Sri Lanka added to New Zealand’s skills list

New Zealand has added Sri Lanka and eight other countries to its List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA), making it easier for skilled Sri Lankans to apply for work and residence visas, according to the New Zealand Immigration.  
The revised list, effective from June 23, 2025, eliminates the need for an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) for eligible qualifications, streamlining key visa pathways such as the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List roles.   
India, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Switzerland are the countries have been newly added to the LQEA.   
In addition, updates will be made to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America for consistency and clarity.