An Indian national with a Master’s degree in IT was refused the opportunity to apply for residence as a skilled migrant, despite holding a qualification that surpassed the job’s requirements, reports nzherald.co.nz.

Kiran Kalamraju lodged an expression of interest for permanent residence in New Zealand in the role of a computer network and systems engineer. A role that is currently listed on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skills shortage list.

Mr Kalamraju lost points towards his application because his undergraduate degree in commerce was not related to computing. He currently holds a first-class Master’s degree in computer applications.

Immigration New Zealand advised Mr Kalamraju that he had: “Work experience in a labour market that is not comparable to New Zealand.”

The decision has been called illogical by the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment, which argued that India is more advanced in IT than New Zealand: "To decline an application on the grounds of being overqualified for the NZ market is not logical, this country needs skilled people in order for NZ to compete in the world market for information technology," Chairwoman June Ranson said.

Ms Ranson added that Immigration's list of countries deemed to have comparable labour markets with New Zealand's was seriously out of date: "To further state the applicant is from a labour market not comparable to NZ is correct, India is in fact far more advanced in IT than NZ.”