Body Builder (Bus or Coach only)

• Horse Trainer (Stallion Master)

• Horse Trainer (Stud Groom)

• Jockey

• Trackwork Rider

• Telecommunications Technician

• Marine Designer – now added to the LTSSL

• Systems Analyst - now added to the LTSSL

• Software Engineer - now added to the LTSSL

• ICT Support and Test Engineer - now added to the LTSSL

The following occupations have been added to the ISSL:

• Automotive Technician (Motor Mechanic)

• Scaffolder (Advanced)

Long Term Skills Shortage List (LTSSL)

This list is used as a source of occupations which, if listed, can result in the reward of bonus points for points test purposes. The list is also used to identify migrants who may qualify for the work to residence visa program.

The current revision of the LTSSL has led to the addition of the following occupations to the LTSSL:

• Ship’s Officer

• Ship’s Master

• Forest Scientist

• Conductor (Conductive Education Practitioner)*

• Construction Project Manager (Chip Sealing, Asphalt or other Technical Manager) (Roading and Infrastructure)*

• Construction Project Manager (Roading and Infrastructure)*

• Ship’s Engineer*

Only one occupation has been deleted from the list, and that is the occupation of architect.

Please see the full lists by clicking here: Amendment Circular LTSSL and ISSL September 2010

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Sort Out My Visa is a registered and licensed Australian and NZ visa specialist, providing visa and migration services to individuals and families wanting to travel to, conduct business, work or live in Australia or New Zealand. Visit Sort Out My Visa for more information.

1. The Department has issued new Medical and X-Ray forms. Old forms will continue to be accepted until 30 November 2009, but if you have not completed your medical and x-ray checks, it is always better to use new forms.

   These can be downloaded from here:
   http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/news/meds.htm

2. The Department has introduced a new Investment Migrant Policy. This policy allows people with anywhere from NZ$2.5 million to NZ$10 million to make an investment in NZ in return for residence. The policy recognises two types of investor: One who has no business experience but sufficient assets to be able to invest NZ$10 million in NZ for 3 years. And the other who may have less money to invest but who has at least 3 years worth of business experience.

   Please contact us for more information about the investor migrant visa.

3. The Department has changed fees as charged by overseas branches. The new fees will apply from the 17th of August this year. Details of the new fees charged by the Immigration New Zealand London branch can be found here:

   http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/news/FeesChangesAug09.htm

Immigration New Zealand has concluded it’s review of the Immediate Skills Shortage List (ISSL) and, due to the economic downturn and it’s consultations with various labour representatives, it has decided to remove 44 occupations from the list!

What does this mean for you?

This means that as of today if you want to claim points for having an occupation or qualifications or experience in what is regarded as an area where New Zealand is experiencing a shortage of skilled professionals, you will have to ensure that your occupations is still listed on the revised list.

If your occupation is no longer on the list, you may still be able to qualify for a temporary work permit (with the possibility of applying for a permanent visa at a later stage). But you will have to have an offer of employment from a New Zealand employer who is able to show that he/she has made a genuine effort to find individuals to fill the role from within New Zealand.

genuine attempts to recruit a suitable New Zealander, as is the process with all other occupations.  If, after the labour market is tested, Immigration New Zealand is satisfied no suitable New Zealanders are available in that location then temporary work permits will still be granted.

Here is the full list of occupations which have been removed from the ISSL:

Occupations which were identified as readily trainable and those for which New Zealanders may be available were prioritised for review, to ensure opportunities for New Zealanders.

Occupations no longer on the New Zealand Immediate Skills Shortage List:

The occupations being removed from the ISSL with effect from Monday 15 June 2009 are:

• Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operators
• Autoglaziers
• Bakers
• Bicycle Mechanics
• Binders and Finishers (this includes Perfect Binders and Print Finishers)
• Bricklayers
• Butchers or smallgoods makers
• Cabinetmakers (marine)
• Carpenters (including builder)
• Crane, Hoist or Lift Operators
• Dental Assistants
• Drainlayers
• Earthmoving Labourers (Asphalt, concrete, chip sealing and road pavement workers only)
• Electronic equipment and electronic instrument trades workers
• Motor mechanics (automotive technician)
• Painting trades workers (painter, decorator and paper hanger)
• Paving Plant Operators (Roading)
• Pig Farmers (Farm Manager) (Pork Industry)
• Pig Farm Workers (Senior Stockperson only)
• Plasterers (fibrous and solid)
• Plastics Die Setters
• Printing machinists (including die cutter operators, die makers, flexographic printers and folder gluer operators, sheet fed offset printers, and stitcher operators).
• Product Assemblers (Aluminium Joiner)
• Reinforced Plastic and Composite Production Workersa (Fibreglass)
• Reinforced Plastic and Composite Production Workers (Marine Laminator)
• Roof Tiler and Plumbers and Supervisors of both.
• Scaffolders
• Screen Printers
• Sheep Farm Workers (Senior Shepherd/ Stock Manager)
• Sheep Farm Workers (Shepherd only)
• Sheetmetal trades workers
• Sommeliers
• Textile Dyeing and Finishing Machine Operators (Fabric Finishing Specialist/Technologist)
• Travel Consultants (Senior)
• Vehicle painters (including refinisher)
• Web-offset Printers

If you have any concers about this please feel free to contact us for a re-evaluation of your best visa options.

Alternately visit the INZ website for more information.