2015-Feb 27: Installers and servicers of specialised machinery or equipment

27 February 2015

Installers and servicers of specialised machinery or equipment

New Zealand is a signatory to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which is a World Trade Organization treaty. One of our commitments under the GATS is to allow installers and servicers of specialised machinery or equipment to work in New Zealand. To meet this commitment, installers and servicers are expressly catered for under Specific Purpose or Event immigration instructions (WS2(f)).

During Operations Support’s review of Specific Purpose or Event instructions, a gap in these instructions was brought to our attention by Visa Services offices. While instructions allow work visas to be issued to installers and servicers for three months, they are silent on the maximum duration for these visas. As specified in our commitment under the GATS, visas may be issued for “periods not exceeding three months in any twelve month period”.

Action

Operations Support will put forward a change request to Service Design and Performance to ensure the intent of our commitment under the GATS is more accurately reflected in instructions.

Until the change is made, please follow best practice:

• Installers and servicers should only be issued visas for up to a maximum of three months in any twelve month period (calculate the three in twelve months as you would the nine in eighteen months for visitor visas)
• Refer to this advice in AMS notes when determining visa duration
• Seek further advice from Operations Support if necessary