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Overview

New Zealand, the world’s most popular immigration destination, has long offered a variety of residency and citizenship options for investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled employees. Based on their eligibility, application processing time, and other conditions, potential immigrants can always choose the appropriate migration program for them.

There are multiple pathways to get New Zealand permanent residency and citizenship:

  • Work visa, also known as Skilled Migration visa
  • Business, Investor and Entrepreneur visa
  • Family and Partner visa
  • Working holiday visa and Student Visa
Our core principles:

Work visas, often known as Skilled Migration visas, are available in both permanent and temporary categories: Full-time job is generally permitted. A skills exam and/or licensing/registration may be required in some instances.

1. Skilled migrant category

You must pass a points exam and meet the required pass mark to obtain this visa. You must be under the age of 56 and have a solid command of the English language. Your profession must be listed on the Skilled Occupations List. It is necessary to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Those whose EOIs were selected from the pool may be invited to apply for permanent residency.

2. Work to Residence category

This type of visa is only valid for 2.5 years, after which you can apply for a permanent visa. There are several visa options available:

Talent (Recognized Employers) – For people who have been offered a job by a New Zealand accredited employer.

  • You should be under the age of 53.
  • The job must be for a full-time role and for a specific amount of time.
  • The salary offered must meet set salary requirements.

Long Term Skills Shortage List (LTSSL) – For people who work in one of the LTSSL’s listed occupations.

  • You must have received a job offer from a company in New Zealand.
  • You should be under the age of 53.

3. Essential Skills visa (temporary)

This visa is for people who have been offered a job by a New Zealand employer and the position has not been filled by a New Zealander.

4. Silver Fern visa

This is a temporary visa for people between the ages of 20 and 35 who want to find long-term skilled work. Bachelor’s degree or higher, or a recognised trade certification with a minimum of 2 years related work experience are the minimum qualifying requirements.

New Zealand offers a wide range of migration options, including programs for investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled employees. You may easily discover one that applies to you, no matter what position you are in.

1. Long term business category

This is a visa for experienced businesspeople who want to start their own company in New Zealand. It permits you to acquire or start your own business for the first nine months. After that, you might be able to get a three-year extension before applying for a permanent visa.

2. Entrepreneur & Entrepreneur Plus Category

This is a permanent visa for persons who have successfully established their own business. There are two options under this category:

Entrepreneur Resident Visa – This visa is available to individual who:

  • are already in New Zealand on an Entrepreneur Work visa or another visa.
  • wish to live in New Zealand on a permanent basis.
  • have self employed for at least 6 months.
  • if applying after less than 2 years of being self-employed, need to have invested capital of at least NZ$ 500,000 and have created 3 new jobs in New Zealand.

Entrepreneur Work Visa – This visa is available to individual who:

  • is an experienced business person and you want to work in your own business in New Zealand.
  • make a capital investment of at least NZ$100,000. If your business is in the science or ICT sectors, or shows a high level of innovation or export potential, we may be able to waive this requirement.
  • score at least 120 points on our Entrepreneur Work Visa points scale.
  • provide a business plan for the business you intend to buy or set up in New Zealand.

3. Investor & Investor Plus Category

New Zealand Investor 1 and Investor 2 are the two options available to high-net-worth individuals who want to emigrate but bypass any paperwork.

Investor 1 visa

To be eligible under Investor 1 visa, an applicant must:

  • invest NZ$ 10 million in a three-year approved investment in New Zealand.
  • spend at least 44 days in New Zealand over the last two years of their three-year investment period after visa approval.
  • must spend 88 days in New Zealand throughout the 3-year investment period if they have invested a minimum of NZ$ 2.5 million in growth investments.

*Investor 1 has no minimum age, language, education, or work experience requirements.

How to apply for Investor 1 visa?

  1. Applicant must submit an application form and the supporting papers and pay the application fee.
  2. Upon the visa approval, the applicant has 12 months to transfer the nominated investment money to New Zealand and then into a suitable investment.
  3. The applicant must demonstrate that the funds were obtained from a source specified in the application.
  4. Following the approval of the visa, the applicant must keep the funds in a suitable investment and spend the required length of time in New Zealand.
  5. The applicant and any family members included in the application may apply for permanent residency at the end of the investment period if the investment is maintained for the period of three years.

Investor 2 Visa

To be eligible for Investor 2, an applicant must:

  • have at least 3 years of recognised business experience, be 65 years old or younger, and speak English fluently.
  • must put a minimum of NZ$ 3 million into a suitable investment for a period of at least four years.

*If the applicant invests in growth investments including residential new developments, whilst they have to show the availability of funds for NZ$ 3 million the actual investment amount is reduced by NZ$ 500,000 to NZ$ 2.5 million.

How to apply for Investor 2 visa?

  1. The applicant must submit an Expression of Interest (“EOI”) form and pay the application fee and pass the eligibility point test.
  2. Nominated applicants will receive an invitation to apply if their EOI is given enough points, and they will have four months to submit their application with supporting paperwork.
  3. Once the application has been granted, the applicant will have 12 months to transfer the funds to New Zealand and invest them in a suitable investment.
  4. The applicant must additionally demonstrate that the funds were obtained from a source specified in the application.

Both of these investor visas lead to permanent residency in New Zealand if the holders keep their investment for the required amount of time (3 years for Investor 1 and 4 years for Investor 2) and meet specific residency conditions. After 5 years of residency, the applicant may apply for New Zealand Citizenship.

4. Temporary Retirement Category

This is a visa valid for up to two years for persons older than 65 years. An investment of NZ$750,000 is required.

This category is for visas for partners and relatives of New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

1. Partner visa

There are three sub-categories of partner visa:

Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa

  • With this visa, you can stay indefinitely, work and study in New Zealand.
  • You can include your dependent children, aged 24 and under, in your visa application.
  • You will be granted permanent residence straightaway.

Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa

  • With this visa, you can stay up to 24 months in New Zealand
  • Study for up to 3 months.

Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa

  • With this visa, you can stay up to 2 years if you have been living with your partner for more than 12 months; or
  • 1 year, if you’ve been living with your partner for less than 12 months.
  • Study to up to 3 months.

2. Parent visa

There are two sub-categories of parent visa:

Parent Resident visa – This is a permanent visa for parents of eligible New Zealand citizens and residents.

  • The New Zealand citizen must sponsor the visa applicants.
  • An Expression of Interest (EOI) is required. People whose EOI has been drawn from the pool might be invited to apply for residence.
  • You will be granted a permanent residence straightaway.

Parent Retirement Resident visa – This is a permanent visa for parents of eligible New Zealand citizens and residents, who invest NZ$1 million in New Zealand for 4 years.

  • You must have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, and no dependent children.
  • You must have NZ $1 million or more to invest in New Zealand for 4 years, and another NZ $500,000 or more on top of your investment funds.
  • You must have an annual income of NZ $60,000 or more.
  • You will be able to apply for permanent residence after 4 years of keeping your funds invested in New Zealand.

3. Child visa

This is a visa for children of an eligible New Zealand citizen and resident. The child must be younger than 18 years (or younger than 24 years if certain criteria are met). This visa is also applicable for adopted child.

Dependent Child Resident Visa

  • If you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident living in New Zealand and you want to bring your dependent children to New Zealand to live with you.
  • If your children are granted residence, they can live, study and work in New Zealand indefinitely.
  • Your children must be single, 24 or under, and rely on an adult for financial support.

Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa

  • If you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident and you’ve legally adopted a child from overseas.
  • If your adopted child is granted residence, they can stay in New Zealand indefinitely.
  • The adoption must have the support of New Zealand’s Child, Youth and Family and the social welfare agency in the child’s home country.

If you are looking to plan a short term working holiday or you are pursuing a full-time studies in New Zealand, you will need to apply for Working Holiday visa or Student visa.

1. Working Holiday visa

This is a 12-months visa for persons between 18 und 30 years to travel and work in New Zealand. Working Holiday visa holders from Brazil, Chile, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Japan and the UK are permitted to study for up to 6 months.

2. Student visa

It is also known as Fee Paying Student visa. This visa is for individual who want to study full-time in New Zealand for more than 3 months. You’ll need to pay the full cost of your courses and enroll with an approved education provider. Work right is usually granted for up to 20 hours per week.

Requirements:

You must have an offer of place, or confirmation of enrolment from an approved education provider.
You’ll need enough money to pay your fees and to live on while you’re here.

With this visa, you can:

  • Stay in New Zealand up to 4 years.
  • Study full-time at the course stated on your visa – this includes schools, tertiary (study after secondary school) and English language study.
  • Work part-time up to 20 hours a week while studying and full-time in the holidays, depending on your visa conditions.
  • Live by yourself above a certain age, otherwise you’ll need to come with your parent or legal guardian.

You may choose to apply for another visa or a work visa after this visa expired.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • How long does the whole visa application and processing take?

      It depends on your skill set as well as the visa you are looking for. For example, if your skill is in great demand and a job opening exists, we can typically expedite your application. Working Holiday Visas are also processed quickly. Speaking with one of our professional immigration experts and we will provide you with the details you require regarding the timeframes that apply to you.

  • Is it expensive to migrate?

      It depends on the sort of visa you have and whether or not you have a work offer. If your employer is willing to cover the cost of your relocation, it might be a very cost-effective move! However, we recommend that you budget for having to pay for your own relocation as it is the most common. Charges vary depending on the size of your family and the type of visa you require, so consulting with one of our qualified immigration consultants will give you all the information you need about the costs that apply to you.

  • Do I need a job before I apply for a work visa?

      It is preferable if you do so because it simplifies the visa application procedure and increases your chances of approval. That said, many people see this as a bit of a chicken and egg situation: you need a visa to obtain a work, and you need a visa to get a job. Some people apply without having a job lined up and then locate one after they arrive in New Zealand, however the majority find a job online first and then proceed with the visa application. If your skills are in demand, a company will most likely accept that you will need to apply for a visa in order to accept their employment offer. Starting the visa process shows an employer or recruiter that you’re serious about moving to New Zealand, and if you’re having trouble getting a job offer from outside the country, you might want to consider making a trip to New Zealand to meet with businesses and recruiters.

  • How easy it is to get a job in New Zealand?

      Apply for a permanent Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) Business Innovation stream if certain requirements are met.

  • At what point do I need to pay?

      We provide free evaluations and first assessments – either in person or over the phone – so there is no cost until you have all of the information regarding your eligibility and visa choices. If you decide to proceed and sign our letter of engagement, you must pay your initial deposit + VAT – we will confirm our fees in the free visa evaluation we do and email to you. We always urge clients to start the visa procedure as soon as they obtain a job offer, so they are visa ready when they arrive in the country. We usually urge customers to start the visa procedure as soon as they receive a job offer; we will also set together an immigration strategy for you to follow, which will provide you with some advice.

  • What are the wages like in New Zealand?

      This is the most prevalent question, and there is no simple answer. It is entirely dependent on the industry and the specific position you are applying for. The actual question is whether you will be better off, and to answer that, you must consider both the cost of living in New Zealand and your lifestyle. You must also consider taxes. For example, income tax rates begin at 10.5 percent and rise to 33 percent for people earning more than NZD$70k (£32.7k GBP). The median weekly income for construction employees in New Zealand is roughly $800 NZD (£375 per week) for a 40-hour week.

  • What’s the housing like in New Zealand?

      In New Zealand, roughly half of the population owns their home, while the other half rents. Rent varies greatly depending on where you live, but the average is between $250 and $349 per week per household. People live in a variety of dwellings, the majority of which are homes, with roughly 35% living in flats, although ‘housing’ is also diversified. Many homes are single-story, while semi-detached homes are unusual. The materials used to construct the dwellings are also significantly diverse, therefore central heating is not prevalent. From the Villa to the Seventies home, here’s a look at the various styles of property available in Auckland alone.

  • Can I get a mortgage in New Zealand?

      You must have a residence class visa and complete additional requirements in order to purchase a home to live in. If you have a New Zealand Residency Visa, you will be treated as a New Zealand citizen. The amount you can borrow from banks, as well as the amount you can deposit, will differ from one to the next. You might expect to be lent four to twelve times your gross household income if you have no significant debt. If you fix your interest rate for 5 years, you may expect interest rates on mortgages to be around 5%. If you want to have a ‘floating’ rate, you may expect to pay roughly 5% in interest.

  • Will I need to buy a car when I am there?

      New Zealand has a solid and increasing public transportation infrastructure, yet many Kiwis prefer to own a car and frequently buy used cars. You can purchase them from a variety of sources, including a car dealership, an auction house, and the internet. Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) can check a vehicle you’re thinking about buying to see if it’s mechanically and structurally sound, so you can make an informed decision. Once you’ve purchased a vehicle, you’ll need to fill out two papers to notify the government that it’s changed hands: a Warranty of Fitness and a current vehicle licence or registration.

  • How do I register for doctors and dentists in New Zealand?

      Residents of New Zealand, as well as those with a work visa valid for at least two years, have access to a government-funded, free or low-cost public health system. Of course, accidents and emergencies are free – just dial 111. Some people, like those in the United Kingdom, choose private healthcare, but the majority rely on the public system. You can use the healthcare system in New Zealand as a non-resident at a cost, but you should make sure you have medical insurance from your home country before you come. As a newcomer, you should look for a local doctor to register with. The New Zealand Medical Council website can help you locate one near you. If necessary, your GP will recommend you to a medical professional. Children under the age of 18 and persons with modest incomes are eligible for free dental care. Oral practitioners, like those in the United Kingdom, work out of private practises. You can look for a dentist in your area by going to this website.

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