Arrivals by Permit Type

Transcription

1 Part of the series International Travel and Migration Articles

2 This article was prepared by the Population Statistics Unit of Statistics New Zealand. For further information on the statistics in this report, and for help finding and using the statistical information available on our website or in the Infoshare database, contact the Statistics New Zealand Information Centre: Phone toll-free: Phone international: Fax: Post: P O Box 2922, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Website: Liability Statistics NZ gives no warranty that the information or data supplied in this paper is error free. All care and diligence has been used, however, in processing, analysing and extracting information. Statistics NZ will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by customers consequent upon the use directly, or indirectly, of the information in this paper. Reproduction of material Any table or other material published in this paper may be reproduced and published without further licence, provided that it does not purport to be published under government authority and that acknowledgement is made of this source. Citation Statistics New Zealand. (2008). Arrivals by Permit Type (International Travel and Migration Articles). Wellington: Statistics New Zealand. Published in November 2008 by Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa Wellington, New Zealand ISSN (online)

3 Availability of permit data As part of its International Travel and Migration dataset, Statistics New Zealand is now releasing data on the permit type of people arriving into New Zealand. Permit type data is available from July 2003 for short-term overseas visitor arrivals and permanent and long-term (PLT) migrants. Permit type data will not be available for arrivals of short-term New Zealand-resident travellers. A basic permit type breakdown for PLT arrivals will be included in monthly International Travel and Migration Hot Off The Press releases. Permit type data will also become accessible over the coming months via Statistics New Zealand s new Infoshare database ( which allows users to build and download their own tables. Customised tables can also be provided, on a one-off or regular basis, although these may incur a charge. To enquire about customised tables, contact Statistics New Zealand s Information Centre toll-free on or info@stats.govt.nz. Source of permit data International travel and migration data is based on electronic arrival and departure records containing flight and passport information supplied by the New Zealand Customs Service. Additional information is collected from responses on arrival and departure cards. Permit type is included in the electronic arrival records. Permit types With the exception of New Zealand citizens, Australian citizens and a small number of other people exempt under the Immigration Act 1987, everyone entering New Zealand is required to obtain a permit to remain in New Zealand. Most permits have expiry dates, limiting the person s stay in New Zealand. People already in New Zealand can apply for a permit renewal or a new permit of a different type. For example, someone who arrived on a student permit may transition to a work or residence permit after they have finished their studies. Statistics New Zealand only holds the permit type that an individual was given on arrival. Statistics New Zealand outputs the following permit categories (which are explained in more detail below): residence student work visitor not applicable other not available Residence A residence permit entitles a person to remain permanently in New Zealand. A new residence permit is granted when a person who has been approved offshore for permanent residence first arrives in New Zealand, and each time a permanent resident who holds a valid Returning Resident s Visa travels outside New Zealand and returns. This category also includes arrivals of people with Australian residence who do not hold Australian citizenship. Student People who intend studying in New Zealand, and do not hold New Zealand or Australian citizenship or residence, generally require a student permit. 3

4 Work People who want to work in New Zealand, and do not have New Zealand or Australian citizenship or residence, generally require a work permit. This category includes people aged years who are participating in working holiday schemes that New Zealand has established with a number of countries. Under the Immigration Act 1987, work is defined as any activity undertaken for gain or reward. Gain or reward generally means money, but also includes accommodation and food. Visitor People may enter New Zealand as visitors if they are tourists, visiting friends and relatives, studying for no more than three months, playing sport or performing in cultural events without pay, or making short business trips. A visitor s permit is usually granted for an initial period of three months, or six months for citizens of the United Kingdom. Holders are not required to remain for the full period of their permits. Not applicable This category is used for New Zealand citizens and Australian citizens, who do not require a permit to remain in New Zealand. Other Less common permit types are grouped into this category, including limited purpose, military orders, diplomat, crew, exempt, and no visa. It also includes a small number of arrivals where the permit type is unknown by Statistics New Zealand. Not available This category includes the following groups, for which permit type is not available: arrivals of short-term New Zealand-resident travellers departures of all passenger types arrivals of all passenger types prior to July Further information about permit types, including requirements and conditions, is available from Immigration New Zealand ( Passenger types Statistics New Zealand classes each arrival and departure into one of three passenger types: short-term overseas visitor short-term New Zealand-resident traveller permanent and long-term (PLT) migrant It is important to note that determination of passenger type by Statistics New Zealand is independent of the permit type a person holds. Passenger type is based on the time spent in and out of New Zealand (see the definitions below). This is determined from past arrivals and departures of a person, and responses to questions on the arrival or departure card (such as length of stay or absence, the country the person last lived in for 12 months or more, and the country the person will next live in for 12 months or more). Short-term overseas visitor A short-term overseas visitor is defined as someone who lives overseas and is in New Zealand for less than 12 months. The person may hold any permit type. 4

5 Short-term New Zealand-resident traveller A short-term New Zealand-resident traveller is defined as someone who is mainly living in New Zealand for 12 months or more, and who is travelling overseas for less than 12 months. The person does not have to hold official New Zealand residence (through New Zealand citizenship, a residence permit or a Returning Resident s Visa). PLT migrant A PLT arrival is someone intending to stay in New Zealand for 12 months or more (including permanently), who had previously been living overseas for 12 months or more. This includes new immigrants as well as New Zealanders returning after a long-term absence. A PLT departure is someone intending to be absent from New Zealand for 12 months or more (including permanently), after having been in New Zealand for 12 months or more. This includes people returning overseas after a long-term stay in New Zealand, as well as New Zealanders departing on a permanent or long-term basis. Arrivals by passenger type and permit type The not applicable category (New Zealand and Australian citizens) accounted for about one-third of PLT arrivals in the June 2008 year. The next most common category was work permits, followed by residence permits and student permits. PLT arrivals on residence permits outnumbered PLT arrivals on work permits in the June 2004 year, but this reversed in subsequent years. Of the 2.47 million short-term overseas visitor arrivals in the June 2008 year, 1.04 million (42 percent) were New Zealand or Australian citizens. Of the remainder, most (1.29 million) were granted a visitor s permit on arrival. Arrivals by Passenger Type and Permit Type Permit type June year Permanent and long-term arrivals Residence 18,492 15,609 17,917 17,156 15,262 Student 12,635 9,492 9,723 11,310 13,762 Work 15,187 17,338 18,111 20,489 22,668 Visitor 5,901 6,008 4,942 5,097 5,399 Not applicable (1) 31,627 30,273 29,026 28,238 27,685 Other Total 84,285 79,139 80,076 82,700 85,239 Short-term overseas visitor arrivals Residence 44,252 46,588 45,506 46,334 49,594 Student 19,838 17,707 17,635 19,841 20,637 Work 35,392 40,431 46,340 52,129 56,080 Visitor 1,293,139 1,333,886 1,298,226 1,335,832 1,291,981 Not applicable (1) 845, , , ,306 1,039,206 Other 10,484 9,998 9,719 9,082 12,747 Total 2,248,129 2,379,497 2,363,359 2,448,524 2,470,245 (1) New Zealand and Australian citizens. 5

6 Residence permits About 46,000 residence approvals were granted by Immigration New Zealand in the June 2008 year. The majority were to people already in New Zealand, who had arrived on a temporary permit (eg work, student or visitor). The proportion of residence approvals granted onshore has markedly increased in recent years, from 41 percent in the June 2002 year to 77 percent in the June 2008 year. Because most residence approvals were granted to people already in New Zealand, only 15,300 PLT migrants arrived on residence permits in the June 2008 year. While the United Kingdom accounted for 22 percent of residence approvals in this period, it accounted for 32 percent of PLT arrivals on residence permits. This is largely due to half of the residence approvals to United Kingdom nationals being granted offshore. The comparable figure for Chinese nationals was less than 20 percent, and for Indian nationals it was less than 25 percent. Permanent and Long-term Arrivals on Residence Permits By country of last permanent residence Country of last permanent residence Year ended June United Kingdom 3,861 4,009 7,149 6,769 4,959 China, People's Republic of 2,825 1,635 1,689 1,395 1,407 India 2,456 1, ,125 1,069 Samoa South Africa Other/not stated 8,220 7,456 6,634 6,313 6,234 Total 18,492 15,609 17,917 17,156 15,262 In addition to the PLT arrivals on residence permits, there were 49,600 short-term overseas visitor arrivals on residence permits in the June 2008 year. Of these, 30,100 stated their country of residence as Australia. Short-term overseas visitor arrivals on residence permits mainly include: People holding Australian residence but not Australian citizenship, who are coming to New Zealand for a short-term visit. These people are given residence permits when entering New Zealand. They do not need to be granted residence through the New Zealand residence approval process. Former immigrants to New Zealand who have since moved overseas (often to Australia) without obtaining New Zealand citizenship, and are returning for a short-term visit on a Returning Resident s Visa. PLT arrivals on residence permits were split evenly between males and females, whereas males accounted for 59 percent of short-term overseas visitor arrivals on residence permits in the June 2008 year. PLT arrivals on residence permits in the June 2008 year were well spread across ages. Those aged in their 30s and early 40s were most common, together with children. The skilled migrant category, which is the main category for residence approval, requires the principal applicant to be aged between 20 and 55 years. The skilled migrant category also includes a points-based selection mechanism, with points awarded for the age of the principal applicant (as well as for other characteristics such as qualifications and work experience). Fewer points are awarded as age increases. Applications for residence can also include secondary 6

7 applicants, these being the partner and/or dependent children of the principal applicant. 400 Permanent and Long-term Arrivals on Residence Permits by Age June 2008 year Number Age (years) Student permits PLT arrivals on student permits numbered 13,800 in the June 2008 year, while shortterm overseas visitor arrivals on student permits numbered 20,600. These were the highest totals recorded within the five-year period Statistics New Zealand holds data for. However, Department of Labour data shows offshore approvals of student visas (which are required for a person to be granted a student permit on arrival) peaked in the June 2002 year and had declined by over one-third by the June 2004 year. Only China was in the top five source countries for both short-term overseas visitor arrivals and PLT arrivals on student permits in For both of these passenger types, the top five respective sources contributed over half of arrivals on student permits in the June 2008 year. Arrivals on Student Permits By country of last permanent residence Country of last permanent residence Year ended June Permanent and long-term migrants India ,227 2,719 China, People's Republic of 4,533 2,033 1,547 1,681 1,977 United Kingdom 936 1, Fiji Philippines Other/not stated 6,133 5,422 5,659 6,129 6,801 Total 12,635 9,492 9,723 11,310 13,762 Short-term overseas visitor arrivals United States of America 2,467 3,187 2,852 3,106 2,690 Germany 1,077 1,129 1,526 1,780 2,517 Japan 2,085 2,273 2,137 1,889 2,045 China, People's Republic of 3,777 2,423 1,966 1,831 1,818 Korea, Republic of 1,316 1,000 1,207 1,319 1,560 Other/not stated 9,116 7,695 7,947 9,916 10,007 Total 19,838 17,707 17,635 19,841 20,637 7

8 Arrivals from China more than halved between the June 2004 year and the June 2008 year. This was offset by large increases from India, Fiji and the Philippines for PLT migrants, and from Germany for short-term overseas visitors. January, February and July are the most popular months for student permit arrivals. January and February coincide with the start of the New Zealand school year, while July coincides with the end of the school year in many northern hemisphere countries and the beginning of the second semester in New Zealand universities (000) Short-term overseas visitor Permanent and long-term Arrivals on Student Permits July 2007 June Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07 Jan-08 Feb-08 Mar-08 Apr-08 May-08 Jun-08 Month Males accounted for 58 percent of PLT arrivals on student permits in the June 2008 year. However, the balance was reversed for short-term overseas visitors, with females accounting for 55 percent of student permit arrivals. Most arrivals on student permits were between 15 and 25 years of age, with ages 15 to 17 years and 20 to 21 years particularly common for short-term overseas visitor arrivals. Germany and Japan contributed half of the short-term overseas visitor arrivals on student permits for those aged 15 to 17 years. The United States was the key contributor to arrivals aged 20 to 21 years, with these ages accounting for 2,000 of the 2,700 short-term overseas visitor arrivals on student permits from that country in the June 2008 year. This can largely be attributed to study abroad schemes offered to those part way through university studies in the United States. 3 2 (000) Short-term overseas visitor Permanent and long-term Arrivals on Student Permits by Age June 2008 year Age (years) 8

9 Work permits Work permit arrivals increased by around 50 percent between the June 2004 year and the June 2008 year, for both short-term overseas visitor arrivals and PLT arrivals. A number of factors contributed to this increase, including skill shortages in New Zealand, new work schemes for migrants, and the expansion of working holiday schemes. The United Kingdom was the leading source country for arrivals on work permits, although annual PLT arrivals from this country for the June years were about 1,000 lower than in the June 2005 year. Arrivals on Work Permits By country of last permanent residence Country of last permanent residence Year ended June Permanent and long-term migrants United Kingdom 5,980 6,332 5,320 5,231 5,295 Philippines ,620 1,942 Germany ,235 1,355 1,544 Japan 2,331 2,226 1,987 1,589 1,522 United States of America 932 1,080 1,159 1,235 1,362 Other/not stated 5,439 6,710 7,763 9,459 11,003 Total 15,187 17,338 18,111 20,489 22,668 Short-term overseas visitor arrivals United Kingdom 7,964 8,033 8,449 8,106 9,248 United States of America 2,983 3,794 3,872 4,727 5,708 Germany 1,612 2,742 3,593 5,041 5,214 China, People's Republic of 1,482 2,474 3,426 3,944 4,792 Japan 5,762 4,863 4,445 3,373 3,721 Other/not stated 15,589 18,525 22,555 26,938 27,397 Total 35,392 40,431 46,340 52,129 56,080 Males accounted for 52 percent of PLT arrivals on work permits in the June 2008 year, and 57 percent of short-term overseas visitor arrivals on work permits. Arrivals on work permits were predominantly between the ages of 19 and 31 years. The working holiday scheme is a major contributor to this, allowing people aged 18 to 30 years from a number of countries the chance to work in New Zealand. For most source countries, working holidaymakers can stay up to 12 months in New Zealand. Working holidaymakers from the United Kingdom can stay up to 23 months (although a maximum of 12 months work is allowed). A three-month working holiday extension may be available if a person works for at least three months in the horticulture or viticulture industries during their working holiday. 9

10 4 3 (000) Arrivals on Work Permits by Age June 2008 year Short-term overseas visitor Permanent and long-term Age (years) Visitor permits PLT arrivals on visitor permits numbered 5,400 in the June 2008 year, with almost one-third aged 0 4 years. The importance of this age group can be explained by children of work permit holders generally being given visitor permits if aged under five years and student permits if aged five years and above. The vast majority of short-term overseas visitors either arrived on visitor permits, or were Australian or New Zealand citizens who did not require a permit. Because of similarities to overall short-term overseas visitor arrivals, visitor permit arrivals within this passenger type will not be examined here. Information sources Arrivals by permit type Statistics New Zealand s international travel and migration dataset. Residence approvals and additional student permit data Department of Labour: Permit type definitions and policies Department of Labour: New Zealand Official Yearbook 2006 Study abroad schemes from the United States of America Australearn: College Consortium for International Studies: American Universities International Programs: 10