W5.10 Kiribati Work Permit Scheme (26/07/1999)

1. This scheme allows up to 20 workers per year from Kiribati to be issued with work visas authorising employment for a maximum of 3 years.
2. Applicants must be:
   1. aged between 20 and 45, and
   2. in good health and of good character (see E6), and
   3. resident in Kiribati at the time of applying.

W5.10.1 Employment and administration

1. The Kiribati Honorary Consul in New Zealand is responsible for identifying suitable job opportunities and for arranging placements with employers. There are no restrictions on the types of jobs offered.
2. If training in New Zealand is involved, arrangements are made between the Honorary Consul, the worker and the employer or training institution.
3. The Kiribati Honorary Consul sends details of any jobs identified, including the names of the prospective employers, the numbers of workers and the skills required, to:
   1. the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Cooperatives, in Kiribati, and
   2. the New Zealand High Commission in Tarawa, and
   3. the NZIS office in New Zealand closest to where the jobs are located.
4. The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Cooperatives, is responsible for selecting workers for the scheme and for ensuring that they have the necessary skills.

   Note: in exceptional cases an employer in New Zealand may nominate a particular worker.

5. The selection authorities forward the applications completed by the selected workers to the New Zealand High Commission in Tarawa.

W5.10.5 Work visas and permits

1. A work visa may be issued authorising work for the length of time specified in the guarantee of employment, up to a maximum of 3 years, provided that:
   1. the employment offer is still current, and
   2. the applicant meets the onward travel and repatriation requirements set out in W5.10.10 and W5.10.20 below.
2. Before issuing a visa, visa officers should sight:
   1. a police certificate, and
   2. completed NZIS Medical and X-ray Certificate Forms.
3. Once the visa has been issued, the New Zealand High Commission in Tarawa must return the travel document containing the visa to the Kiribati selection authorities.

W5.10.10 Travel arrangements

1. Travel arrangements are made between:
   • the work scheme participant, and
   • the Kiribati Ministry of Labour, Employment and Cooperatives, and
   • the Honorary Consul for Kiribati in New Zealand.
2. The Kiribati authorities must send the work scheme participant's travel details to the Honorary Consul, who is then responsible for arranging the participant's reception in New Zealand, including their initial accommodation.
3. Wherever feasible, arrangements should be made for work scheme participants to travel to New Zealand in groups.

W5.10.15 Spouses and dependants

1. Initially, Kiribati work scheme participants are expected to travel to New Zealand without family.
2. Spouses and dependants may join them in New Zealand, provided that:
   1. they meet the standard requirements for a visitor's or student visa, as modified to make their maintenance, accommodation and repatriation the responsibility of the work scheme participant, and
   2. satisfactory accommodation arrangements have been made for them.

W5.10.20 Repatriation

1. Kiribati work scheme participants are responsible for saving sufficient funds while they are working in New Zealand to cover return fare costs for themselves and their family.
2. If participants need airfares to be advanced, the Honorary Consul for Kiribati is responsible for making the arrangements and for recovering the costs. These arrangements may involve the Kiribati authorities or the employers through direct contact with the participant.

Effective 26/07/1999