New Zealand Immigration

New Zealand provides immigrants with a well-balanced lifestyle. It provides a safe and welcoming environment for immigrants as well as excellent job options and options for exploration and travel.

New Zealand’s exceptional quality of life makes many migrate to New Zealand. The country offers both temporary and permanent migrant entry and welcomes those wishing to settle down here. Immigration to New Zealand includes:

Temporary New Zealand Immigration visa options

Working holiday visa: Anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 is allowed to work while traveling, for a period of up to a year. You can’t bring your children though. When you enter the country, you must have a return ticket or enough money to buy one.

Essential skills category: This category is meant for workers with a job offer possessing the training or experience required by a company. The employer must be able to prove that they can’t find a comparably qualified candidate in New Zealand to fill the post in the essential skills category.

Silver Fern category: It’s for highly competent 20 to 35-year-olds looking for work in New Zealand. This category provides the opportunity to stay in New Zealand for a nine-month period (which can be extended to 2 years). There are just 300 spots available each year. Applications for the following year open every November.

Permanent visas for Migrate to New Zealand

There are 2 ways to gain permanent residence in New Zealand:

• Turning work permit to permanent residence
• Apply for permanent residence after working in New Zealand as migrants with in-demand skills.

Turning work permit to permanent residence

1. Permit for Long Term Skill Shortage work:

In this case you are allowed to work in the country for 30 months in case your talents are on the long-term shortage list.

You can seek for permanent residency after 2 years. To be eligible, you must

• be under 55 years old,
• be in good health,
• be of good character,
• have a job offer,
• be qualified for the job through training or experience, and
• have full or provisional registration in New Zealand if your occupation demands it.

2. Permit for Talent (Accredited Employer) work: You can apply for this permit if you have a long-term or permanent job offer from an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand (certified because they commonly employ migrants), and your employment offer meets specific standards, as well as meets the age, health, and character standards.

3. Permit for Talent (Accredited Employers) work: This permit works if you are a worker whose occupation isn’t on the skills shortage list but you have a job offer from a New Zealand firm approved to hire foreign employees. You can seek for permanent residency after 2 years. Applicants must be at the most 55 years of age.

4. Permit for Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) work: If you have recognized talents and abilities in the arts, culture, or sports, you are eligible for a permit in this case. You will need the backing of a sponsor and “a New Zealand organization of national distinction in your field of talent.”

5. Permit for Entrepreneur work: If you desire to start a business in New Zealand as a first step toward becoming a New Zealand resident, this is for you. To apply, you must have a minimum investment of NZ$100,000 and a business plan.

Skilled Migrant Category

This category is for immigrants whose talents are in demand (on any of the shortage lists) but who do not have a job offer before arriving. If you are one, you can apply for a permit under this category.

You must be under the age of 55, in excellent health, and able to communicate in English. You must first submit an expression of interest, and if your age, experience, employability, and qualifications earn you enough points, you will then get an invitation to apply.

Some immigrants can get a permit to search for a job in New Zealand for 9 months max, which they can use to find skilled employment in New Zealand.