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Migration to New Zealand

Residence in New Zealand

If you wish to migrate to New Zealand, you need to apply to the New Zealand Immigration Service for resident status.

Resident status in New Zealand entitles you to live, study and work indefinitely in New Zealand.

However, certain people do not need to apply for residence to live in New Zealand. They include:

  • New Zealand citizens, who must show valid New Zealand passports on entering New Zealand; and

  • Australian citizens, who must show valid Australian passports on entering New Zealand; and

  • Australian permanent residents, who must show valid Australian resident return visas on entering New Zealand.

Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents must be of good character.

When you are approved residence, you will be issued a Residence Visa if you apply outside New Zealand or a Residence Permit if you apply in New Zealand.

Residence Visa

A Residence Visa is normally valid for one year and is for a single entry. You must use this visa before its expiry in order to activate your resident status. This visa allows you to travel to New Zealand and be granted a Residence Permit on arrival.

Residence Permit

A Residence Permit allows you to reside in New Zealand for an indefinite period. However, this permit will expire once you leave New Zealand.

If you wish to leave New Zealand temporarily after taking up residence, you must have a valid Returning Residence Visa in your passport to ensure your re-entry into New Zealand. You will be issued your first Returning Resident's Visa when residence is approved.

Which Category Can I Apply For?

The following are the main categories for residence applications:

Please read the Self Assessment Guide for Residence, or the Guide for Residence in New Zealand for more information.

General Skills Category

The objective of the General skills category is to select migrants who will:

  • increase New Zealand's levels of human capital; and

  • foster international links.

The General Skills Category is a points based system. This means you score points based on a number of factors such as qualifications, work experience and age. Your application will only be successful if you score sufficient points to meet the passmark.

Business Categories

The objective of the business immigration policy is to attract migrants who will contribute to economic growth through:

  • increasing New Zealand's level of human capital; and

  • encouraging enterprise and innovation; and

  • fostering external links.

There are currently four business categories available:

  1. Investor Category
    The Investor Category is a points based system. This means you score points based on a number of factors such as age, business experience and investment funds. Your application will only be successful if you score sufficient points to meet the passmark.

  2. Entrepreneur Category
    You may apply under the Entrepreneur Category if you have successfully established a business in New Zealand for a period of at least two years.

  3. Long Term Business Visa/Permit
    You may apply for a Long Term Business Visa/Permit if you are interested in applying for residence under the Entrepreneur Category. You may also apply under this category if you are interested in establishing a business in New Zealand but do not wish to live permanently in New Zealand. This is not a residence policy. You will be granted a work visa or permit for up to three years if your application is successful.

  4. Employees of Relocating Businesses
    You may apply under the Employees of Relocating Businesses category if you are a key employee of a business relocating to New Zealand. This category is set up to assist the promotion of New Zealand as a place in which to invest and locate business, by facilitating the granting of residence to employees of businesses relocating to New Zealand.

Family Category

The objective of Family Category Policy is to strengthen families and communities, while reinforcing the Government's overall objectives in immigration policy

The Family Category is available to you if you:

  • Are in a genuine and stable marriage or de facto relationship (whether heterosexual or same sex)with a New Zealand citizen or resident who sponsors their application; or

  • Have immediate family members who are New Zealand citizens or residents and who live permanently in New Zealand, and

  • Are the dependent children of New Zealand citizens or residents.

 Family Quota Category

The Family Quota Category is available to those applicants:

  • who are not eligible for residence under any other category of residence policy; and

  • who are sponsored by a family member who is a New Zealand citizen or resident living permanently in New Zealand; and

  • whose sponsor’s registration is drawn from the pool of people who have registered as sponsors under the Family Quota Category.

The Quota size will be annouced each year.

Special Residence Categories

Samoan Quota Scheme

The Samoan Quota Scheme allows up to 1,100 Samoans, including spouses and dependent children, to be granted residence in New Zealand each year.

To be eligible to make an application for residence under the Samoan Quota Scheme, you must first:

  • register interest in applying under the Quota Scheme on the official New Zealand Immigration Service Samoan Quota Scheme Registration Form; and

  • make an application within the official registration period. (The registration period for 2001 is now closed. Dates for registration were from 7 to 18 May 2001. Forms received outside those dates are not accepted); and

  • send the form to the New Zealand Immigration Service branch office in Samoa (you do not need to be in Samoa to register); and

  • send only one registration form (if you send more than one registration form, you will be disqualified from that year's registration of interest).

Following the set registration period, registration forms will be selected at random.

The New Zealand Immigration Service then contacts you to advise whether your registration has been successful, placed on hold, failed, or disqualified.

Within 3 months of notification that your registration is successful, you must lodge a formal application for residence in New Zealand under the Samoan Quota Scheme.

At this time, you must be in Samoa or American Samoa when your residence application is lodged and your application must include a valid, genuine, ongoing job offer from an employer in New Zealand.

Pitcairn Islanders

New Zealand recognises that there are few employment opportunities on Pitcairn Island and therefore considers Pitcairn Islanders for residence under a special category.

If you are a Pitcairn Islander, you will be considered for residence if you:

  • complete the standard Application for Residence in New Zealand form and attach the standard supporting documents (fee, two photos, birth certificate(s), passport(s), medical and x-ray examinations, character reports); and

  • have a firm offer of employment in New Zealand.

Which Family Members Can I Include?

Principal Applicant

The principal applicant is:

  • the person declared to be the principal applicant on the residence application form; and

  • the person assessed against the New Zealand policy criteria.

Spouse and De Facto Partner

Your spouse or de facto partner may be included in your residence application if you are legally married or your relationship meets the definition of a de facto relationship.

For the purpose of inclusion in an application, a de facto partner is a partner in a heterosexual or same sex relationship who has been living with the principal applicant in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 2 years immediately before the application is lodged.

Note: If you are in a polygamous marriage or relationship, you may include only one spouse or partner in your application for residence.

Dependent Children

You and/or your spouse or partner's dependent children may be included in your residence application if they are totally or substantially reliant on you and/or your spouse or partner for financial support (whether living with you or not) and they are:

  • aged 17 to 24 with no child(ren) of their own and single; or

  • aged 16 or younger and single.

Custody of Dependent Children Under 16

If you and your spouse or partner are divorced or separated, you may include your dependent child under 16 only if you have the right to remove your dependent child from its country of residence.

Such dependent children will not be granted residence unless satisfactory evidence of the right to remove the child from its country of residence is submitted.

Adopted Children

Children who have been legally adopted, or who have been adopted according to cultural custom are regarded as members of the family into which they have been adopted.

How Should I Lodge My Application?

Your application must include all required documentation to be accepted for processing.

Therefore, it is important that you read and understand the information available, especially the relevant Application Guides and any application checklists prepared by the New Zealand Immigration Service Office processing your application.

You are responsible for supplying information that demonstrates you meet the residence policy.

There is an application fee for all categories of residence application. Outside New Zealand, fees are usually paid in local currency. These fees are not refundable and can change without notice.

General information about fees, and where to lodge your application can be found here.

How Is My Application Assessed?

The New Zealand Immigration Service assesses applications in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration Act 1987, and the Government residence policy at the time the applications are made.

If your application is declined, you may ask the independent Residence Appeal Authority to review the decision.

Do I Need A Medical Certificate?

You and any accompanying family members must be of an acceptable standard of health to apply for residence in New Zealand. This is to ensure that you:

  • are not likely to be a danger to public health; and

  • are not likely to be a burden on the health services; and

  • are fit for the purpose of entry.

In order to prove that you and any accompanying family are of an acceptable standard of health, you and each member of your family are required to undergo medical examinations and tests in order to complete the New Zealand Immigration Service Medical and X-ray Certificate Form.

Your Medical and X-ray Certificate Forms must not be more than 3 months old at the time you lodge your residence application.

In some countries, the New Zealand Immigration Service selects medical panels of registered medical practitioners and/or radiologists.

If you and any family are resident in one of these countries, a panel member must complete your Medical and X-ray Certificate Forms.

You may either refer to the list of countries using panel doctors or consult the nearest branch of the New Zealand Immigration Service for details of the appropriate panel doctor for your area.

Do I Need A Police Certificate?

You and any accompanying family members must be of good character to apply for residence in New Zealand.

In order to prove that you and any accompanying family are of good character, you are required to provide, for everyone 17 years of age and over:

  • police certificates from your country of citizenship; and

  • police certificates from any country you have been in for 12 months or more (whether in one or more visits) in the 10 years prior to lodging your application.

These police certificates must not be less than 6 months old at the time you lodge your residence application.

Information on how to obtain a police certificate from most countries may be found in Obtaining A Police Certificate.

You and your accompanying family members must be of good character,whichever category you apply under.

Unless a special direction under section 7 of the Immigration Act is given,a person will be refused residence in New Zealand on character grounds if:

  • They have ever been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for five years or more;

  • They have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months or more during the preceding 10 years;

  • They have ever been deported from New Zealand or any other country;

  • There is reason to believe they may be associated with criminal groups,or may constitute a danger to New Zealand.

Do I Need To Meet English Language Requirements?

General Skills Category

Principal Applicants

All principal applicants must meet the specified standard of English language if applying under the General Skills category. You must therefore provide either:

  • a Test Report Form (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged) from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), showing achievement of an "Overall Band" score of 5 or higher in the IELTS General or Academic Modules; or

  • evidence that you have an English speaking background. A full list of acceptable evidence of having an English speaking background is found in the Guide to Applying for Residence in New Zealand; or

  • evidence which satisfies a visa or immigration officer that, taking into consideration that evidence and all the circumstances of the application, you meet the minimum standard of English. Some examples of such evidence are found in the Guide to Applying for Residence in New Zealand.

Note: Even though evidence of an English-speaking background or evidence of circumstances which suggest that you meet the minimum standard of English is provided, you may still be required to provide an IELTS certificate. In such cases, the IELTS certificate will be used to determine whether the minimum standard of English is met.

Your residence application will be declined if you, the principal applicant do not meet the minimum standard of English.

You may instead pre-purchase English language tuition (ESOL) and be approved if you:

  • have been working lawfully in New Zealand for the 12 months prior to the date your residence application is lodged; and

  • meet all other residence requirements for approval.

Non-Principal Applicants

All accompanying family members aged 16 years and over included in General Skills category applications may either show they meet the minimum standard of English or pre-purchase English language tuition (ESOL).

Business Categories (Excluding Long Term Business Visa)

Principal and Non-Principal Applicants

All principal applicants and accompanying family members aged 16 years and over must either meet the specified standard of English or pre-purchase ESOL tuition if applying for residence under the Business categories.

Under the Business categories, you meet the minimum standard of English if you provide either:

  • a Test Report Form (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged) from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), showing achievement of a minimum band score of 4 or higher in each of the 4 components of the IELTS General or Academic Modules; or

  • evidence that you have an English speaking background. A full list of acceptable evidence of having an English speaking background is found in the Guide to Applying for Residence in New Zealand; or

  • evidence which satisfies a visa or immigration officer that, taking into consideration that evidence and all the circumstances of the application, you meet the minimum standard of English.

Note: Even though evidence of an English-speaking background or evidence of circumstances which suggest that you meet the minimum standard of English is provided, you may still be required to provide an IELTS certificate. In such cases, the IELTS certificate will be used to determine whether the minimum standard of English is met.

ESOL Pre-purchase

The amount of ESOL tuition to be pre-purchased is determined by your "Overall Band" score in the IELTS Test Report Form according to the following table:

 

IELTS Overall Band Score

4.5 or more

4 or more (but less than 4.5)

3.5 or more (but less than 4)

Less than 3.5

General Skills Category

Charge

ESOL Entitlement

NZ$1,700

NZ$1,500

NZ$3,350

NZ$3,000

NZ$5,000

NZ$4,500

NZ$6,650

NZ$6,000

Business Investor Category

Charge

ESOL Entitlement

-

-

-

-

NZ$1,700

NZ$1,500

NZ$3,350

NZ$3,000



ESOL tuition is pre-purchased from Skill New Zealand by paying the required charge to the New Zealand Immigration Service. The charge includes New Zealand Immigration Service and Skill New Zealand administration costs.

If your application is approved but you are required to pre-purchase ESOL tuition, New Zealand Immigration Service will advise you of the amount of ESOL tuition charge to be paid. You have six months to pay this tuition charge. Your Residence Visa or Residence Permit will only be issued after this payment is made.

Failure to pre-purchase the ESOL tuition within the specified time frame may result in your application being declined.

For further information please refer to the English Language Information Leaflet.

Family Category Applicants  

If you are the spouse or de facto partner and/or dependent child of a successful principal applicant under the General Skills category, Business Immigration Policy or the previous Business Investor category, and you:

  • would have been eligible for inclusion in that successful application; and

  • later apply for residence under the Family category,

you will be required to meet the English language requirement as if you are a non-principal applicant in a General Skills category or Business Immigration Policy application.

If you would have been eligible for inclusion in an earlier General Skills category application, you will be subject to the English language policy for a General Skills category application applying at the time your application under the Family policy is made.

If you would have been eligible for inclusion in an earlier Business Investor category or Business Immigration Policy application, you will be subject to the English language policy for a Business Immigration Policy application applying at the time your application under the Family policy is made.

Do I Need To Pay Settlement Fees?

Once your residence application is approved in principle, you may be required to pay a settlement information fee and a migrant levy.

If these fees are payable, they must be paid before your residence visa is issued or residence permit is granted.

 Settlement Information Fee

A settlement information fee of NZ$90 applies to all successful principal or sole applicants whose residence application is approved.

This applies to all categories of residence application, except the following:

  • Refugees, and

  • Citizens of Samoa.

Migrant Levy

A migrant levy of NZ$235 for each person (up to a maximum of NZ$940 per application) applies to all successful principal applicants and accompanying family members under the following categories:

  • General Skills; and

  • Business Investor; and

  • Entrepreneur; and

  • Employees of Relocating Businesses.

Under the Family category, a migrant levy of NZ$125 for each person (up to a maximum of NZ$500 per application) applies to all successful principal applicants and accompanying family members.

However, this levy will not apply to applicants under the Family category who are citizens of Samoa or people applying on the basis of their relationship to a person granted residence under the special policy for refugees.

 Do I Need Sufficient Resources To Support Myself in New Zealand?

You are expected to have sufficient personal resources to maintain yourself and your dependants for the first 24 months as a resident in New Zealand.

Please refer to NZ The Facts for information on the approximate costs of living in New Zealand.

When applying for residence in New Zealand, it is a requirement to declare in your residence application form (Section E) that you have these personal resources for the first 24 months of your stay in New Zealand.

The content of this declaration will be made available to Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) should you apply for an emergency benefit.

New Zealand Citizenship Enquiries

In New Zealand, residence and citizenship are different. If you are granted residence, you retain your original citizenship. However, you may apply for New Zealand citizenship later.

The New Zealand Immigration Service does not administer citizenship law.

Enquiries about New Zealand citizenship and passports should be addressed to the Department of Internal Affairs or the appropriate section of a New Zealand Diplomatic and Consular Office.

Where Can I Get More Information And Advice?

You can get more information from:

For more general information about New Zealand:

 

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