New Zealand Job & Visa - Available visa categories The New Zealand immigration policy is designed to attract skilled and business immigrants. In addition, close relatives of New Zealand citizens and residents can apply for a family visa, provided they meet the criteria. Meeting the criteria is the first step towards obtaining a visa. Meeting the health and character requirements is equally important. The New Zealand authorities require you and family members who are included in your application to undergo a medical examination 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. Family Visa The purpose of the family visa is to re-unite New Zealand citizens or residents with family from overseas. You may qualify for residence if your relative in New Zealand sponsors you. To be eligible for sponsorship by a partner, you need to have been in a genuine and stable marriage, or a de facto or same-sex relationship for at least 1 year with a citizen or resident of New Zealand. In addition, both partners need to be at least 18 years of age. You may also be sponsored if you are a parent, a sibling or a child (below the age of 24) of your relative in New Zealand. 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. The immigration policy is labour-market driven. Only persons with a required occupation may qualify. If this applies to you, your diplomas need to be evaluated, you must pass an English test and you must be younger than 56 years. Once these criteria have been fulfilled you may register for an Expression of Interest for this points-based visa category. This is only worthwhile if you record a threshold score of 140 points. In some cases less than 140 points are required to qualify for a visa. The practical threshold is actually (at the moment) 115 points with 140 points needed to be automatically drawn from the pool and asked to apply for residency. Having a job or an offer of employment in New Zealand will greatly increase your points score to around the 140 mark and enhance your chances to obtain a visa. The same applies in case your profession is listed on the Long Term Skilled Shortage List. Expressions of Interest submitted over a number of weeks are pooled and ranked according to the score. Those with the highest score will be invited to enter an application for residence. Expressions of Interest remain in the pool for a maximum of six months. 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 Visa New Zealand distinguishes between four types of business visa. The two most important business visas are explained below. Long-Term Business Visa (LTBV) The Long-Term Business Visa is intended for business people who are interested in setting up a business in New Zealand. One of the requirements is that applicants have at least higher management experience in the business they wish to establish. They must also bring economic benefits to the country and have sufficient capital to realize their plans. Economic benefit is understood as, amongst others, the creation of jobs or the introduction of new technology. The Long Term Business Visa allows temporary entrance (nine months to three years). Applicants must have a business plan and sufficient funds. Once the New Zealand business is successful, a permanent visa can be applied for under the Entrepreneur Visa scheme. Investor Visa The Active Investor Migrant policy is divided into three sub-categories: Global Investors - top priority category for high value investors investing $20 million (including at least $5 million in active investment). Professional Investors - a second priority category for migrants investing $10 million (including at least $2 million actively). General (Active) Investors - a category for those investing a minimum of $2.5 million. Applicants selected through a points system. The General (Active) investor category will be a points based system to prioritise migrants on the basis of their potential to contribute to New Zealand businesses. The points system will recognise: the importance of having both financial and human capital; the benefit of active investment; the value of export linkages, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and management skills. We can assist with the for you best choice of sub category and the application of your visa, as well as provide you with assistance regarding your investments. 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. Entrepreneur Visa While international entrepreneurs can invest and participate in business in New Zealand without moving here permanently, through the Entrepreneur category, self-employed business people and business owners can enjoy the benefits of settling permanently. You may have applied for, and gained, a Long Term Business Visa or Permit so that you could establish the business, and now wish to apply for residence. Or you may have held a Work Permit granted under another category that allowed you to establish your own business and you now want to apply for residence. If so, you: must have established, purchased, or made a substantial investment of at least 25 per cent in a business operating in New Zealand; must have been self employed or, if you’re a part-owner, have worked, in that business for two years before you apply for residence as an entrepreneur; or any partner or children who are with you must not have sought social welfare assistance. Work Visa New Zealand distinguishes several types of work visa. The most important work visa are described below. In case you are the partner of a New Zealand Citizen or resident, you may qualify for a work visa or permit. A work visa or permit can also be obtained in case you have a job offer in an occupation on the Immediate Skilled Shortage List. This enables you to qualify for a temporary visa, which in some cases may lead to a permanent resident visa. A work visa will also be issued in case you have a job offer in an occupation on the Long Term Skilled Shortage list. This type of work permit can lead to a permanent visa. In case your occupation is not on the above mentioned lists; and you are not considered to be a talent in arts, culture or sport, and your profession is not on the list in need of accredited employers, and you are not in a relationship with a partner in New Zealand, then you can only apply for a work permit if you have an approved job offer based on a Labour Market report before you can submit your application. To find out if you would qualify to apply for visa in this category, please use the Assessment form or contact us by email.