How does the Immigration Process Work?

People from all over the world come to New Zealand to study, work, invest or to visit – others want to live here.

If you wish to live and work in New Zealand, you may consider applying to the New Zealand Immigration Service under the Skilled Migrant or Work to Residence categories.

Working in New Zealand
New Zealand welcomes people wanting to work in our country. People from overseas broaden New Zealand’s global skills and knowledge and build our connections with the rest of the world. You also bring the skills we need and increase our capability as a workforce.

Depending on the reason you want to come here, the skills you have to offer, and how long you want to stay, the New Zealand Immigration Service have a selection of work permit categories that allow you to experience working life in New Zealand

Skilled Migrant
Are you thinking of working and living permanently in New Zealand as a skilled migrant? New Zealand is looking for people who will help achieve growth and contribute to a productive and innovative workforce.

Temporary Work
If you have an offer of a job from a New Zealand employer, you are skilled in an occupation that is in demand here, or you are coming here for a particular purpose or event, you can apply for a temporary work permit.

Work to Residence
You may have an exceptional talent in sports or the arts, or you are qualified in a highly specialised or in-demand field. You can apply for a work permit under the Work to Residence Category. This category allows you to work temporarily in New Zealand as a step towards gaining permanent residence.

Work and Live Permanently in New Zealand as a Skilled Migrant
New Zealand has identified specific employment opportunities as necessary for its growth as a country. We are looking for people who have the skills, experience and relevant job offers to fill these. New Zealand wants people to settle here feeling welcome and able to make a positive contribution.

If you have the skills New Zealand needs, the Skilled Migrant Category offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.

To be able to come New Zealand as a skilled migrant you will need to meet a number of requirements before you can apply for residence. These include age, health, character and English language ability. Family members emigrating with you must meet similar requirements.

The process of applying under the Skilled Migrant Category will determine whether you meet these requirements, and only those people who do so will be able to continue with an application.

What is required? - Skilled Migrant Category
If you want to emigrate to New Zealand you will need to meet a number of requirements to gain residency under the Skilled Migrant Category.

The New Zealand Immigration Service will need to be assured that you and any family members that are included in your application:

Are Healthy:
If you are invited to apply for residency you need to have a doctor assess your health and fill in medical and chest x-ray certificates for each member of your family coming to New Zealand.

Are of Good Character:
If you are invited to apply for residency you will have to provide police certificates as evidence of good character for everyone 17 years and over included in your application.

Meet a Minimum Standard of English:
The New Zealand Immigration Service requirements are different depending on whether you are the principal applicant – the person completing the form – or the non-principal applicant. Non-principal applicants include the partner and dependent children of the person completing the form.

Once you have met the above requirements, whether the New Zealand Immigration Service invites you to apply for residency will depend on the number of points you qualify for when you complete your Expression of Interest.

The Immigration Service rank the Expressions of Interest, by number of points, from highest to lowest, and every two weeks they set a selection point. The latest selection point is available from their homepage at
www.immigration.govt.nz

Points are provided for:

Skilled Employment
This is work that requires considerable specialist, technical or management expertise, and it is relevant to your recognised qualification or your previous work experience. You may have gained this expertise through completing a recognised qualification or through work experience in which this expertise is paramount.

Work Experience
The New Zealand Immigration Service awards points for work experience that has given you transferable skills that will help you settle and contribute to New Zealand.

This is work experience that:
(a) is relevant to your qualifications or skilled employment in New Zealand
or
(b) required or enabled you to gain significant specialist, technical or management expertise

A Recognised Qualification
You can qualify for points for qualifications such as trade certificates, and diplomas, bachelor degrees and post-graduate qualifications. Recognised trade qualifications may also include some level three qualifications that meet industry standards in certain occupations. The New Zealand Immigration Service provides points for these qualifications as they indicate your ability to gain skilled employment in New Zealand and because qualified people enrich New Zealand’s work capabilities.

Age
Because New Zealand is looking for people who can make a long-term contribution to our country, you must be 55 years or under to apply under this category.

Close Family
The New Zealand Immigration Service recognises that family support enhances prospects for employability and settlement. You can gain points if you have a close family member who lives in New Zealand and is a New Zealand resident.

Working Temporarily in New Zealand
Working holidays, work experience, and simply sampling life in another country, are all reasons people come to New Zealand to work temporarily.

New Zealand welcomes people wanting to work here for a short time as in many cases they bring skills we need and can increase our capability as a workforce. For us as a nation, employing and working alongside people from overseas exposes us to global skills and knowledge.

If you are considering coming to New Zealand to work for a limited time, you will probably need to apply for a work visa or permit.

You can apply for a temporary work permit if you:

• Have an offer of a job from a New Zealand employer
• Are skilled in an occupation that is in demand in New Zealand
• Want to work here temporarily for a particular purpose or event such as a tournament, a show or for certain professional reasons
• Are a student or trainee wanting to gain work experience in New Zealand
• Are planning to work temporarily while joining your partner here

Working Towards Residency in New Zealand
Working temporarily in New Zealand can be used as a step towards gaining residency and settling here permanently.

If your talents are needed by New Zealand employers, or you have exceptional talents in the arts, culture or sports, you can apply to work in New Zealand under the Work to Residence Category.

About Applying for a Work Visa or Permit
If you want to come to New Zealand to work as the first step to applying for residency, you will probably need to apply for a Work Visa. To find out about visas and permits contact Castle Recruitments or visit the New Zealand Immigration Service website at www.immigration.govt.nz

You will also need a work permit to allow you to work once you arrive in New Zealand.

Can I work in New Zealand?
New Zealand welcomes people who have the skills needed by New Zealand employers. If you have an exceptional talent or are qualified in a specialised or in-demand occupation, you may qualify for a Work Permit under our Work to Residence category.

The Work to Residence Category is for people:

• Who have a job offer from employers who are accredited by the New Zealand Immigration Service to recruit staff from overseas
• With skills the New Zealand Immigration Service has identified this country needs
• With recognised talents and abilities in the arts, culture and sports fields, whose time in New Zealand will enhance the country's reputation
• Who want to establish a business in New Zealand as a step to gaining residency.

To be eligible, you need to meet a range of requirements, including being of good health and character.

The Work to Residence Work Visa and Permit allows you to live and work in New Zealand for two-and-a-half years. After two full years of working here, you can apply for permanent residence in New Zealand.

You can apply for a Work Visa and Permit under the Work to Residence Category if:

• Your skills are required by an accredited New Zealand employer
• You are a person with exceptional talent in the arts, culture or sport
• You are working in an occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List
• You are genuinely looking to establish a business in New Zealand

For more information about work permits and visas and applying under the Work to Residence category, contact Castle Recruitments or visit the New Zealand Immigration website at www.immigration.govt.nz