John Mason International Visa and Emigration Services is an independent immigration advisory service providing information and case management support to individuals, families and businesses.
Some of the visa pathways available when moving to New Zealand include skilled migration, family migration and working holidays.
Complete a FREE ONLINE ASSESSMENT to find out which visa pathway is most suitable for you by following the below links:
Skilled Migrant Visa (Resident)
The Skilled Migrant Visa is the most common pathway for skilled workers to migrate to New Zealand.
People who have the skills to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth are invited by NZI to apply for this visa. Before you receive an invite, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) detailing your employment (or job offer) in New Zealand, your qualifications and work experience. If your EOI is successful you will be asked to formally apply for the visa.
Before you consider submitting an EOI you should have your circumstances assessed to confirm you meet the basic criteria and have the minimum points to qualify.
The basic criteria for a New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa are as follows:
- Age– you must be 55 years or under when you apply
- English language– you should have sufficient ability in the English language
- Skilled Employment– you should nominate a skilled occupation that fits your skills, qualifications and offer of employment with a NZ employer (or current NZ employment if applicable)
- Skilled Work Experience and/or Recognised Qualifications – you will need to show you have the work experience and/or qualifications for your skilled occupation.
- Health assessment– all applicants must pass a medical examination by a panel doctor
- Character assessment– you must be of good character and provide police checks
The minimum points score for a skilled migrant visa is currently 160 points.
The most common areas people claim points for are:
- Age
- Qualifications
- NZ Job Offer or Current NZ Employment (min of 12 months)
- Work experience
Additional ‘bonus’ points can be awarded for having a job offer outside of Auckland, a high income or an occupation that is on the long term skill shortage list.
Skilled migration is best suited to those wanting to migrate to New Zealand long term, and it may lead to New Zealand Citizenship.
FAMILY VISAS
Parents, partners and other family members may apply for a visa to join their New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident family members in New Zealand. There are a number of options available, with the most common visa types outlined below.
Partner
Partner Resident Visa
The Partner Resident Visa allows you to move to New Zealand to join your partner, who will be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand resident. To be eligible for this visa:
- Your partner must NOT have supported a previous application for a Partner Visa or have been granted a Partner Visa for New Zealand in the last 5 years AND
- You must have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for 12 months or more prior to lodging an application.
- You must not have any substantial criminal convictions or medical issues
Once approved, you will be issued with a Residence Visa enabling you to live in New Zealand with your partner indefinitely.
Partner Work Visa
If you and your New Zealand partner have not been together for 12 months, then you would be best to consider the temporary work visa until you satisfy the 12 months period of having lived together.
Alternatively you can apply for the temporary work visa if you do not plan to live in New Zealand long term. This allows you to work in New Zealand if your partner is a New Zealand Citizen or Resident. To be eligible for this visa:
- You must have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship prior to lodging an application
- Your partner must intend to be in New Zealand while you work there
- Your partner must support your application for a work visa
- You must not have any substantial criminal convictions or medical issues
Once approved, you will be issued with a Work Visa enabling you to live in New Zealand with your partner for a year. If you and your New Zealand partner have been together for 12 months or more then you may be issued with a work visa for up to 2 years.
Parent
INZ have temporarily closed the Parent Resident Visa, effective from October 2016.
The only option currently available for parents wishing to join their children in NZ on a permanent basis is the Parent Retirement Resident Visa.
The basic criteria for this visa are:
- You must have an adult child who is a New Zealand Citizen OR New Zealand Resident AND
- You must not have any dependent children
- You have NZ$1 million to invest in NZ for 4 years
- You have NZ$500,000 or more on top of your investment
- You have an annual income of NZ $60,000 or more
- You must not have any substantial criminal convictions
- You must not have any substantial medical issues
Once approved, you will be given a resident visa that will allow you to live, work and study in New Zealand.
Child Resident Visa
If you’re a New Zealand Citizen or Resident living in New Zealand you can bring your dependent children to New Zealand to live with you. If your children are granted residence, they can live and study in New Zealand, and if they’re old enough, work too.
Please note that some children of NZ citizens or residents are New Zealand citizens by birth or descent. You should check the Department of Internal Affairs:
To be eligible to apply for this visa the Dependent Child must:
- Not be in a relationship (that is, they must be single)
- Be 24 years of age or under (if the dependent child is between 18 and 24 they must have no children of their own)
- Be related to the New Zealand sponsor (e.g. by birth or adoption)
- Health assessment- all applicants must pass a medical examination by a panel doctor
- Character assessment- you must be of good character and provide police checks
As the New Zealand sponsor you must be a New Zealand Citizen OR New Zealand Resident.
To see if you qualify for a Child Resident Visa complete our FREE online assessment here.
Business
The Entrepreneur Programme is designed to help business owners set up or buy an existing business in New Zealand. You will be given a Entrepreneur Work Visa for 12 months, which can be extended to up to 3 years (in total) after which you can apply for the Entrepreneur Resident Visa.
To be eligible for the Entrepreneur Work Visa you must:
- Make a capital investment of NZ$100,000 (min)
- Obtain a score of at least 120 points on the Entrepreneur Work Visa points scale
- Provide a business plan for the business you intend to set up or buy
- You must not have any substantial criminal convictions or medical issues
Working Holiday Visa
The New Zealand Holiday Visa gives young people aged between 18 and 30 the opportunity to pursue work and travel in New Zealand for 12 months (up to 23 months if you are from the UK).
You can work for up to 12 months on either the 12 months visa or the 23 months visa.
The basic criteria for a Working Holiday Visa are as follows:
- You must be aged between 18 and 30
- You must have a valid passport with at least 6 months until renewal
- You must have sufficient funds of min NZ$350 per month for the duration of your visa (approx NZ$4,200 for 12 months or NZ$8050 for 23 months)
- You must not have any substantial criminal convictions or medical issues
