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NEW ZEALAND RESIDENCE
APPLY FOR NZ RESIDENCE
Residence is available under a number of different categories. The most common categories that we deal with are Skilled Residence, Skilled Migrant Category, Partnership Category, Dependent Child Category, and Family Violence Category. We can also assist you to apply for permanent residence in New Zealand after you have been a resident for at least two years.
For NZ partner residence, please see here: Partnership Category
For dependent child residence, please see here: Dependent Children
Skilled Residence: Straight to Residence
This Skilled Residence sub-category is reserved for people who fill Tier 1 occupations on the Green List. Tier 1 occupations are considered to be hard to fill and high national importance roles in New Zealand (more than Tier 2), hence people who have job offers to work in one of these occupations and who meet the qualification/experience requirements specified on the list for that occupation can immediately apply for residence under this category.
Applicants must meet health and character requirements for residence, meet the applicable minimum standard of English, and be 55 years old or younger at the time of application.
Skilled Residence: Work to Residence
The objective of the Skilled Residence: Work to Residence sub-category is to provide for the grant of resident visas to people who have demonstrated that they have the skills to fill specified hard to fill and high national importance roles in New Zealand by having worked in New Zealand for at least 24 months in a Tier 2 Green List occupation.
Applicants do not necessarily need to have spent that 24 months on an Accredited Employer work visa. However, they must hold either an Accredited Employer work visa or another work visa applied for before 4 July 2022 when they apply for residence under this category.
Applicants must meet health and character requirements for residence, meet the applicable minimum standard of English, and be 55 years old or younger at the time of application.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Thanks to a sector agreement with the care workforce, migrant health care workers paid at the Level 4 rate also have a 24-month pathway to residence available.
Skilled Residence: Highly Paid
The objective of the Skilled Residence: Highly Paid sub-category is to provide for the grant of resident visas to people who demonstrate that they have been highly paid while working in New Zealand for 24 months. Applicants must hold current employment or an offer of employment with remuneration of at least twice the median wage rate that is in effect at the beginning of the 24-month period and at the time when the residence application is made.
Applicants do not necessarily need to have spent that 24 months on an Accredited Employer work visa. However, they must hold either an Accredited Employer work visa or another work visa applied for before 4 July 2022 when they apply for residence under this category.
Applicants must meet health and character requirements for residence, meet the applicable minimum standard of English, and be 55 years old or younger at the time of application.
Skilled Migrant Category
Skilled Migrant Category ('SMC') is one of the most complicated and commonly applied for residence categories. It has two main steps and works on a points-based system. In addition to being able to claim enough points to be invited to apply for residence under this category, applicants must meet certain English language, health and character requirements.
Step One
In the first step, you claim points for employability and capacity building factors, such as your age, current employment, qualifications and experience. This is done using the online 'Expression of Interest' form.
Step Two
Expressions of Interest ('EOI') in which the applicant has reasonably claimed 160 points or more will be automatically selected from the pool of EOIs and the applicant will be formally invited to apply for residence under this category. This is the second step of the process, requiring a hard copy application to be submitted with documentation proving that the applicant has the points claimed in their EOI.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Selections of EOIs for the SMC Resident Visa will resume on 9 November 2022. On this date, Immigration New Zealand will select all EOIs with at least 160 points, which is the current threshold.
After 9 November, this threshold will increase to 180 points and another round of selections will take place on 18 January 2023. Selections after 18 January 2023 will occur on the third Wednesday of each month.
These settings are temporary. The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment is currently consulting on changes to SMC criteria that are expected to take effect from mid-2023.
Family Violence Category
Family Violence Category offers victims of domestic violence perpetrated by their New Zealand citizen or resident partner (or by another person who the victim lives with in a family relationship) the opportunity to obtain residence in situations where they had intended to seek residence on the basis of that relationship, but the partnership has instead ended due to family violence. It requires proof that violence has occurred either towards the non-resident partner or their dependent child, and that the victim either cannot return home due to the impacts of stigma, or because they would have no means of independent financial support from employment or other means.
Although we can also assist you to apply for residence under this category, you may qualify for free or reduced-cost legal assistance through New Zealand's legal aid scheme. While a legal aid lawyer is unlikely to provide the same level of service as an immigration advisor, we strongly encourage applicants to check their eligibility for legal aid first before deciding on a representative. You can start by contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau or your nearest Community Law Centre for advice on your eligibility.
Permanent Residence
Permanent residence is the next step for anyone who has obtained a New Zealand resident visa. This can be applied for two years (24 months) after the date that your resident visa was first granted, if you lived in New Zealand for at least 184 days in each 12-month period. There are other ways to demonstrate your commitment to New Zealand, but this is the most common route taken. The key advantage of being a Permanent Resident is that you no longer have travel conditions associated with your resident visa - you are free to travel in and out of New Zealand as a New Zealand citizen would.
FREE INTRODUCTORY CONSULTATIONS
Need guidance? Professional Immigration Services offers obligation-free initial assessments to help clients better understand their situation and prospects. Whether you've received a concern letter from Immigration New Zealand or just need help planning your future, we will facilitate your needs and help get you to where you need to be.
HIGH QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Based in Christchurch city, Professional Immigration Services provides high quality, reliable advice in relation to New Zealand visa applications and other immigration-related matters. Equipped with in-depth industry knowledge and experience, Evelyn Dyer is a Licensed Immigration Adviser who has special expertise in a range of complex immigration issues. She is renowned for her caring attitude towards clients, fast response times and high level of personalised service. If you're looking for an immigration adviser who takes the time to listen to you and understand your whole situation, Evelyn is the adviser for you.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Unlike other areas of law, the immigration industry in New Zealand is fast-moving and dynamic. Sometimes, policy changes are introduced quite literally overnight, so we are constantly updating our knowledge and clarifying grey areas with Immigration New Zealand's management team. If you're interested in keeping up to date with New Zealand immigration law and policy changes, keep an eye on our Blog page for the latest in immigration news, tips and articles.