At a glance

• The Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa was a temporary work visa for skilled workers who had an offer of employment in an occupation on the LTSSL. [WR3.15]
• New applications closed on 31 October 2021. Applications lodged on or before that date continue to be processed. [WR3.15]
• Holders who have lodged a residence application under the LTSSL residence instructions may still apply for a subsequent work visa under WR3.15.1, provided they meet certain conditions. [WR3.15]

How to apply

For initial applications (lodged on or before 31 October 2021) the application must have included all of the following: [WR3.15]

1. An offer of employment in an occupation on the LTSSL that meets the requirements in WR3.5. [WR3.15]
2. A completed Employer Supplementary Form (INZ 1113). [WR3.15]
3. A detailed job description and ideal person specification. [WR3.15]
4. Evidence that the applicant is suitably qualified by training and/or experience to undertake the offer of employment. [WR3.15]
5. Where necessary, evidence of full or provisional registration (or eligibility for such registration) if registration is required by law to take up the employment. For medical and dental practitioners, registration within a 'special purpose scope of practice' is not sufficient for a work-to-residence application. [WR3.15]
6. A completed General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) and Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096), plus any associated reports, all less than 3 months old at the time of application unless A4.25(c) applies. Medical and chest X-ray certificates may be submitted directly to INZ by the examining physician. [WR3.15]
7. Police certificates from the applicant's country of citizenship and from any country where the applicant has lived for 5 or more years since age 17. Police certificates must be no more than 6 months old when the application is lodged, unless A5.10(d) applies. [WR3.15]
8. Compliance with the Generic Temporary Entry lodging requirements in E4, except for evidence of funds for maintenance or sponsorship — that requirement is met by the offer of employment. [WR3.15]

Subsequent work visa (WR3.15.1)
An applicant who holds a LTSSL work visa and has already made a residence application under the LTSSL residence instructions may be granted a further work visa if they: [WR3.15]

• hold a current LTSSL work visa; [WR3.15]
• have a pending residence application; [WR3.15]
• continue to meet the eligibility criteria (WR3.1(a) or, if the occupation has been removed from the LTSSL, are remaining in the same occupation); [WR3.15]
• meet the requirements at WR3.1(b), (d), (e), and (f); [WR3.15]
• have an offer of employment for at least 12 months; [WR3.15]
• meet the WR3.5 requirements except (b). [WR3.15]

The subsequent visa can be granted for up to 24 months, to allow time for the residence decision. If the residence application is declined, the applicant is not eligible for further visas under this instruction unless they obtain a new WR3 work visa and submit a new residence application based on holding that visa for at least 24 months. [WR3.15]

Immigration officers may apply WR3.15.1 to any undecided LTSSL work visa application submitted before the effective date, despite E7.10(a)(ii). [WR3.15]

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility requirements for the LTSSL work visa are set out in WR3.1 and WR3.5, including age under 55, an offer of employment in an LTSSL occupation, suitable qualifications, health and character requirements, and compliance with employment and immigration law by the employer. For subsequent visas under WR3.15.1, see above.

Interpretation & edge cases

• The 31 October 2021 deadline does not apply to subsequent work visas under WR3.15.1. [WR3.15]
• Medical and police certificate age limits are strict: medical certificates <3 months, police certificates <6 months at lodgement, unless specific exceptions apply. [WR3.15]
• Registration for medical and dental practitioners must be full or provisional; 'special purpose scope of practice' registration is not acceptable. [WR3.15]
• The offer of employment itself satisfies the requirement for evidence of funds, so no separate financial evidence is needed. [WR3.15]
• The subsequent visa pathway is only available while a residence application remains undecided; once declined, the avenue closes unless a new base is established. [WR3.15]

Citations

• WR3.15 — Making an application for a work visa under the Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Instructions