How to Immigrate to New Zealand

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Leaving one's current country in favor of New Zealand (Aotearoa) is a big decision. As New Zealand offers several options to immigrate there, each with varying difficulty, deciding the appropriate route to pursue will help you immigrate successfully without wasting much time. The following article explains the various methods of how to Immigrate to New Zealand.

Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Immigrate as a "skilled immigrant".

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    • The NZIS will then decide whether or not to accept you. If accepted, you will be given either a permanent residence visa or a visa that allows you to live in New Zealand while looking for work.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Obtain a work visa or work permit.

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    [1]
    • The three ways to get these are to apply for a WTR1 Talent Visa (accredited employer), WTR2 Talent Visa (arts, culture, sports), and WTR3 Visa (long term skill shortage).
    • To obtain a WTR1 or WTR2 Talent Visa, you must be aged 55 or younger, meet health and character requirements, and have found an employer (for WR1) or nationally known organization (for WR2) that wants to make use of your talents.
    • To obtain a WR3 Visa, you must be under age 53 when you apply for the visa and under age 56 when you are eligible for residence. Your skill must be on New Zealand's Long Term Skill Shortage List.
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    • Do this if the WTR visas do not work for you.
    • You must have a job offer in New Zealand to get a general work visa.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Invest in New Zealand

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    [2]
    • You must have spent at least 73 days in 2 of the last 3 years in New Zealand before you are granted residence.
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    [3]
    • Do this if the Investor 1 category is not in your best interest. You must be age 65 or younger, meet minimum English language standards, and have been in New Zealand for at least 146 days in each of the last 3 years.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

Obtain a long-term business visa.

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    Apply under the Entrepreneur category if you have established a business in New Zealand, have been self-employed for at least 2 years, and can demonstrate that your business has benefited the country. [4]
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    Apply under the Entrepreneur Plus Category if you have successfully established a business in New Zealand, are self-employed, have invested at least NZ$0.5 million, and have created at least 3 full-time jobs for citizens or residents of New Zealand. [5]
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

Request residence based on family status.

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    [6]
    • You have any family at all in New Zealand or your partner is a native or permanent resident of New Zealand.
    • You have more family in New Zealand than your current country.
Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Retire in New Zealand.

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    • Note that there is a NZ$2,600 fee to do so.
    • You must be at least 66 years old.
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    [7]
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

Purchase a franchise in your current country.

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    • This option is only recommended for those who are desperate to immigrate, as it does not guarantee residence in New Zealand.
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Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

Plan your move to New Zealand.

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    [8]
    • Check www.realestate.co.nz for rentals or houses or search on the Internet for other sites.
    • Contact anyone you know in New Zealand for recommendations.
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    • A simple search on an Internet search engine will help you choose the best international mover.
    • Contact anyone you know who has moved internationally for recommendations.
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    • Make sure you close all bank accounts in your current country and transfer them to accounts in New Zealand as soon as possible.
    • Pay off any debts or other liabilities before you leave. Take care of any other problems that you may have difficulty solving when in a different country.
    • Board a plane and head to New Zealand.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I write a letter to the embassy?
    Miatrai Brown, Esq.
    Immigration Attorney
    Miatrai Brown is an Immigration Lawyer based in Washington D.C. With over 10 years of academic and professional experience, her areas of focus include employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, investment-based immigration, family-based immigration, risk management assessment, and regulatory compliance. She began her legal career exclusively practicing immigration and nationality law as external immigration counsel to large U.S. corporations and fast-moving start-ups. After six years at top immigration firms, she opened her own practice, Direct U.S. Immigration. This move was motivated by her desire to provide more access to a high level of immigration support to clients worldwide. As a thoughtful and strategic advisor on immigration and related matters, Direct U.S. Immigration earned an impressive honor as Immigration Law Firm of the Year 2023 – Washington DC.
    Miatrai Brown, Esq.
    Immigration Attorney
    Expert Answer
    Tailor your approach to the purpose of your communication. Begin by specifying the embassy you're addressing, providing comprehensive contact details, and, if applicable, including relevant case information. State the subject of your letter explicitly and detail any specific requests you may have. This ensures clarity and facilitates efficient communication with the embassy.
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    How do I get citizenship for New Zealand?
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    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    To become a citizen of New Zealand, you must live in the country for at least 5 years, be proficient in English, demonstrate good character, and plan to remain living in New Zealand after you're granted citizenship.
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    How do I apply for a visa to move my family to New Zealand?
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    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If you are a citizen or permanent resident, you can complete the family or dependent visa applications as their sponsor. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor your dependents. However, adult family members would need to independently qualify for a visa based on their country of origin, background, and experience.
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      • To submit an expression of interest, you must be in good health, have good character, speak English reasonably well, be age 20-55, and score 100 or more points in a system that ranks work experience, age, and other factors. In general, the younger you are (within the 20-55 age range) and more work experience you have, the higher your score will be.
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      • The health and character requirements of the NZIS apply in all cases.
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      • There are no age restrictions for general work visas. However, these visas do not lead to residence.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/live-permanently/all-resident-visas
      2. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/investor-plus-investor-1-resident-visa
      3. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/investor-investor-2-resident-visa
      4. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/entrepreneur-work-visa
      5. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/entrepreneur-resident-visa
      6. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/join-family/all-family-visas
      7. ↑ https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/parent-retirement-resident-visa
      8. ↑ https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/housing/buying-building

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      There are several ways you can immigrate to New Zealand, but they all require you to go through the New Zealand Immigration Service. One way you may be able to immigrate is by showing that you have a particular job skill the country needs. Alternatively, you can try to line up a job with a specific employer in New Zealand before you apply for a visa, which can make it easier to get approval to immigrate. Other ways you may qualify for immigration are by having your own business or being willing to invest a significant amount of money in the country. To learn how you may be able to immigrate to New Zealand if you have family there, read on!

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