Essential Skills in Demand Lists

The Essential Skills In Demand Lists are the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) and the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL). 

We use the LTSSL in relation to both temporary work policy and residence policy. If you come to work in New Zealand based on meeting the LTSSL requirements, you may be eligible for residence through our Work to Residence (Long Term Skill Shortage List) policy, or the Skilled Migrant Category.

We only use the ISSL in relation to temporary work policy. If you come to work in New Zealand based on meeting the ISSL requirements, there is no direct link to residence.

If you meet the requirements on the list, and the policy requirements, we will accept that no New Zealanders are available for the position(s). See more about the lists, and the review.

You can search either list on its own, or you can do a broader search of both lists at once. (PDF files are also available: LTSSL PDF and ISSL PDF.)

Immigration New Zealand's Response to the Canterbury Earthquake

As part of its response to the Canterbury earthquake, Immigration New Zealand is working closely with other Government agencies to identify occupations where skill shortages may occur, for example, in the infrastructure or construction sectors to ensure that where an immigration response is required we are able to respond in a timely manner. For instance, this may result in changes being made to the Essential Skills in Demand Lists before our next review which is due for completion in mid 2011.

What if my occupation is not on one of the lists?

If you want to apply for a temporary work visa/permit (or recruit temporary workers from overseas), the occupation does not have to be on one of the lists. The employer must show that they have genuinely searched for suitably qualified and trained New Zealander workers, and we will undertake a labour market test. Alternatively, an employer with Approval in Principle may be able to recruit employers from overseas.