If you’re considering relocating to New Zealand as a foreign retiree, a migrant worker, or start a new life with your family, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of New Zealand immigration policy. New Zealand offers many residency visas for skilled workers, investors, and those looking to upgrade their quality of life.
The visa and entry requirements for New Zealand allow some foreign nationals to enter the country for up to 90 days without a visa through the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). Others may need to apply for a visitor visa.
This guide will explain the main visa options available in New Zealand, including requirements for international students and work visa applicants, as well as the role of Immigration New Zealand in visa matters.
Immigration to New Zealand: Key Takeaways
What are the requirements to immigrate to New Zealand?
To enter New Zealand, foreign visitors must have a valid passport, an approved visa or NZeTA (for nationals from visa waiver countries), and complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration through travellerdeclaration.govt.nz. New Zealand immigration officials can ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return or onward ticket.
Work visas depend on have a legitimate job offer from an accredited New Zealand-based employer, while skilled migrants must meet a 6-point threshold for migration. Applying for a Golden Visa through a licensed New Zealand immigration agency requires an investment of at least NZD $5 million.
New Zealand citizens returning to New Zealand enjoy unconditional entry, provided they present proof of their citizenship with a valid New Zealand passport or a Citizen Endorsement attached to a foreign passport.
New Zealand Visa Categories
NZeTA
The NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) isn’t a visa category as such, but more a pre-approval system for visa-exempt travelers. The system allows citizens from countries holding visa waiver agreements with New Zealand to enter the country with NZeTA approval. NZeTA holders can stay in New Zealand for three months per 12-month cycle. British passport holders have an extended stay of up to six months.
Visitor Visa
The New Zealand Visitor Visa is designed for non-visa-exempt nationals. The visa allows travel for short-term study, tourism, or a family visit. Applicants may be required to provide proof of health insurance, police certificates, and information about their travel intentions. The New Zealand Golden Visa for Indians allows Indian passport holders to bypass visitor visa conditions.
Work Visa
There are several work visa options to obtain New Zealand residency:
- Accredited Employer Work Visa: The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand’s main work visa, which requires foreign workers to have a job offer from an employer approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to employ foreign nationals. Accredited employers must complete a “job check” with INZ to confirm roles fulfill skills shortages.
- Working Holiday Visa: The Working Holiday Visa is for young adults aged 18 to 30, or up to 35 for some nationals, to work in New Zealand for 12 to 23 months. Jobs under the Working Holiday Visa are typically in hospitality and tourism or horticulture and agriculture.
- Post-Study Work Visa: The Post-Study Work Visa allows international students who graduate from New Zealand institutions to work in their field for up to three years. They bypass the requirement for an accredited employer, but must apply for an accredited employer work visa after the three-year period.
- Specific Purpose Work Visa: A Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa allows qualified individuals to work on approved short-term projects or at special events, such as academic research, sporting events, or filming.
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: The New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is a points-based pathway for skilled workers. The points are accrued from qualifications, salary, and New Zealand registration. To illustrate, holding a Bachelor’s degree gives you three points, whereas a doctoral degree offers six points.
Active Investor Plus Visa
The New Zealand Golden Visa is officially called the New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa, an investment visa that grants permanent residency to foreign nationals. Eligibility hinges on an investment of at least NZD $5 million in the country’s economy.
Business Visa
- Business Visitor Visa: Standard Business Visas are similar to Visitor Visas, but allow individuals to visit New Zealand for meetings, negotiations, conferences, and other short-term business activities. Business Visa holders are typically allowed to stay for up to three months.
- Entrepreneur Work Visa: Entrepreneurs can establish or purchase a business in New Zealand. Applicants must present a viable business plan that demonstrates significant growth potential and meets capital and experience requirements.
- Business Investor Work Visa: The Business Investor Work Visa allows foreign investors to acquire or invest in a stake of a New Zealand business.
Dependent Visa
New Zealand has several dependent visas that allow New Zealand citizens and long-term residents to bring their families to the country. The partner of a New Zealander or resident permit holder also qualifies for a resident permit.
A Parent Resident Visa is available to parents and grandparents of New Zealanders and residents, provided the sponsor meets the minimum income requirement. The Dependent Child Resident Visa allows children of NZ citizens or residents who are 24 and under to stay in Aotearoa New Zealand indefinitely.
New Zealand Immigration Costs
The many visa options in New Zealand come with varying costs. Here is a table with the New Zealand immigration fee for some of the most popular visas.
| Visa | Fee (NZD) |
|---|---|
| NZeTA | $17 (app) or $23 (website) |
| Visitor Visa (most applicants) | $441 |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | $1,540 |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | $6,450 |
| Student Visa | $850 |
| Partner Resident Visa | $5,360 |
| Dependent Child Visa | $3,230 |
| Active Investor Plus Visa | $27,470 |
| Entrepreneur Resident Visa | $14,890 |
Individuals should also consider other costs associated with immigration to New Zealand, such as the minimum NZD $5 million investment and New Zealand Golden Visa lawyer for Active Investor Plus Visa applications, as well as translations or English tests.
Accredit employer fees
New Zealand businesses that wish to hire migrant workers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme must pay a government fee for accreditation. The cost ranges from NZD $740 for standard employers to NZD $1,980 for businesses employing a high volume of foreign workers. Besides the accreditation fee, each job check costs NZD $610.
How to immigrate to New Zealand?
There is no standard New Zealand immigration process, as procedures depend on the visa category and your personal circumstances. For example, New Zealand immigration from the USA differs from Australia. While there is a New Zealand Golden Visa for US citizens, Australian citizens enjoy free movement between New Zealand and Australia, eliminating all residency visa requirements.
Under the Golden Visa program, the process typically follows these steps:
- Choose between the Balanced and Growth categories for a qualifying investment.
- Gather the required documents, including a police clearance certificate, bank statements, and other documents Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requests.
- Submit the visa application and pay the NZD $27,470 application fee.
- Transfer funds to fulfill the investment for the chosen category.
- Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) and submit it at least 24 hours before arrival.
- Begin your New Zealand permanent residency.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
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