Changes to Tier 2 Visas

FCO Press Release: Changes to Tier 2 Visas

On 24 March, the UK Government announced changes to Tier 2, the migration route for those undertaking skilled work in the UK. These changes are in response to the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of Tier 2 visas. Details of the announcement can be found here

The changes include the introduction of an immigration skills charge. The purpose of this charge is to incentivise UK employers to invest in training the UK’s resident workforce and reduce reliance on migrant labour. Data shows that, on average, employers in the UK under-invest in training compared to other countries.

"The UK benefits from immigration and is open for business. Migrant workers fill skills gap and help boost our economy, but it is right that UK employers look first to the resident workforce," British High Commissioner Jonathan Sinclair said,

"At the same time, the government runs many routes for New Zealanders to visit, study or work in the UK. Along with Australia and Canada, New Zealand has more visa and non-visa routes than any country into the UK outside the EU,"

"Visitors for less than six months require no visas."
"The government has also taken steps to improve access for young Kiwis. New Zealanders (18-30 years old) on the Youth Mobility Scheme can work for two years in the UK, up from one year last decade. We have increased the number of places on that scheme to 12,000 a year. Anyone on this scheme is unaffected by the recent changes."
These changes will affect New Zealanders applying for Tier 2 (General) visas. In 2015, 600 New Zealanders entered the UK on this route out of a total of over 150,000.

The changes will not affect New Zealanders applying for the Youth Mobility Scheme. In 2015, over 4,000 New Zealanders entered the UK on this route.

You do not need a visa to visit the UK for less than 6 months on a New Zealand passport.

Annual net migration to the UK is at a record high of 336,000 for the year ending September 2015.

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