Relocating to New Zealand is an exciting opportunity — whether your goal is travel, study, work, or to reside there permanently. Providing New Zealand immigration agency services, Global Citizen Solutions has experienced lawyers who work closely with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to help investors, travelers, and professionals secure residency in New Zealand.
Global Citizen Solutions produced this guide to outline the role of a licensed New Zealand immigration agency and your options to obtain a New Zealand resident visa.
New Zealand Immigration Agencies: Key Takeaways
A highly rated New Zealand immigration agency licensed by the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) will manage your entire New Zealand immigration process. They have specialized immigration advisers who provide integrated support, including guidance on finding employment if you’re after a work visa or suitable businesses to get a Business Investor Visa.
Getting a job in New Zealand can be a major milestone in your move to the country, but let’s be honest – job opportunities for migrant workers without connections are few and far between. The best immigration consultants for New Zealand offer excellent assistance, providing access to jobs not listed on the internet, and other public domains.
Through the right partnerships with trusted immigration advisers, you can get:
- An entire New Zealand visa application handled by an experienced team
- Guidance on finding a suitable job to qualify for a Work Visa
- Detailed immigration advice for New Zealand
- An immigration advisor who can get approval for a New Zealand Visa for family members
- Professional support with applying for permanent residency and New Zealand citizenship
New Zealand offers a range of visas that specialized consultants licensed by the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority provide immigration advice and services for multiple visas.
Visitor Visa
Travelers from certain countries must apply for a Visitor Visa to enter New Zealand. The Visitor Visa allows holders to stay for up to six to nine months. Holders can travel for up to three months for purposes such as tourism, visiting family, or studying.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
The NZeTA is New Zealand’s electronic travel authorization (eTA) system for citizens of visa waiver countries or territories, allowing them to bypass visa requirements. All eligible nationals can request an NZeTA up to 72 hours before departure and travel to New Zealand without a visa for up to three months per entry; six months for UK passport holders.
Business Visitor Visa
The Business Visitor Visa is an alternative to the Visitor Visa that allows travel to New Zealand for up to three months in a year for business or commercial reasons. Visiting New Zealand for business reasons includes activities, such as official trade missions, to sell goods and services, and business negotiations. NZeTA-eligible nationals do not require a Business Visitor Visa if traveling to New Zealand with a valid NZeTA.
Transit Visa
International transit through Auckland International Airport requires a Transit Visa for travelers who do not have a New Zealand visa. A Transit Visa allows holders to stay for up to 24 hours to complete their transfer. NZeTA holders do not need to apply for a Transit Visa.
Golden Visa
The New Zealand Golden Visa is a residency by investment program officially called the Active Investor Plus Visa. It allows high-net-worth investors to obtain New Zealand permanent residency through a financial investment. The primary requirement is an investment of NZD $5 million (~$3 million). As the Golden Visa offers a New Zealand permanent residence visa, it involves a more complex process for a successful outcome.
New Zealand’s immigration system is structured around four lead objectives:
- Visit: Tourism, business visits, or working holiday arrangements.
- Study: Student visas for approved education providers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Work: Accredited employer work visas and other employment-based pathways.
- Live: Residence visas for individuals who want to live in New Zealand.
A licensed New Zealand immigration agency helps you determine which objective aligns with your personal and professional profile and long-term ambitions.
Family reunification
The New Zealand Partnership Visa is a family reunification visa that allows a spouse or de facto partner of an individual who receives a visitor or work visa approval to apply alongside them. The visa also applies to qualified partners of New Zealander Resident Visa holders and citizens. A New Zealand immigration law firm assists in providing the necessary evidence of the partnership, in accordance with New Zealand immigration law.
The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a five-year visa available to the parents of New Zealand citizens and resident visa holders. The visa is temporary and does not provide residency, but it allows multiple entries or a continuous stay for up to five years.
Naturalization
New Zealand residents may be eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship after five years of residency, provided they fulfill the character and physical residency requirements. Visas like the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa offer a clear path to naturalization through granting permanent residency. Highly recommended licensed immigration advisers in New Zealand help residents understand the requirements and process for naturalization.
International recruitment
Accredited immigration agencies licensed by the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) support New Zealand business employers in becoming accredited employers to qualify global talent for a New Zealand Work Visa. They connect employers with the right talent to ensure their businesses succeed, assisting with the immigration process and the necessary job checks to align recruitment with current skills shortages and maintain eligibility.
The cost of hiring a New Zealand immigration agency can vary greatly depending on their experience, reputation, the type of visa you’re applying for, how much help you need, and your individual circumstances. Based on fees listed by the best immigration consultants for New Zealand, you can expect to pay the following visa application costs.
Residency
Temporary
Employer accreditation
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.