AUSTRALIA IMMIGRATION

New Zealand immigration policies have been developed to support New Zealand’s economic growth. If you’re looking to make New Zealand your home and have skills, experience or capital that are in short supply locally, we’d love to hear from you. Moving here could be the life change you’ve always dreamed of.

There is a range of New Zealand visas, some of which you may be eligible for. Choosing the best option for your circumstances will likely depend on how long you want to stay, if there is a shortage of your skills in New Zealand and if you are coming with a partner or family.

If you have skills, qualifications or experience that New Zealand needs you may be able to apply for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category.

The Skilled Migrant Category is a points system based on factors such as age, work experience, your qualifications, and an offer of skilled employment. You must also be aged 55 or under, and meet English language, health, and character requirements.

Resident visas

Resident visas generally allow you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely and access most publicly funded services.

The Skilled Migrant Category uses a points system based on factors such as age, work experience, your qualifications, and an offer of skilled employment to determine eligibility.

Another option is the Residence from Work visa. Once you’ve held a Work to Residence visa for at least 24 months, you may be able to eligible to apply.

You must be aged 55 or under to apply for these resident visas.

Skilled Migrant Category

If you have skills, qualifications or experience that New Zealand needs you may be able to apply for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category.

The Skilled Migrant Category is a points system based on factors such as age, work experience, your qualifications, and an offer of skilled employment. You must also be aged 55 or under, and meet English language, health, and character requirements.

Essential Skills work visas

These visas are meant for temporary stays. The duration and conditions of the visa depends on the term of your job offer, your salary and labour market conditions.

Is your job on a skill shortage list?

The Essential Skills in Demand Lists are Immigration New Zealand’s occupational skill shortage lists.

If you have a job offer in an occupation on one of the lists and your qualifications and experience match, you can apply for an Essential Skills work visa.

Your employer won’t need to provide evidence of attempting to recruit New Zealanders because Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reviews the lists regularly and has concluded that employers are unable to find enough people with these skills, qualifications, and experience in New Zealand.

Temporary visas

Temporary visas allow you to live and work in New Zealand for a set period of time. Working temporarily can be used as a step towards gaining residence and settling here permanently.

There are a range of work visas for people that work in a profession that is experiencing skill shortages or have a job offer from a New Zealand employer. Most work visas do not have an age limit.

Routes to citizenship

There are two main routes - Citizenship by Descent and Citizenship by Grant. Both are administrated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

You may qualify for Citizenship by Descent if you were born overseas but one of your parents was a New Zealand citizen.

But generally, Citizenship by Grant is the way for most migrants. It may pay to note the requirements for children under 16 are slightly different.