SM7.10 Skilled employment (13/12/2004)

1. Skilled employment is employment that requires considerable specialist, technical or management expertise:
   1. obtained through the completion of recognised qualifications; or
   2. obtained through work experience that has enabled a person to gain a comparable level of skill to that which would have been gained through the completion of a relevant recognised qualification; or
   3. developed through work experience in which that expertise was a key component.

SM7.10.1 Assessment of whether employment is skilled

An offer of employment or current employment in New Zealand will therefore be assessed as skilled if:

1. 1. it is relevant to the principal applicant’s recognised qualification; and
   2. it requires considerable specialist, technical or management expertise; or
2. 1. the employer considers, and the NZIS is satisfied, that the employment requires considerable technical, specialist or managerial expertise that the principal applicant has obtained through relevant previous work experience in which that expertise was a key component; and
   2. that employment is in an occupation listed at Appendix 11; or
   3. the level of expertise required for that employment is comparable with the level of expertise required for one of the occupations specified in Appendix 11; or
   4. the employment will contribute to New Zealand’s future growth and skill base; or
   5. the employment of the principal applicant in that occupation will enhance the quality of New Zealand’s accomplishments and participation in that occupational area because the principal applicant has an international reputation and record or excellence in that field.

      Note: Where necessary, officers will consult with relevant industry bodies to determine the level of skill required for a particular employment position.

SM7.10.5 Relevance of qualification(s) to employment

Qualifications are relevant to employment if the employer considers, and a visa or immigration officer is satisfied that:

1. The major subject area of the principal applicant’s recognised qualification is directly applicable to the employment, or
2. The employment is in an occupation for which a core requirement is a qualification at the academic, trade or technical level of the principal applicant’s recognised qualification.

   Note: For the purposes of this provision, ‘qualifications’ must meet the requirements for recognition set out in SM14.5 but are not required to be the same qualification(s) that qualifies for points under the Qualifications part of this policy (see SM14).

SM7.10.10 Relevance of work experience to employment

Work experience is relevant to employment if the employer considers, and a visa or immigration officer is satisfied that:

1. the work experience is directly applicable to the employment; and
2. the offer of employment could not reasonably have been made or the employment could not reasonably have been undertaken if the applicant did not have that work experience.

Effective 13/12/2004