The Migration Scheme
Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:24
The Migration Scheme in New Zealand
In New Zealand, residence approvals are split between business and skilled migrants, and family and refugee migrants. You can migrate to New Zealand under temporary or permanent programmes. Temporary categories include student, work, or tourist visas. Permanent residence categories include family and skilled migrant categories, and allow you to legally reside in New Zealand indefinitely.
If you have a family member who holds a temporary visa (student, work, tourist) you may also be granted a visa for the same length of time. The family member needs to be immediate family, such as a spouse, child, partner, sibling, or parent. If you have school-age dependent children, they may also be granted student visas and allowed to attend school in New Zealand. The legal guardian of an underage child who is attending school in New Zealand may be issued with a guardian visa to let them care for the child while they are studying.
Dependent children aged approximately between 17 and 19 years may be allowed exceptions to their visas to let them work part time in New Zealand. However, older dependent children, such as those aged between 17 and 24 years, will have to stay either on visitor permits or pay international fees for education. They will not be allowed to hold work permits.
To qualify for a visitor visa, partners must show they are in a genuine and stable relationship. Unfortunately, immigration policy no longer accepts marriage alone as evidence of such a relationship. Because of the wide range of relationships people may have, partnership policies have been modified to take into account this range of personal relationships. You will need to give proof of the stable and genuine nature of your relationship with your partner in order to qualify for the visitor visa under this category.
New Zealand has strict laws concerning bringing animals into the country due to the fragile nature of our ecosystem and agricultural industry. If you want to bring a pet with you, there are guidelines you will need to follow. The pet will most likely have to be quarantined for at least 30 days upon arrival in New Zealand, but could be obliged to remain in quarantine for up to 120 days. Cats and dogs will also be required to have certain vaccinations before being allowed into the country. Visit the Pet Quarantine Service for more information.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:32 )
Skilled Migrant Category
Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:23
Skilled Migrant Category
This category is for people who have certain professional skills, experience, or qualifications. It is most suited to people with tertiary qualifications and work experience. Due to skill shortages in some industries, there is a high demand for skilled workers in industries such as education, medicine, information technology, agriculture, engineering, and trades. Complete lists of professional which are experiencing a skill shortage in New Zealand can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website here.
Some criteria do apply, and to qualify for this category you must meet all of the requirements. You must be aged between 20 and 55 years old, be in good health, have evidence of your good character, and have a good level of English. You may also need to register with a professional organization in New Zealand in order to work in your occupation. Please be aware that some qualifications and work experience may not be recognised by Immigration New Zealand and deemed relevant to your application.
Applications under the Skilled Migrant Category are made in two stages. First, you must complete an Expression of Interest form detailing your skills and experience. As it is a points-based system, points are allocated in areas such as skills, experience, age, and job offers. If you earn 100 points or more, you may be invited to apply for a Skilled Migrant visa. Applicants with 140 points or more will be automatically invited to apply. Factors such as having experience or qualifications in skill shortage areas, or holding a job offer from a New Zealand employer will count in your favour.
If you wish you migrate with your family, you only need to make one application. Family in this situation means your spouse and children. Parents or siblings cannot be included in this application. Family will also be required to meet health and character standards.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:33 )
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Partner Visas and Residence
Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:22
Partner Visas and Residence
In order to bring your partner with you to New Zealand, they must meet certain requirements and you must be eligible to sponsor them in their application. Both you and your partner must meet Immigration’s health, character, and English language criteria. You will have to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident in order to sponsor your partner.
If you want to sponsor your partner, you must not have sponsored anyone else for residence within the last five years, and cannot have sponsored any other partner residence application.
Marriage and de-facto relationships are recognized, as are same-sex relationships. In order to obtain a visa under this category, you must be able to demonstrate that you and your partner have lived together for at least 12 months, unless there is an strong reason for you not to have done so. Immigration New Zealand must be satisfied that your relationship is genuine and stable. If you have not been in a relationship for at least 12 months, you will not be able to apply for residence under the partner category.
You will not automatically be granted residence because you are in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident. You must be able to prove that your relationship is real and stable, and Immigration New Zealand will carry out a thorough investigation. For example, Immigration officers may make unannounced house calls to verify the truth of your relationship.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:32 )
Parents of New Zealand Residents
Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:20
Migration Information for Parents of New Zealand Residents
If you have an adult child who is a New Zealand permanent resident or citizen, you may be eligible for a parent visa. Your child will have to sponsor your application, and must have been a resident or citizen for at least three years. To be eligible for a parent visa, you must not have any dependent children living outside your country of residence. There is also another criterion called the centre of gravity requirement.
You will meet the centre of gravity requirement if the number of your children legally living in New Zealand is the same as or more than the number of your children living in any other country. If you have dependent children, the number of these children must be the same as the number of adult children living in New Zealand. Adopted children are considered part of the family for the purposes of this requirement.
Your chosen sponsor must be able to demonstrate that they can financially support you and provide accommodation for the first two years of your residence. The income of the spouse or partner of your sponsor can be added into this calculation in order to meet the income needs. This requirement applies irrespective of your personal income.
If the grandparents or other legal guardian of a New Zealand resident or citizen have had custody if the sponsor since before the sponsor was 20 years old, they may be eligible for this visa as well. This may come about due to the deaths of the sponsors parents before the sponsor turned 20.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 December 2009 15:33 )
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