New Zealand has slowly been gaining popularity among Indian techies as an attractive alternative to the traditional choices of the US and the UK. With just under 40,000 workers in New Zealand's IT sector as of 2022, the demand for skilled tech workers in the country remains high.
A significant factor contributing to this trend is the country's straightforward immigration policy. While the Australian resident visa allows automatic residency in New Zealand without the need for a prior job offer, dependent visas in New Zealand too are fairly easy to get.
New Zeeland’s 'open visa' provision is another attractive option that does not require an offer of employment during the application stage. This open visa allows individuals to stay in the country for 9 to 12 months, providing ample time to secure employment. Once employed, the transition to a work visa becomes smoother, though limited to a maximum of two years.
Tech professionals emphasize that after the initial two years on a work visa, individuals must either leave the country or apply for a permanent resident visa, as New Zealand does not offer extensions to work permits. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is another option, similar to the L1 visa in the US, but it also has a maximum two-year duration, requiring a new AEWV if changing employers.
Despite its fairly open-border policy, New Zealand mandates a labor market test for companies before seeking talent from abroad. This ensures that local resources are adequately utilized, and tech professionals affirm a diverse range of job opportunities, from manual testers to full-stack developers, both with local businesses and multinational companies.
Apart from its immigration policies, New Zealand's work culture stands out for its emphasis on work-life balance. Unlike countries where overtime is commonplace, New Zealand companies generally expect employees to complete their work within regular hours. However, tech professionals note that businesses headquartered outside New Zealand may have different expectations regarding working hours.
While valuing work-life balance, New Zealand companies also prioritize sociability, gentleness, and adherence to rules and regulations during the hiring process. The country aims to maintain its reputation for a low crime rate, making assessments of potential employees' behaviour an integral part of managerial interviews. This unique combination of immigration policies and work culture has positioned New Zealand as an increasingly favourable destination for Indian tech professionals.
