Work Visa
WORK VISA
A Work Visa will give you the opportunity to work and live in New Zealand, allowing you to enjoy New Zealand’s world class work conditions, entitlements, wages and great career opportunities. New Zealand offers a variety of temporary work visas, with some potentially leading to residence.
If you have an Essential Skills work visa based on a skilled job, you may qualify for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category or a Work to Residence visa. All temporary work visa holders may study for up to three months per visa or three months in every 12-month period and there is a number of options for your family or partners to join you.
CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WORK VISAS
There are many circumstances in which you might apply for a temporary work visa, including:
- Receiving a job offer from a New Zealand employer
- Wanting to join a partner in new Zealand and to work while you’re there
- Wanting to gain work experience after studying in New Zealand
- Are coming to New Zealand for a particular purpose or event
THE DIFFERENT WORK INSTRUCTIONS (VISA TYPES)
- ESSENTIAL SKILLS WORK
- WORK TO RESIDENCY
- SPECIFIC PURPOSE OR EVENT
- STUDY TO WORK
- SILVER FERN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
- RELIGIOUS WORKER
- STUDENTS AND TRAINEES
- FREE TRADE AGREEMENT SPECIAL WORK
- FOREIGN CREW OF FISHING VESSELS INSTRUCTIONS
- HORTICULTURE AND VITICULTURE SEASONAL WORK
Skilled Visa
SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY (SMC) VISA
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Visa is one of the most popular pathways for skilled workers from overseas to become New Zealand residents. It is especially popular because partners and dependent children can be included in the application as well. SMC is a points-based application with points mainly being awarded for age, experience, employability and qualifications.
To be eligible under the SMC, applicants must generally be under 55 years old, be in good health, be of good character and speak English. Although a job offer isn’t mandatory, it is usually critical to securing enough points to gain residence under the SMC.
SKILLED MIGRATION POINT SYSTEM
The SMC system is a point-based system. Points are awarded for:
- Skilled employment
- Work experience
- Recognised qualifications
- Age
- Close family living in New Zealand
- Bonus points
There are also minimum standards required in some areas, including:
- Health
- Character
- English requirements
- Occupational registration
SKILLED MIGRATION POINT SYSTEM
There are two stages of applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category:Stage one consists of completing an Expression of Interest (EOI). In your EOI you must claim a minimum of a 160 points or more. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) does a fortnightly draw selecting EOI’s based on the points claimed and then invites people with sufficient points to apply.Stage two: Once your EOI has been selected and an initial verification has been undertaken you will then be offered an invitation to apply for residence. You will have to show proof of the claims that you made on your EOI. This means providing all documentation regarding your application and other factors. Once the residence application with supporting documents is submitted, an immigration officer will assess and decide if residence will be granted to you. They will communicate with the applicant or their migration agent if further information is required.
Partner Visa
PARTNER VISA
Being apart can be a frustrating time in any relationship, so it’s not surprising that a new relationship is often a driving factor in people immigrating to new countries. New Zealand is no exception. Join your partner in New Zealand and enjoy raising your family, living in a new culture and working.
New Zealand offers two types of partner visas. The first is for partners of New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. The second is a Partnership-Based Temporary visa for partners of people who hold a New Zealand study or work visa and who meet particular criteria.
PARTNERS OF A NEW ZEALAND CITIZEN OR RESIDENT
The Partner Visa stream requires you to submit comprehensive evidence that you have been living together in a stable and genuine relationship for over 12 months. If the relationship isn’t older than 12 months and the applicant wants to join their partner in New Zealand, or if a residency application is already in process but the applicant wants to travel to New Zealand, an applicant can apply for partnership work visa or a partnership-based Visitor Visa.
Your partner must support your application and must meet certain character requirements relating to domestic violence and their track record of sponsoring partners to New Zealand.
PARTNERS OF PEOPLE WHO HOLD A NEW ZEALAND VISA
If your partner is not a New Zealand citizen or resident, but holds a work visa to New Zealand that is eligible for more than six months, or if your partner holds a New Zealand Student visa, then you might be eligible for a temporary visa to join them.
All of the partner and family visa streams require supporting evidence and have strict criteria. Make sure you contact a licensed immigration adviser for assistance to ensure you are applying under the correct family stream and providing the appropriate supporting documents. Click the “Assessment” buttons to take the FREE VISA ASSESSMENT let one of our licensed immigration advisers determine your eligibility.
Family Visa
FAMILY VISA
Being close to family for a short holiday or for a longer more permanent basis is important. The family visa stream consists of numerous visas that may be granted to various relatives of New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.
These visas are generally for people wishing to stay long term and gain residency, but there are also visas for short-term entry. If you are looking for a visa for your partner or spouse, please navigate to our Partner Visa page.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A FAMILY VISA
A family member who is a New Zealand citizen or resident can sponsor you to come to New Zealand if are they are:
- A dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident
- A parent of a child that is a New Zealand citizen or resident
- In the Parent Retirement Category
All of the family visa streams require a high degree of evidence and have strict criteria.
Make sure you contact a licensed immigration adviser for assistance to ensure you are applying under the correct family stream and providing the appropriate evidence. Click the “Assessment” buttons to take the FREE VISA ASSESSMENT and let one of our licensed immigration advisers determine your eligibility.
Student Visa
STUDENT VISA
With an international reputation for high-quality education, a high standard of living and safety, and as a recreational paradise with a unique natural environment, New Zealand offers one of the best places in the world to study. With such a huge popularity amongst international students, New Zealand has seen a huge demand for placements in the education sector. Therefore, it’s important your application is as strong and accurate as possible before you submit it.
If you are coming to New Zealand to study for more than three months, you will need a student visa. A student visa may entitle you to work for up to 20 hours each week and full-time during all scheduled vacations and/or during the summer vacation period.
REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT VISAS
You will need to provide evidence of an offer of placement or confirmation of enrolment, or evidence of scholarship from an educational institution approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority before applying for a visa.
You will also be required to show evidence of a number of other factors relating to funds, duration and type of study, and possibly a number of medical certificates. If you intend to stay and live in New Zealand and become a New Zealand resident there is a pathway through the study to work category.
Ensure you contact a licensed immigration adviser for assistance so that you don’t miss your course start date and the possibility of becoming a resident. click the “Assessment” buttons to take the FREE VISA ASSESSMENT and let one of our licensed immigration advisers determine your eligibility.
I can highly recommend Explore Immigration. Luke is the agent on Waiheke and he has done awesome work when I and my wife needed two work visas and we had quite a bit of time pressure. He is honest and doesn’t promise things which are not possible. We could contact him at any time when we had questions and we never had doubts that it could not work out. Would be my first choice at any time!Sebastian & Sabine
I would definitely recommend Explore Immigration NZ to anyone who is keen and sincere about permanently relocating to New Zealand. We continue to use Explore Immigration NZ services as we secure our permanent residency here and completely trust their expertise and proactive approach with all immigration related aspects.Janhavi
Explore Immigration is an excellent company to work with to secure your NZ Visa. I worked with Luke Parker and can really say that I was very lucky to have him on my side. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone who is in need of an immigration consultant.Nerika
After applying for a partner visa myself, I experienced that it’s not as easy as I assumed. With my denied visa I went back to New Zealand as a tourist with the hope of figuring out a solution. That’s when I got in touch with Explore immigration. With their help, my chaotic approach to life in the same country with my partner turned into an organised application. A few weeks after submitting a big pile of paperwork I finally got the news, that I could stay in the country and work on the future relationship with my girlfriend.
Massive thank you to the team of Explore Immigration I wouldn’t be where I am without you.Sebastian
After what had been an extraordinarily stressful, not to mention unsuccessful experience of attempting to get a relationship visa by ourselves, we approached Explore Immigration. Dealing with Luke was a dream, he explained the legal lingo in layman terms that we both understood and kept us informed through the entire process. Most importantly, it was through the knowledge and experience of Explore Immigration that I am now able to reside in New Zealand with my partner. I know for certain this would not have been possible without their help. The whole experience from the initial email, to the final successful result, was seamless and professional with more than reasonable rates. Thank you Luke and the team at Explore immigration, I look forward to working with you on the next stage of our visa process.Hannah
Transforms a stressful process into a piece of cake. Amazing service from the beginning to the end. I will definitely use their services again if I have to.Eddy
Janhavi had come to study at the Auckland University of Technology in early 2016, while I was working in India. We had been together for four years before she left and the distance was difficult. We approached Explore Immigration NZ in August 2016 and started looking at ways for us to be together. What we appreciated most about Explore Immigration NZ was their direct and methodical process in which our situation was evaluated. A special mention to Luke Parker of Explore Immigration NZ who has always promptly responded and answered all our doubts and queries in an extremely professional and timely manner. With their assistance and advice, I was able to enter New Zealand in November 2016 and we both secured a work visa in March 2017. The professional yet personal approach with each immigration case they handle is commendable and we are extremely grateful to them for their guidance and success with our case.Chirag
Immigration Advisers Authority & Licensed Immigration Advisers
The Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) was set up to promote and protect the interests of people receiving New Zealand immigration advice. The IAA is independent from Immigration New Zealand. In order to legally provide immigration advice for New Zealand, a person must be registered with the Immigration Advisers Authority.
The IAA ensures that all agents registered with them provide high quality, accurate and truthful services to their clients. The IAA issues licences, receives complaints and maintains competency standards. It also maintains and enforces the Code of Conduct for immigration advisers. Another important protection that clients are given is that registered migration agents must hold client fees in a ‘clients account’, and cannot access that money until each service has been completed.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: New Zealand law is constantly changing. the information on this site should be used for information purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or LIA advice. No responsibility is taken for the accuracy of any information that may appear on any linked websites.