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This is my interpretation of the different legal routes
into New Zealand, based upon the
New Zealand Immigration
Services Website. It is written from a UK citizen's point of
view.
I find the immigration services website far from ideal.
It is confusing, and the same statements
are repeated in
numerous places. It therefore takes a lot of reading and thought
to begin to
understand the possibilities. I hope this summary
will get you started more quickly.
Don't rely upon it. Check
the details at NZ
Immigration Services
You can also use the search facility
on this site to search the NZIS site.
Prerequisites for this Summary
You are a typical British citizen
living in the UK with good English skills
You are of good
health and character
You are viewed by visa/immigration
officers to intend to abide by the law
Section 7 of the
immigration Act 1987 does not apply to you
You need sufficient money to support
yourself
Comprehensive health insurance is recommended
You
are just visiting on holiday
You must hold a passport for 3
months beyond your departure date
You do not need a health
certificate or police certificate
1.2 Visa Waiver Visitor
You are allowed to stay for up to 6
months
You must hold a valid ticket to a country to which you
have the right of entry
You can apply for a visa to extend
your stay to 9/12 months
1.3 Visitor's Visa
You are allowed to stay for a total
of 9 months in an 18 month period
You may extend your stay to
12 months if:
Have sufficient funds
Have
supported yourself
Have a residence application in process
????
If you've extended the 9 months to 12
months, you may only be in
New Zealand for 12 months in every
24 months.
You must have either:
A valid ticket to a country to which
you have the right of entry
Proof of funds to purchase one
(which would give you a waiver
on your visa)
Your visa is valid for 12 months (you
must enter NZ within that time after issue)
The resultant
permit starts from when you enter NZ.
Fee = NZ$120
If you intend to stay for more than
24 months or are required by a specific policy
you must
provide:
Health certificates less than 3
months old at time of application
Police certificates less
than 6 months old at time of application
The above was expected to become 12
months in March 2004 (it hasn't !)
Work permits may be for up
to 3 years from date of entry into New Zealand
Comprehensive
health insurance is recommended, particularly if work permit
is
less than 24 months
Note:
A work visa is valid
for 12 months from issue.
The resultant work permit starts
from when you enter NZ.
3.1 The Skilled Stream
3.11 Work to Residence
Health certificates less than 3
months old at time of application
Police certificates less
than 6 months old at time of application
3.111 Skilled Migrant Category
You may be interviewed by NZIS before
being accepted for this
Minimum contract = ??? months
No
minimum salary ???
You may obtain residency after 24 months in
work ???
Must enter New Zealand within ? months
Must get
job offer within ??? months
Work visa fee = NZ$240 in NZ,
NZ$290 in UK ???
Work permit fee = NZ$180 ???
3.112 Talent (accredited employers)
work policy
Aged 55 years or under
Offer of
employment for at least 24 months of at least NZ$45,000/year,
full time, and greater than 30hrs/week
Meet any relevant
registration requirements
You can stay for up 30 months
You
may obtain residency after 24 months in work
Work visa fee =
NZ$240 in NZ, NZ$290 in UK
Work permit fee = NZ$180
Time
to get visa/permit = ?
3.114 Priority Occupations List
(POL)
Offer of employment in occupation in
POL
Qualified to undertake job and meet POL requirements
Offer
of employment for at least 24 months
Meet any relevant
registration requirements
You can stay for up 30 months
You
may obtain residency after 24 months of work if aged
under 55
years
Work visa fee = NZ$240 in NZ, NZ$290 in UK
Work
permit fee = NZ$180
Time to get visa/permit =
3.12 General Work
Offer of employment for which you are
suitably qualified and experienced
3.121 Occupational Shortages List
(OSL)
This means NZIS thinks there is a
shortage of workers in these
fields and are already satisfied
that no suitable New Zealanders
are available or trainable to
do the job
Work permit fee = NZ$90
3.122 Approval in principle
This means NZIS are already satisfied
that no suitable
New Zealanders are available or trainable to
do the job
Work permit fee = NZ$90
3.123 Individual applications
NZIS must be satisfied that no
suitable New Zealanders are
available or trainable to do the
job
Work permit fee = NZ$90
4. Residency
Note:
A residence visa is generally
valid for 12 months from the date of issue
A residence permit
is indefinite, until you leave New Zealand
Get a returning
resident's visa to leave the country which is initially valid for
2 years
4.1 Skilled/Business Stream
4.11 Skilled Migrant Category
Submit an Expression of Interest
(EOI) which must include:
Aged 55 years or under
Meet 100
point threshold
Fee = NZ$465 on paper, NZ$315 on-line
Receive an invitation to apply for
residency:
This must be submitted within 4
months of receiving invitation
to
apply.
Passports
Qualifications
Health
certificates less than 3 months old at time of application
Police
certificates less than 6 months old at time of application
Note:
You may be offered residency or work to residency
Fee = NZ$660
in NZ, NZ$1360 in UK
Migrant levy = NZ$235 (max NZ$940 per
family)
4.13 Residence from Work Categories
4.131 Skilled Migrant Category
4.132
Talent (accredited employers) residence policy
Must have worked for accredited
employer for at least 24 months
for at least NZ$45,000/year,
full time, and greater than 30hrs/week
Aged 55 years or under
Meet any relevant registration requirements
Fee =
NZ$700
Migrant levy = NZ$235 (max NZ$940 per family)
4.134 Priority Occupations List
(POL) residence policy
Must have worked for an employer on
the POL for at least 24 months, for at least NZ$45,000/year, full
time, and greater than 30hrs/week
Aged 55 years or under
Meet any relevant registration requirements
Fee =
NZ$700
Migrant levy = NZ$235 (max NZ$940 per family)
Odd things
If you are granted permanent Residency from an EOI without a
job or job offer, other than the need to go to NZ within 12
months to convert the visa into a permit, there are NO
restrictions on what you then do in NZ. You do not have to get a
job, or finalise the Residency in any way.
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