Latest updates in global
immigration

13 December 2022

This week, the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters would like to highlight the following recent updates from Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Canada: Work permission for spouses

Starting in January 2023, through a temporary 2-year measure, Canada will gradually expand eligibility to work in Canada to spouses and working-age children for workers at all skill levels. The temporary measure will be implemented in 3 phases to ensure its successful implementation:

  • Phase 1 will enable family members of workers coming to Canada through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program to apply for an open work permit.
  • Phase 2 aims to expand the measure to the family members of workers from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, following consultations.
  • Phase 3 will include consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders to assess operational feasibility for expanding the measure to family members of agricultural workers.

Currently, spouses are only eligible for a work permit if the principal applicant is working in a high-skill occupation.

The system generates a red or green QR code. Holders of a green code can use express lanes at the airport on arrival.  Those with red codes will be interviewed on arrival and may be subject to institutional quarantine or PCR testing.

Denmark: Temporary work permits for quick job starts

The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has announced that temporary work permits for quick job start on the fast-track scheme are available at its new branch office in Esbjerg, from now until January 2023.

An appointment can be booked for a quick job start at Esbjerg by writing to the employing company’s contact person at SIRI no later than 12 noon the day before the required appointment time, or by calling the company’s contact person within their agreed hours of availability.  Booking an appointment via the link in the receipt received after submission of an application for the fast-track scheme is not possible at Esbjerg.

It is not possible to book an appointment for quick job start at SIRI Sønderborg.

Ireland: New financial requirements for non-EEA students

The Department of Justice has announced an upcoming increase in the amount of funds required for non-EEA students to study in Ireland from EUR 7000 to EUR 10,000 per year of study.

If the duration of the course is less than six months, they must have access to EUR 700 per month of their stay (up from EUR 500) or EUR 4,200 (up from EUR 3000), whichever is the lesser.

This will affect all students who begin their studies in Ireland after 1 July 2023.

The Netherlands: New minimum wage levels

The government has announced new minimum wage levels effective from 1 January 2023.

  • The national monthly minimum wage for highly skilled migrants aged 30 and above will increase to EUR 5,008.
  • The national monthly minimum wage for highly skilled migrants under 30 will increase to EUR 3,672.
  • Foreign nationals who have graduated in the Netherlands will need to be paid at least EUR 2,631.
  • European Blue Card holders will need to be paid at least EUR 5,867.

New Zealand: Varying employment conditions for AEWV and ESWV categories

Effective 5 December 2022, it is possible to vary the conditions of an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV).

AEWV

A Job Change application can be used to vary the employer, occupation and location condition on an AEWV. A single condition or a combination of conditions on a AEWV can be varied. AEWVs can only be varied to allow holders to work for an accredited employer.

AEWVs that are being varied to work in roles that pay below median rate (will only be granted for roles that have exemptions. The validity of the varied visa will be equal to or less than the maximum duration allowed for under remuneration exemption policy.

ESWV

An ESWV can be varied if a new labour market test is completed unless:

  • The occupation is on the Essential Skills in Demand list and associated requirements are met; or
  • The occupation is on the Green List and associated requirements are met; or
  • The ESWV holder will be paid twice the median wage rate.

Significant changes within this policy are that variations will be granted:

  • When an ESWV holder is paid below median wage. Previously variations were only allowed for employment that pays over the current median wage rate; and
  • When an ESWV holder wishes to vary the employer, occupation and location condition on their ESWV or a combination of these conditions. Previously, ESWV holders had to meet additional requirements to vary the occupation or location on an ESWV.

Expert advice on global immigration

If you need support with any aspect of worldwide immigration, Smith Stone Walters is here to help.

To speak to a member of our global immigration team, please contact us today.

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