当サイトでは、NZ移住留学デスクの顧問弁護士事務所に所属する、移住弁護士（immigration specialist）とのミーティングで得たニュージーランド移住に関連した情報をお届けしております。
2016年10月12日
2016年10月12日よりNew Zealand Residence Programme Policyが変更になると2016年10月11日にNew Zealand immigrationより発表されました。
過去2年間で約90,000～100,000だった永住権承認数を2016年7月1日～2018年6月30日までの2年間で、約85,000～95,000まで減らす計画。
SMC（Skilled Migrant Category：技能移民部門）での永住権申請時のポリシーが大きく2点変更となります。
―EOI（Expression Of Interest)の通過ポイントが140から160に変更
―以下のいずれかの英語力の証明が必要
・IELTS over all6.5以上
・下記のいずれか（2016年11月21日より）
Occupational English Test (OET) ：B以上
Cambridge English: First (FCE) and FCE for Schools: 176以上
Pearson Test of English: Academic (PTE: Academic) :58以上
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) ：79以上
・カナダ、アイルランド、イギリス、アメリカの市民権を保持し、かつ、それらの4か国、
もしくはオーストラリア、ニュージーランドで5年以上就労または就学の経験がある
・ニュージーランドのLevel7 Bachelor’s Degreeに相当する学位をオーストラリア、カナダ、
ニュージーランド、アイルランド、イギリス、アメリカ、で取得し、2年以上就学した
・ニュージーランドのLevel8に相当する学位をオーストラリア、カナダ、ニュージーランド、
アイルランド、イギリス、アメリカで取得し、1年以上就学した
New Zealand Residence Programme policy changes
The planning range for the NZRP is being lowered for the two years between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2018. The range will be 85,000 to 95,000 compared with 90,000 to 100,000 for the last two years.
To ensure the number of residence approvals is within the revised planning range the automatic selection mark for migrants applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is being raised from 140 to 160 points.
There are also changes being made to the way SMC applicants can show evidence they meet the English language requirements, which will require more people to undertake formal tests. From November 2016 Immigration New Zealand will be able to accept a wider range of English language tests.
The policy is also being reviewed so that it continues to deliver maximum value for New Zealand.
As well as the changes to the SMC the number of places for the capped family categories is being reduced from 5,500 to 2,000 per year and the Parent Category will be temporarily closed for new applications while it is reviewed. As a result, no Expressions of Interest will be selected from the Parent Category Pool from 12 October 2016.
New Zealand Immigrrationサイト、New Zealand Residence Programme policy changesより一部抜粋
Skilled Migrant Category questions and answers
What is the Skilled Migrant Category and how does it work?
The Skilled Migrant Category is a points-based residence policy, for people who wish to live permanently in New Zealand. A person who wishes to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category must first put in an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Immigration New Zealand, claiming points for factors like their qualifications, work experience and job offer. Immigration New Zealand does a fortnightly draw selecting EOIs based on the points claimed, then invites people with sufficient points to apply.
All applicants must meet some minimum criteria, regarding health, character and English language.
What is changing, when?
Two changes to the Skilled Migrant Category have been announced:
the points threshold for automatic selection has been increased from 140 to 160 from 12 October 2016 (regardless of whether an applicant has a job offer)
the way applicants show evidence that they meet the minimum standard of English language is changing
What is happening with the Skilled Migrant Category points threshold and why?
What was the situation before?
Previously, all EOIs were selected where the person had claimed:
140 points or more
100-139 points, where they claimed points for a New Zealand job offer
What are the changes?
From 12 October 2016 only EOIs with 160 points or more will be selected. This will enable the number of Skilled Migrant Category resident visas granted in 2016/17 to remain within the target range.
Why does this have to change?
New Zealand is currently a popular destination, and therefore there is a very high demand for places under the Skilled Migrant Category. To ensure that this demand is managed effectively, the Government has set the total planning range for the Skilled/Business stream of the NZRP across the 2016/17 and 2017/18 years at 50,500–57,500. If INZ was to continue to select EOIs using the same thresholds as previously, more visas would be granted than the target range allows.
Is the new points threshold of 160 permanent?
No. The automatic selection mark for EOIs may be adjusted as necessary to manage the achievement of the overall New Zealand Residence Programme.
What is happening with evidence of English language and why?
What was the situation before?
The minimum English language requirement for applicants under the Skilled Migrant Category is an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5 across the four language domains (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
Prior to the 12 October change, immigration officers could also consider a variety of alternative pieces of evidence of English language ability in place of an IELTS score, including:
a recognised qualification where the medium of instruction was English
one year of skilled employment in New Zealand
other evidence that the applicant is a competent user of English (for example the country in which the applicant resides, the nature of their current or previous employment, whether members of the applicant’s family speak English).
In any case, an immigration officer could still require the applicant to provide an IELTS test.
What are the changes about who has to do a test?
People who are invited to apply from 12 October onwards will not be able to use the same alternative evidence of English language in place of a test as previously. The evidence that can be accepted in place of a test will be limited to:
citizenship of Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America provided the applicant has spent at least five years in work or education in one or more of those countries or Australia or New Zealand; or
a recognised qualification comparable to a New Zealand level 7 bachelor’s degree and gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America as a result of study undertaken for at least two academic years in one or more of those countries; or
a recognised qualification comparable to a New Zealand qualification at level 8 or above and gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America as a result of study undertaken for at least one academic year in one or more of those countries.
People invited to apply before 12 October will not be affected and may still use the alternatives previously in place. They only need to provide what Immigration New Zealand has already requested on the invitation to apply.
What are the changes about what kind of tests Immigration New Zealand will accept?
From 21 November 2016, Immigration New Zealand will accept a wider range of English language tests.
New Zealand Immigrrationサイト、Skilled Migrant Category questions and answersより一部抜粋
※NZの法律上（the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007）、NZ移住留学デスクではNZ移民局サイトに記載されている内容や弁護士からのアドバイスをサイト上に掲載することはできますが、それ以上の内容に関しては公表することができません
※上記は全て当社顧問弁護士とのミーティングを通して得た情報で、こちらに関してのお問い合わせは受け付けておりません
ニュージーランド移住・留学についてのお問合せはコチラからどうぞ
＜当社顧問弁護士紹介＞
ケントンチャンバーズ弁護士事務所（Kenton Chambers Lawyers）
Level 8, 300 Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand
+64-9-358-1900
韓国系ニュージーランド人、Ken Oh代表（Barrister & Solicitor）率いる弁護士事務所。
9人の弁護士が所属し、移民関連やビザ関連はもちろん、投資、不動産売買、民事訴訟や刑事訴訟も扱う。
＜韓国系NZ人弁護士との顧問契約の理由＞
同弁護士事務所は歴史もありビザ関連の取り扱い件数も多く移民弁護士としての評判が非常に高いことはもちろん、韓国系弁護士の場合、（日本と韓国が）文化的に近いこともあり顧客の状況をよく理解しており、的確なアドバイスが得られるためです。
（例えば戸籍という概念は日本と韓国にしかなく、家族関係を証明したい際に戸籍謄本を提出してもNZ人だとそれが何を示すものか分からない人もいます、その点韓国系NZ人はそういった点もよく理解しており、迅速且つ丁寧に対応してもらえます）