Now, New Zealand toughens immigration requirements
In an attempt to limit immigration in the country, the government of New Zealand has decided to toughen visa norms for skilled immigrants. New Zealand's Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said "We are absolutely committed to the principle of kiwis first." He said the move would also improve the quality of immigrants. The change primarily involves introducing higher income thresholds.
Immigration figures in New Zealand
New Zealand has a population of 4.8 million people. As on February 2017, there were 71,300 immigrants in the country, which is equivalent to 1.5% of the country's population. Just 5 years earlier, immigration in the country was negative, with more people leaving than coming in. The largest number of immigrants in the country are from China, India and the United Kingdom.
What contributed to the rise in immigration?
Analysts say that since 2012, New Zealand's economy has been slowly on the rise. It now records a steady 3% annual growth rate, and this has attracted several citizens who had left the country earlier. This also made it a less competitive destination for skilled-immigrants.
What are the new norms?
The median annual wage in New Zealand is NZ $49000. Under new norms, skilled immigrants will have to secure a job that pays them at least the median wage to qualify for immigration. Highly skilled immigrants will have to earn at least 150% of the median income to qualify for immigration. Workers with lower skills, will now have a three-year limit to stay.
