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On a recent trip to New Zealand, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he wants to continue to see a large flow of New Zealand immigrants to the UK. He said the recent immigration cap should have little affect on many Kiwi applicants.
New Zealand officials have voiced concerns over new UK immigration restrictions and their affect on New Zealanders wishing to live and work in Britain.
"We have to be firm but fair on immigration, but I don't think the new rules will unduly affect the number of people coming in from New Zealand into the UK, and I'd be worried if they did so," Hague said in Auckland on 21 January 2011.
Hague and Defence Secretary Liam Fox were in New Zealand holding bilateral talks with their counterparts in New Zealand.
Hague said New Zealanders have a number of routes for entry into the UK, including the ancestry visa and Tier 2 for skilled workers with a job offer.
"So we want to see a continuing large flow of people from New Zealand coming to the UK, and that flow of people in both directions is a very important part of the relationship between our countries," he said.
Immigration for non-EU citizens to the UK has become more and more difficult. From April 2011 hardly anyone will qualify for a Tier 1 visa. Tier 2 is only available to a relatively small number of people with high level job offers. Unless you have a grandparent born in the UK a New Zealander may find it very difficult gaining entry to the UK to work.
