With its stunning natural landscapes of surf beaches, crystal-clear lakes, and lush forests, New Zealand has become an increasingly popular destination for immigrants worldwide. This appeal extends beyond its natural beauty as New Zealand consistently ranks among the world’s top countries for quality of life. It offers universal healthcare, excellent education, strong work-life balance, and remarkably safe communities.
For those dreaming of making New Zealand their home, several immigration pathways exist. Whether you’re seeking work opportunities, joining family members, or planning to study, understanding the right visa category for your situation is crucial. Your journey begins with selecting the appropriate visa type, and the application process varies depending on your chosen pathway and submission method.
In this blog, we’ll explore the various immigrant visa categories available in New Zealand, helping you understand your options for working, studying, joining your family, or establishing permanent residence in this remarkable country.
Work to Residence Visa
With the work-to-residence visa, you can live and work in New Zealand with your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application. The requirements for this visa include you working for, or having a job offer from, an accredited employer at the time of your application. You must also have full-time, permanent, or fixed-term employment for at least 12 months. Other requirements include working 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 in-demand role.
At the time of your application, you must submit sufficient evidence and documents like police certificates, proof of current job or job offer, evidence of standard English proficiency, medical certificates, and proof of 24 months experience, alongside your Green list role’s evidence so your application won’t be declined.
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
You can relocate to New Zealand If your partner is a New Zealand citizen and the two of you have lived outside New Zealand for 5 years or more. Your partner must be overseas when you apply or have been back in New Zealand for less than 3 months. You can also apply for this immigration route if you and your partner have been living together for at least 12 months when you submit your application.
Straight to Resident Visa
The straight-to-residence visa requires you to have a job or job offer from an accredited employer, and your job has to be Tier 1 on the Green List and meet the requirements set out in the Green List, alongside other criteria for acceptable employment in New Zealand at the time of your application. When you apply, you must be 55 years or younger and have a genuine relationship with the partner or children you include in your application. Your partner and children 16 years and over must speak English or pay for classes to learn English in New Zealand.
The Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
This visa option is suitable for you. If you currently have full-time permanent or fixed-term employment for at least 12 months or a full-time job offer from a certified and recognized employer, you have worked and been paid the care workforce sector wage rate for 24 months. You can live, work, and study in New Zealand with this visa. You can also include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
With the skilled migrant resident visa, you can live, work, and study in New Zealand. This visa type also allows you to include your partner and dependent children, aged 24 and under, in your residence application. To apply for this visa, you must have either full-time and permanent employment, which must be with an accredited employer for a fixed term of at least 12 months or a contract for services of at least 6 months or a job offer in New Zealand and you must also qualify for 6 points for your skills and work in New Zealand.
As a parent planning to live in New Zealand as an immigrant, you must have a child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident who earns enough money to sponsor you. To qualify for this visa, you need the invitation to apply for residence, competence in English, good health and character, no dependent children, and an expression of interest.
Parent Retirement Resident Visa
With the parent retirement resident visa, you can live in New Zealand permanently if you have a child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident. This visa option requires you to meet some income and investment requirements, including transferring your investment funds to New Zealand in 12 months if your residence application is approved in principle.
With this visa, you can live, work, and study in New Zealand without dependent children. Still, you can include your partner in your visa application and apply for permanent residence after 4 years of investing your funds in New Zealand.
As a parent who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, this visa allows you to bring your children to live with you in New Zealand. They can also study and work in New Zealand if they are old enough. In this visa route, you may be asked to explain why your children were not included in your residence application if they were eligible for New Zealand residence under any other category.
Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa
This visa type is for key business employees relocating to New Zealand with the support of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). As an employee of a business relocating to New Zealand, you can apply for this visa type if your role is integral to the company and you are not eligible for any other resident visa. This visa requires you to provide a letter from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the business you’re relocating with. Through this route, you can live in New Zealand and work with the business you’re relocating with. You can also bring your partner and dependent with a visitor or student visa.
Most of these visa requirements necessitate you to be in good health, have valid proof of identity, be of good character, show competency in English, and possess specific skills and qualifications alongside financial capacity. All these requirements vary depending on your visa type.
