New Zealand Visa Application and Immigration Requirements: 2019

This Article contains information on the New Zealand Visa Application and Immigration Requirements: 2019. New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. Learn more about this island nation with these interesting, funny and important facts about its history, geography, culture and more.

Yearly, many people travel to the New Zealand for numerous reasons either for tourism, business, study, visit or immigration. Depending on the purpose of the trip to the New Zealand, there are different types of visas that apply to the occasion.

So before applying for the New Zealand visa, it is necessary to know the New Zealand visa requirements and which of the visa category that you are eligible for.

There are various New Zealand Visa and Immigration requirement. They are stated below:

• New Zealand Permanent Visa
• New Zealand Visit Visa
• New Zealand Study Visa
• New Zealand Working
• New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
• New Zealand Business Visa

NEW ZEALAND PERMANENT VISA

Below are the key visa categories to get Permanent residency in New Zealand:

Family Category visa

1. Partner
2. Dependent Child
3. Parent
4. Brother,Sister and Adult Child-Closed

• Refugee Family Support
• Parent Retirement Category
• Skilled Migrant
• Work to Residence
• Residence from Work

What is New Zealand PR point’s calculator?

New Zealand has the point based system to select candidates under work visa categories. The points are allocated based on various profile factors, i.e. education, work experience, language proficiency, job offer, etc. factors. If you are able to secure 140 points, you will get selected for ITA (invitation to apply) for visa. You will be able to submit an EOI, if you have points 100-135, however, that doesn’t guarantee the ITA. Immigration NZ launch draws every fortnight to select the candidates, who are able to achieve the cut off marks for that particular draw.

Key to Success for point based NZ immigration system

Your chances of getting selected for ITA increase if you have any of the below:

• An employment offer for skilled job, or
• The bonus points achieved for having the work experience in an absolute skill shortage occupation.

What are the requirements of New Zealand PR?

In order to become eligible to apply for the NZ PR visa, you need to fulfill the basic criteria for the same. Below are the key requirements of NZ PR:

• You require to be 55 years or under
• Need to be in good health
• Need to be of good character
• You need to have a job offer for work (for sponsored work visa)
• You need to show the intent to fulfill the conditions of your visa
• You need to have the required experience to do the work you are offered

Live With Your Family

You can sponsor the following family members:-

• Partner-you are the husband, wife, de-facto or civil union partner.

Eligibility:-

1. You and your partner must be personally met, staying together for more than 12 months, both should be above 18 or supported by guardian if between 16 and 18 years of age .Also they should not be close relative.
2. You hold good moral conduct and health.

Dependent child – you are a dependent child.

Eligibility:-

1. You must be aged 17 years or younger and single or 18 to 24 years, single, and have no children of your own.
2. You must be born or adopted before your parents applied for residence. Be born after your parents applied for residence or be adopted by your parents as a result of a New Zealand adoption or an overseas adoption recognised under New Zealand law.
3. You must be financially dependent on any adult if you are aged up to 18 years and if between 18 to 20 years you are eligible for residence as dependent children whether financially dependent or not. If you are 21 to 24 years you may be asked to provide evidence that you are dependent on an adult for financial support.
4. If you are living outside New Zealand with one parent, your New Zealander Parent must prove that the custody rights of the outsider parent would not get affected if you come to New Zealand.

Parent – you have a child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident

Eligibility:-

1. You must submit and receive and invitation through EOI.
2. You must hold good moral conduct and health.
3. You must not have any dependent children who are less than 24 years of age and financially, physically or emotionally dependent on you. In some situations grandparents and legal guardians are also considered as parents
4. You must be sponsored by your child who is above 18 years of age and is a New Zealand citizen or resident for at least three years.
5. You must meet the minimum English level requirement which must be demonstrated by variety of means out of which one of them is IELTS with 4 bands in at least two modules. In case you are unable to show you may pre-purchase English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition and agree to undertake the tuition. The fee for this tuition is NZ$1,735.

This is a two tier system where applications are divided depending on the priority.
Eligibility for tier 1:-

1. Your sponsor or their partner must earn a minimum of NZ$65,000 per annum. Alternatively, your sponsor and their partner can earn a combined income of NZ$90,000 per annum.
2. Applicants must have a guaranteed lifetime minimum income of at least NZ$27,319 per annum or if partner is included then applicants must have a guaranteed lifetime minimum income of at least NZ$27,319 per annum.
3. Applicants must bring at least NZ$500,000 to New Zealand, demonstrate ownership of those funds and assets, and demonstrate that the funds and assets have been earned or acquired legally and be are unencumbered.

Eligibility for tier two:-

1. Your sponsor or their partner must earn a minimum of NZ$33,675 per annum.
2. Have all your adult children living lawfully and permanently outside the country in which you (and your partner) live lawfully and permanently.

Fee:-

1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-930 NZ$.
2. Band B Australia-930 NZ$
3. Band C Rest of the world-1600 NZ$.

Refugee Family Support

This visa allows the family of the Refugees in New Zealand to stay with them and settle permanently. There are 300 places each year allotted for the family members of refugees to settle in New Zealand under the Refugee Family Support Category.

This is a three stage process:-

• You register as a sponsor-You need to register yourself against 300 places available.
• We select your registration-Your registration is selected on the basis of  whether you family members have a more immediate need to bring their family to New Zealand(Tier 1) and if places are left then for tier 2(Who have less need to bring their family to New Zealand)
• Your family members apply for residence– If their sponsor’s registration is selected from the tier one or two queues and they meet eligibility requirements, family members can apply for residence under this category.

Tier 1 Sponsorship eligibility:-

• You must be in New Zealand and are a New Zealand citizen, holder of a current residence permit ,residence class visa or have been granted residence in New Zealand on the basis of your status as a refugee;
• You must be above 18 years of age.
• You do not have any immediate relative living permanently or lawfully in New Zealand or are sole carer of dependent relative in New Zealand.
• You do not have any other family member who is eligible to be sponsored under any other residence category.
• You have not successfully sponsored under the Refugee Family Support Category (or Refugee Family Quota) before.

You can be sponsored by parent, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew ,niece, adult sibling or adult child.

Tier 2 Sponsorship eligibility:-

• You must be in New Zealand and are a New Zealand citizen, holder of a current residence permit ,residence class visa or have been granted residence in New Zealand on the basis of your status as a refugee;
• You must be above 18 years of age.
  • You have been granted residence in New Zealand on the basis of your status as a refugee.
  • You must have spent a total of 184 days or more in New Zealand in each of those three years before applying for registration.

You can be sponsored by parent or adult sibling, adult sibling or grandparent.

Fee:-

1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-580 NZ$.
2. Band B Australia-570 NZ$
3. Band C Rest of the world-800 NZ$.

Residence From Work

This visa is for the individuals who have already completed their two years of employment on work to Residence visa and want to apply for residence visa.

Eligibility

• You must meet good health and moral conduct demonstrated by respective medical reports by designated doctors and Police certificate from all the countries where you have lived for more than 12 months in last 10 years.
• You must meet the English level requirements (No level is required for Talent (Accredited Employers), Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) and Long Term Skill Shortage List) whereas at least competent level(6.5 overall) for religious worker)).

Requirements for individual categories of work to residence visa:-

Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Category visa:

If you were granted a temporary work visa to allow you to work for an accredited employer in New Zealand, you can apply for a residence class visa under Talent (Accredited Employers) Residence Category. However you are required to meet the following conditions:-

• Have been granted and held a visa under Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Category visa for 24 months.
• You hold current genuine fulltime and ongoing permanent employment in New Zealand with a base salary of 45000NZ$.at least NZ$50,000 per year if your work visa  application under this category was made on or after 30 July 2007 but before 28 July 2008, or at least NZ$55,000 per year if your work visa application under this category was made on or after 28 July 2008.
• You hold full or provisional registration required for respective occupation.
• You must have offer of employment which is genuine providing fulltime employment for a term of at least two years in the occupation present in long term skilled shortage list.
• You are suitably qualified through either training or experience to do the job
• If your occupation requires you to get registered you should be either fully or provisionally registered.
• You should be under 53 years of age.
• You hold current genuine fulltime and ongoing permanent employment in New Zealand

Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Category visa:

• You must have exceptional talent in your field i.e. international recognition or records of excellence and still prominent in that                field.
• You must be sponsored by either an individual or the organization supporting.
• You must be able to explain how you will be able to contribute to New Zealand.
• The sponsor should be able to demonstrate that they have reputation for excellence, or fostering exceptional talent, in its field of             arts, culture or sports.
• You hold current genuine fulltime and ongoing permanent employment in New Zealand

Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Category visa:

Religious Worker work visa:

• You have a registered charitable organisation with the primary purpose of advancing religion to sponsor you.
• You have at least five years of religious training and/or religious work experience.
• you are less than 55 years of age.
• You hold good moral conduct and health.
• You meet the minimum English level requirement equivalent to IELTS 5 Bands.

Fee:-

Migrant levy fee-NZ$310 for people aged five and over, and NZ$155 for children under five years of age

Application fee:

1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-930 NZ$.
2. Band B Australia-N/A
3. Band C Rest of the world-N/A

NEW ZEALAND VISIT VISA

What makes New Zealand a Perfect Tourism Destination?

• Beautiful sandy beaches and rainforests
• Mountains, lakes, glaciers, and even volcanoes to view and explore
• Temperate climate throughout the year.
• Vast open plains & thermal wonderlands
• Low population density offers you a divine peace and calmness in the beautiful valleys and wide open farmlands and spaces.
• The 30% of land area is dedicated to national parks
• Clean and sanitized environment and surroundings.
• Safe & secure for Tourists

The Eligibility Conditions for NZ Visit

• You must be able to demonstrate evidence of your purpose of visit.
• You meet health and character requirements.
• You must have a passport with a validity of at least three months past the date you are supposed to leave the country or one month past when you intend to leave the country.
• You must be able to convince the visa officer that you will leave the country when your visa expires or going to get expire.
• You must be able to show NZ$1000 per person per month of the visit, or NZ$400 per person per month if accommodation has already been paid for – we will require proof of prepayment, such as hotel prepaid vouchers
  

What are the various categories of NZ Visit Visa?

There are many categories under visit visa depending on your purpose of visit with same requirements and additional evidences. They are:-

Employment and Business related

• Applicants seeking occupational registration
• Approved arts and music festivals
• Business visitors
• Conference delegate
• Crew members joining vessels or aircraft
• Department of Conservation volunteers
• German law students and graduates
• Owners and crew of super yachts
• Sports events
• Visiting Media Programme
• Visiting academics
• Work visa holders dismissed during a trial period

Partners, children, and other relatives

• Children adopted overseas
• Children to be adopted
• Culturally-arranged marriage
• Dependent children of New Zealand citizens and residents
• Multiple entry visitor visa for parents and grandparents of New Zealand citizens/residents
• Parents and guardians of students
• Partners and dependent children of student or work visa holders
• Partners of New Zealand residents and citizens

Other types of visitor visa

• Antarctic travelers
• Escorts of patients coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation
• Group visas
• Seeking medical treatment or consultation
• Temporary Retirement Category
• Travelling by private yacht or aircraft

You do not need a visitor visa if you are stopping off at a New Zealand airport on your way to another country, staying in New Zealand for less than 24 hours, and not leaving the transit area of the airport. However, you may require a transit visa. Fee for Transit Visa is 140 NZ$

Fee:-

• 1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-165 NZ$.
• 2. Band B Australia-130 NZ$
• 3. Band C Rest of the world-165 NZ$.

NEW ZEALAND STUDY VISA

New Zealand degrees are based on the worlds most recognized and accredited education system- The British System. New Zealand education has very high reputation with its practical and modern approach The “International Office” in tertiary institutions provides a high quality support service to help you adjust to your new environment and successfully complete your studies.

Eligibility:-

• You must produce the letter of enrolment from the institute with the required details listed in the immigration law.
• You must meet good health and character requirements.
• You must have enough money to support yourself or acceptable sponsor to cover your accommodation and living cost or financial assistance available to you under aid programmes operated in New Zealand by a government agency. You must show NZ$1,250 for each month of your stay less any prepaid living expenses if programme is for less than nine months and NZ$15,000 per year to cover your costs during your stay in New Zealand less any prepaid living expenses if programme is for more than nine months.
• You must have a passport with a validity of at least three months past the date you are supposed to leave the country.
• You must be able to convince the visa officer that you will leave the country after you complete your course.
• You must have the required English skills.

You can even study on working holiday scheme or exchange Student programme.

Fee:-

• 1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-250 NZ$.
• 2. Band B Australia-195 NZ$
• 3. Band C Rest of the world-270 NZ$.

Visas Avenue will:-

1. Select the best educational Institute as per your interested area of study
2. Check your eligibility against the admission criteria of the scrutinized institute.
3. Get the admission letter from the institute.
4. Assists in getting education loan and other financial certificates.
5. Apply Visa on your behalf.
6. Provide pre departure counseling.

List Of Colleges Represented by Us:-

• Wellington Institute of Technology
• AIS St Helen
• CPIT, Christchruch
• International College of Auckland
• Western Institute of Technology (WITT)
• Waiariki Institute of Technology
• Academic college Group (ACG)
• New Zealand Management Academics (NZMA)
• Cornell Institute of Business & Techno
• Bay of plenty Polytechnic, Tauranga
• Nelson Marlborough institute of technology
• Pacific international hotel school management
• International travel & tourism college (ITC)
• New Zealand Career College (NZCC)
• North Shore International Academy
• Royal Business College, Auckland, Christchurch
• Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland
• National Institute of Studies, Auckland
• Auckland Wise Institute, Auckland
• Auckland Gold Star Institute, Auckland
• Queens Academy Group. Auckland
• Southern institute of Technology
• Wintec Institute of Technology
• Natcoll Design Technology
• NZ  institute  of  education.
• ELLIPS  institute
• WLCNZ  institute
• WAIRIKI  institute  of  Technology
• Professional  Bar &  Restaurant  School(PBRS)
• Kite college
• Concordia  institute  of  Business
• Tasman International Academies
•  Linguis International College
•  Aaroki Polytechnic
•  Whitieria Polytechnic
•  UUNZ
•  Concordia Institute
•  Edenz College
•  IANZ College

NEW ZEALAND WORKING VISA

Government of New Zealand wants people who want to enter and work legally in Australia to apply for Working Visa before moving therefore it is very essential to know out of various working visa categories, which to choose that fits best with your eligibility and requirement. Work permit categories are as follows:-

Working Permanently in New Zealand

1. Skilled Migrant
2. Work to Residence
3. Residence from Work

• Working Temporarily in New Zealand

1. Essential Skills
2. Family Category
3. Specific Purpose or Event
4. Students and Trainees
5. Study to Work
6. Work Exchange Schemes
7. Special Arrangements
8. China Special Work Category
9. Silver Fer Visa
10. Relocating with Employer

NEW ZEALAND WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

New Zealand is an ideal country to visit, live, and work. The balanced lifestyle and beauty of the place attracts youngsters from all parts of the world to come and enjoy working holidays here. New Zealand offers working holiday program through Working Holiday Visa. This particular category of Visa offers a short term holiday visa supported by permission to work in order to support your holidays. The visa category is for citizens of the countries with which the Government of New Zealand has agreement with to enhance the exchange of heritage.

This particular visa category also facilitates and endows the youth from diverse countries of the word, between the ages of 18-30 years to spend the working holidays in NZ.

Eligibility Conditions for NZ working holiday visa:-

• You must have the passport of the country with which New Zealand has agreement with for working holiday schemes.
• You must be at least 18 years old. The upper age limit is decided on the basis of your nationality.
• You must not bring children or any dependent with you.
• You must hold a return ticket and sufficient funds (Amount depends on the nationality) to support yourself in New Zealand.
• You must hold hospitalization and medical insurance for the period of stay in New Zealand.
• You meet health and character requirement.

Which are the Countries participating in Working Holiday scheme?

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong special Administrative region, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Singapore(work exchange programme), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam.

How to take the first step to get the working holiday visa? 

• In order to trigger your mission for working holiday visa, fill up the free assessment form, so that our NZ Immigration Specialist may contact you with all the relevant information and further visa procedure guidelines for you.
• We at Visas Avenue provide you invaluable advice on all your visa needs and difficulties to make the migration journey pleasurable. We specialize in providing advice and services for more than 40 countries of the world.
• For NZ visas our immigration specialists not only guide you for the document preparation giving weightage to every minute details related to your case but also prepare you for the visa interview process to achieve the successful outcome.

NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS VISA

New Zealand Investor Visa

You can get residency in New Zealand by investing in business under Investor/Investor Plus categories, or a visitor visa valid for up to two years under our Temporary Retirement Category.

There are two categories of Investor Visa:-

1. Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category)-This category requires you to invest 10 million NZ$ and get residence in New Zealand.

Eligibility:-

• Funds/Assets must be solely or jointly owned by you and your partner.
• Your assets must not be under mortgage, lien, charge and/or encumbrance (whether equitable or otherwise) or any other creditor claims.
• The assets must be legally and ethically acquired.
• Funds must be transferrable to New Zealand through the banking system, or a foreign exchange company that uses the banking system.
• You must be able to transfer and invest the funds within 12 months of visa approval.
• You must retain your invested funds in acceptable investments for three years and spend at least 44 days in New Zealand each year in years two and three of your three-year investment period.
• You must meet character and health requirements.

Fee:-

• 1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-4100 NZ$.
• 2. Band B Australia-3990 NZ$
• 3. Band C Rest of the world-3990 NZ$.

Investor (Investor 2 Category) requirements – This invitation based category requires you to invest 1.5 million NZ$ and get residence in New Zealand. There are 300 places allotted under this category each year.

Eligibility:-

• You must be less than 65 years of age.
• You must submit and invited through EOI.
• You must have at least three years of business experience.
• You must hold funds/assets equivalent to at least NZ$1.5 million and settlement funds and/or assets of at least NZ$1 million.
• Funds/Assets must be solely or jointly owned by you and your partner.
• Your assets must not be under mortgage, lien, charge and/or encumbrance (whether equitable or otherwise) or any other creditor claims.
• The assets must be legally and ethically acquired.
• Funds must be transferrable to New Zealand through the banking system, or a foreign exchange company that uses the banking system.
• You must be able to transfer and invest the funds within 12 months of visa approval.
• You must retain your invested funds in acceptable investments for four years and spend at least 146 days in New Zealand each year in years two and three of your three-year investment period.
• You must meet character and health requirements.
• You must demonstrate your English skills through IELTS three bands or other approved means.

Fee:-

• Expression of Interest under Investor (Investor 2) Category-595 NZ$(For A,B,C)
• Investor Category – Business Plan-(900/875 NZ$)
• First, subsequent or change of plan
• 1. Band A New Zealand (GST inclusive)-4100 NZ$.
• 2. Band B Australia-3990 NZ$
• 3. Band C Rest of the world-3990 NZ$.

Please consult the New Zealand Embassy in your country for the updated New Zealand Visa requirements!

• Click here to Learn how to write a perfect Invitation letter for Visa Application
• Click here to Learn how to write a cover letter for Visa Application