Skilled Migration Visa

In a country growing as quickly as New Zealand, there is an ongoing need for highly skilled and educated workers. As a way of encouraging skilled migrants to make New Zealand their new long- term home and place of employment, New Zealand has streamlined the application and acceptance procedures for individuals and families that meet the criteria of the Skilled Migrant Category.

To be eligible under the Skilled Migrant Category, you must be between 20 and 55 years of age, meet all health and character requirements, and be proficient in the English language.

The process takes four steps, outlined here:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest

The first step in applying for a Skilled Migrant visa is submitting what is called an Expression of Interest (EOI). This form determines your suitability in two main areas – general background information and the Skilled Migrant point system – and you will claim points for skills, work experience and other factors.

It is recommended that candidates submit their applications online – it’s cheaper, credit card payments can be made securely, and you will be notified as soon as your EOI has been entered into the pool.

The Expression of Interest for New Zealand contains information related to:

• Age
• Work Experience
• Language Ability
• Health
• Character
• Other factors that constitute the overall points for NZ immigration assessment

Who is Eligible to Apply for New Zealand PR Process?

To become eligible for NZ PR process, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be under 55 years of age at the time of lodgement
• You must have sufficient years of work experience along with occupation listed on relevant New Zealand Occupational Demand Lists.
• You must have your education and work experience in accordance with each other
• You must have overall IELTS 6.5 bands to become eligible for New Zealand PR
• You must be in good health

2. The EOI pool draw

When you send in your EOI it will only be entered into the selection pool if you have a job offer or your points total 100 or more. Applicants with 140 or more points are selected automatically to apply. If there are places remaining, Immigration New Zealand will select as many additional applicants with points of 100 or more as possible during the fortnightly selection.

Your partner and children may be included on your EOI form. All information on your Expression of Interest will be verified at this stage; any deliberate omission or misinformation will result in a denial, so be sure the information you provide is accurate.

The more training and qualifications you can prove, the more points you will be awarded, including on-the-job experience. If you are a qualified worker in one of New Zealand's areas of skill shortage, and if you have a job offer or are already working in New Zealand, more points will be added to your score.

If you are considered a suitable candidate for a visa based on the EOI criteria, you will be sent an invitation to apply, at which stage you will be required to provide evidence of the claims made in your EOI.

3. Your invitation to apply

If you are selected from the EOI pool, you will be sent an official invitation to apply (ITA). At this stage you will have to show proof of all claims made in your EOI, including medical and police checks, proof of English language proficiency, and documentation regarding your skills, education and experience.

The application package you receive will include the information you provided it your EOI. It is your responsibility at this stage to verify the accuracy of the information and provide supporting documentation.

4. Assessment and Approval

Once your application has been received, you will be assessed for New Zealand residence. In addition to verifying that you meet all requirements, you will also be assessed on your anticipated ability to settle successfully in New Zealand. At this stage, some candidates may be required to undergo an interview.

If you meet the criteria, and you are believed to have the characteristics to settle in and contribute to New Zealand, you will be offered a residence visa or permit. Some candidates will receive a work to residence permit, instead, which will give them nine months to obtain employment, at which time their ability to contribute will have been verified and residence will be approved.

Work Visa

Many people work temporarily in New Zealand as a step towards gaining residence and settling permanently. If your talents are needed by New Zealand employers, you can apply to work in New Zealand under our Work to Residence category.

New Zealand Work Visa Categories

Work to Residence: The Work to Residence category allows you to get a temporary work visa and/or permit as a step towards gaining permanent residence. Applicants may be qualified in occupations that are in demand in New Zealand or may have exceptional talent in sports or the arts.

Employee of a Relocating Company: If you are a key employee of a business that is relocating its operations to New Zealand, you can apply for a work permit and later a residence permit under the scheme of ‘Employee of a Relocating Company’ category.

Eligibility Criteria

• You should be well qualified with the essential skills as per occupation listed under long-term skill shortage list.
• You must have relevant and adequate experience in the concerned field.
• You must have the Offer letter from New Zealand employer to work in the country.
• Registration with New Zealand’s concerned board

To qualify for a New Zealand Work Visa / Permit you must:

• Be in good health and of good character;
• Have a valid passport; and
• Genuinely intend to work lawfully in New Zealand for a limited time.

Student Visa

Why Study in New Zealand

• A Future Unlimited: A New Zealand education equips people with the knowledge, skills and networks that will last a lifetime and gives every student that studies with us the foundation they need for a Future Unlimited.
• Excellence: New Zealand has an international reputation for excellence in all areas of education and training. New Zealand’s scientists and researchers have been responsible for major breakthroughs and technological advances around the world. Our best-known achievers have won international awards, including eight Nobel Prizes. New Zealand is a technologically advanced society and you’ll study at an institution with great facilities.
• Quality: New Zealand - A place where your quality of education is guaranteed
• Multicultural: New Zealand is a safe, friendly and harmonious country. When you arrive, you may find yourself struck by the friendliness and hospitality of the people. Imagine: you’ve left your country behind, yet somehow, you’ve arrived home.
• Value: In New Zealand you will enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. You can even offset your living costs with part-time work while you study.
• Recognition: When you graduate, your qualification will be recognized by international employers and leading education institutions around the world. Support: Education institutions in New Zealand are among some of the best in the world offering modern and innovative facilities that will ensure your time as a student is positive and valuable, preparing you for a successful career in your chosen field. Student support forms a large part of New Zealand’s education system. Institutions take their responsibility to student welfare seriously. They provide specialist services to help international students adjust to life and study in New Zealand and to achieve their goals.
• Education System: Education in New Zealand is primarily the responsibility of the states and territories. Education in New Zealand is compulsory between the ages of five and fifteen to seventeen, depending on the state or territory, and date of birth. Post-compulsory education is regulated within the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training, and the higher education sector (university).
• The New Zealand Qualifications Framework: - provides the hierarchy of educational qualifications in New Zealand. It is administered nationally by the New Zealand Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Few qualifications outside the system are accepted by employers or for entry to tertiary study. The main exceptions are information technology vendor certifications and the International Baccalaureate.

Working Scope During & After Studies:

Under the current arrangements, student visa holders and their dependant family members (except masters by research or doctoral degree student dependants who can work full time), can work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the term once the course has commenced, and unlimited hours when the course is not in session. Under the proposed arrangement, the student work visa conditions would be measured as 40 hours per fortnight during any fortnight in the course session. A fortnight means a period of 14 days commencing on a Monday.

Visit Visa

New Zealand is known as God's very own land and people do dream to visit this country once in their lifetime. The people there enjoy welcoming visitors to New Zealand. So to make it a memorable experience to remember to plan your trip in advance to have the hassle free and a lifetime experience, the things required to visit there must be sorted out time to have a smooth stay. New Zealand is a tiny country with the population of 4.5 million approximate. Apart from its small geographical area and population, New Zealand remains one of the world's best tourist destinations. New Zealand offers Incredibly Diverse and Unspoiled Scenery, Extreme Outdoor Adventures, the Unique Wildlife, climate, safety, ease of travel, and Local Culture makes it a perfect travel destination for those who seek to visit New Zealand.

On your arrival to New Zealand, you must ensure that your visa is valid beyond three months from the date of the departure. It must be a valid passport to that country. You require a visitor visa to allow you to travel there up to nine months. When applying as an individual the cheapest way to apply for the visitor visa is online. If you are traveling with a partner, family or a group, you must submit a paper application.

Requirements for New Zealand Tourist Visa

There are certain conditions which one must meet during the stay.

• Your good health is the prime concern of the visa officer and they would like to know whether you are in good health, moreover, you carry a good character and your intentions are not otherwise.
• You must have your passport and this must be valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave Zealand.
• On your arrival to New Zealand, you must ensure that your visa is valid beyond three months from the date of the departure. It must be a valid passport to that country.
• You are not allowed to work while your stay in New Zealand. (Unless you apply for the work permit.
• You must keep within the law of the country.
• You will need to present the proof that you have the intentions to leave within the permissible period of your stay. Suitable proof may include your Actual ticket confirmed and open date out of New Zealand to a country which you have the right to enter.
• You will have to show enough proof of money to support your stay. Acceptable evidence must be demonstrated in the form of: Cash, Travellers’ cheques, Bank Draft, recognized credit cards with sufficient credit available – it is recommended that visitors have an up-to- date credit card statement.

Who cannot get a visa?

People who don't meet the basic requirements listed above, as well as some people who have committed serious crimes will not be allowed into New Zealand at all

• If your application is incomplete when you lodge it, you submit false information or you don't meet the requirements, you may be refused or denied a tourist permit.

How long can I stay?

The maximum stay under a visitor visa is nine months. As visa-free conditions only last for three months (or six if you are from the United Kingdom), you will need a visa for any longer stay.

What about my family?

Your application can cover your partner and any dependent children up to the age of 19. Children over 20, and non-dependants, will need to make their own application.

Medical insurance

It is recommended that you have comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your visit. If you are from the United Kingdom or Australia, you will get the same immediate medical coverage as a New Zealand citizen or resident, thanks to the Reciprocal Health Agreements.