New Zealand Job & Visa - Available visa categories General Important: The current New Zealand immigration policy requirements to a outsider, certain non native English speakers, often appear complicated and overwhelming. Even the official immigration website, despite their best efforts, often returns the comment of "not seeing the wood for the trees". For that reason also all categories described here are only brief descriptions of the criteria. Often many other detailed criteria or requirements apply and we therefore suggest that you seek professional advice before applying. The New Zealand immigration policy is designed to primarily attract skilled immigrants, including entrepreneurs and investors. In addition, close relatives of New Zealand citizens and residents can apply for a family visa, provided they meet the criteria. Meeting the basic criteria is the first step towards obtaining a visa. Meeting the health and character requirements is equally important. When applying for permanent residence or a stay for longer than 24 months, the New Zealand authorities require you and family members who are included in your application to undergo a full medical examination, including X-ray and blood tests, by a designated medical practitioner. Furthermore, all applicants over 17 years of age must obtain a police clearance report for every country in which they have lived for more than 12 months in the past ten years. Temporary visas/permits are: Student, Visitor and Work. They can be obtained by entering an application for each individual. Residence permits or visas: Skilled Migrant, Investor, Business Relocating and Entrepreneur, include the main applicant and any direct family members. Family Visa This visa is for the purpose of re-uniting New Zealand citizens or residents with their direct family members from overseas. You may qualify for this if your New Zealand relative or partner sponsors you. A sponsor can only be a direct family member who is able to sponsor (conditions apply) and is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who has been in NZ for at least 3 years. Sub categories are: Partnership. A minimum of 12 months living together in a genuine and stable relationship. In addition, both partners need to be at least 18 years of age. Parent. If there are an equal number or more children living in New Zealand permanently, the parent(s) may be sponsored to obtain permanent residence. This process takes 3 years and the parents are only allowed to be in New Zealand for max. 18 months during that period. Child (below the age of 24) Adult Child and/or Sibling. Brothers and/or sisters of New Zealand citizens or residents who are 'the last remaining family member in the home country, can apply under this sub category. Apart from being sponsored they must have a genuine offer of skilled employment. To find out if you would qualify to apply for visa in this category, please use the Assessment form or contact us by email. Skilled Migrant Visa The aim of the Skilled Migrant Visa is to attract migrants who will contribute to New Zealand's economic growth through their qualifications and skills to obtain permanent residence. This category of the immigration policy is labour-market driven, meaning that regularly Immigration NZ looks at where and in which occupations there are known shortages and give preference to those applicants. The general requirements are that you must be not older than 55 years, you must have passed an English language test (IELTS 6.5) and meet the health and character requirements. In order to be invited to apply for permanent residence by first lodging an Expression of Interest. A number of points can be scored for: Qualifications (they may need to be assessed first) and related to the occupation; Work Experience (related to the qualification and/or occupation) Age Settlement factors: genuine Offer of Employment, Spouse qualification and/or (direct) Family Sponsorship. You will only be directly invited to apply for residence if you score 140 points or more. In cases where you score between 100 and 140 points (often the case when you don't have a job offer and/or 'in-demand' qualifications and experience), your EOI is placed into a Pool. This Pool is reviewed every 14 days and then, after deduction of the 140+ cases, those with the highest score up to a preset quota number, will be selected for a first assessment. The not drawn Expressions of Interest remain in the pool for a maximum of six months, after which they are removed but it is allowed to enter a new EOI. To find out if you would qualify to apply for visa in this category, please use the Assessment form or contact us by email. Business Visas New Zealand offers business people and investors the opportunity to invest live and work in New Zealand and support it's economic growth by starting a business or invest funds. We can assist you determining the best choice of sub category and the application of your visa, as well as provide you with assistance regarding where to put your investments or business to engage in. Proof of how the funds are to be invested and how they have been obtained are required. To find out if you would qualify to apply for visa in this category, please use the Business Assessment Form. The main business visa qualifiers are listed below. Long-Term Business Visa (LTBV) - self employment. The Long-Term Business Visa is intended for business people who have some 5 years of overall business management control experience and propose to set up from new, or take over an existing, similar business in New Zealand. The basic requirements to qualify for an LTBV are that: you formulate your proposal in a comprehensive business plan you have sufficient capital to fund the cost of buying or setting up the proposed business you also must have separate maintenance funds to pay for all living expenses without any income from the proposed business ultimately the business must bring a clear economic benefit to the country and therefore it is good to also consider the criteria for the Entrepreneur category (see below) offer evidence of how you obtained the necessary funds you meet the requirements for health and character and have English language skills to minimum IELTS 5 level. The Long Term Business Visa is effectively a temporary visa, initially given for 9 months, then after proof the business is operational a further permit will be given for 27 months, making a total of 3 years. Family members can also be given temporary permits (open Work, Visitor or Student), but conditions apply. After at least 2 years, and providing the New Zealand business is successful, permanent residence can be applied for under the Entrepreneur category (see below). Investor Visa The Investor Migrant policy is divided into two sub-categories and offers permanent residence to all accompanying direct family members once approved: Investor Plus - top priority category for high value investors investing at least NZ$10 million for 3 years. No English languages criteria exist. Investor a category for migrants investing a minimum of NZ$1.5 million and have another NZ$1 million for settlement funds, for a minimum investment period of 4 years meeting the health, character and English language (IELTS 4) requirements application is via an Expression of Interest first. To find out if you would qualify to apply for visa in this category, please use the Investor Assessment form or contact us by email. Business Relocating Those who hold a top level management position in a company can apply for permanent residence if the Board or Owner(s) of that company directs him/her to set up a branch in New Zealand. The permit is subject to the executive successfully running the company for a minimum period of 2 years. Details to be proposed by way of a comprehensive business plan. Other conditions apply. Entrepreneur Visa After at least 2 years as a self employed actively working in a business operating in New Zealand, this category allows you, and your family, to apply for permanent residence. The basic criteria include: You must have established, purchased, or made a substantial investment of at least 25% shareholding in the business In case of shareholding, this must return a sustainable income for you and your family The business must be successful and provide a clear economic benefit to the New Zealand economy all meet the criteria for health and character. Economic benefits are, amongst others: the creation of additional jobs (not being spouse or other family member), export or the introduction of new markets, products and/or technology, etc.. Temporary Policy Work - General The general rule is that in order to be eligible for a Work Visa or Permit you must have a genuine offer for full time employment (30 hours per week or more). Exceptions inculed: the Partnership category; after completing certain courses of study that can score points when applying for permanent residence (SMC); or people applying for a special Working Holiday Visa. In these cases no job offer is asked for. For an employer to hire anyone who is not a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or on a special 'open' work permit, they must first prove that nationwide there is no such local person available to fill the vacancy nor anyone that can be reasonably trained for the position. This is called a Labour Market Test. Exception to this applies when an occupation is listed on the current ISSL - Immediate Skills Shortage List and/or the LTSSL - Long Term Skills Shortages List. You may also be asked to meet the general health and character criteria. Note: In 2009 Immigration NZ has been directed to issue 1 year Work permits only to applicants with trades skills (except Talent). 1. Standard A standard work permit will generally be issued for the period of employment as stated in the Employment Agreement, usually maximum 3 years and for work with that employer only. It does not lead to permanent residence status in its own right. You will then still need to qualify in either a residence category or any of the below skills shortages work categories. 2. ISSL - Immediate Skills Shortage List Applications from people in occupations featuring on this list do not need to also submit labour market test evidence and approval-in-principle. This category, like the Standard category, also does not automatically lead to a permanent residence status in 2 years. 3. LTSSL - Long Term Skills Shortages List In case you have a genuine job offer in an occupation that is listed on the current LTSSL, a Work Permit/Visa will be issued that will lead to permanent residence in 2 years. 4. Talent a. Accredited Employer. If you are offered job by an employer who holds a current Accredited Employer Certificate, are paid at least NZ$55,000 per year and have a special talent for that position, you can be issued with a 2 year Work Permit/Visa; b. Arts and Sports. A Work Permit/Visa will be issued if you are considered to be a highly talented artist or sportsperson, supported by a recognised New Zealand Arts or Sports organisation. This category, providing employment in 2 years is still with the sponsoring employer or organisation, also leads to, on application, permanent residence. 5. Partnership In case you are in a genuine relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident, you may qualify for a work visa or permit without having to have a job offer. Strict partnership rules apply. 6. Other This category includes specialised category of workers such as ministers of religion, diplomatic staff, work exchange scheme participants, seasonal workers (e.g. fruit pickers), Working Holiday Schemes (people between age of 20 and 30 from selected countries), etc. In summary, in case your occupation is: not on either of the above mentioned lists, and you are not considered to be a talent in arts, culture or sport, and your job offer is not from an accredited employer, and you are not in a genuine relationship with a New Zealand spouse/partner, then you can only apply for a Work permit or visa if you have a genuine job offer for full time employment from an employer has obtained approval-in-principle based on a Labour Market report. To find out if you would qualify to apply for visa in this category, please use the Assessment form or contact us by email.