New Zealand Immigration Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Moving to a new country means so many new things but can also be somewhat challenging. Before thinking about immigrating to New Zealand, many people may feel that it is too complicated a process which is why it is highly recommended to do some research beforehand.
This guide tries to simplify the immigration process to assist any interested prospective Kiwi residents in comprehending the process better.
How to Process New Zealand Immigration
The following are some steps on how one can go about the immigration process to New Zealand.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
The first thing that one has to do to become an immigrant in New Zealand is to determine whether you qualify for any of the several visa categories available. The most common categories include:
Skilled Migrant Category
This category pertains to people who possess qualifications, work experience, and skills that are relevant to the New Zealand market. The age, qualifications, work experience, and an offer of skilled employment are assessed under the point system.
Family Stream
Also known as the family reunion visa, if you are related to a New Zealand citizen or resident in a close way, you might qualify for a family visa. This involves visas for persons who have close relationships with residents or citizens of New Zealand such as partners, minor children, and parents.
Investment Categories
Those who have substantial capital to invest in New Zealand are offered opportunities for investment in the framework of certain types of visas, including the Investor Plus Visa and the Entrepreneur Resident Visa.
If you have determined what category applies to your situation best, you can move to the next step.
Step 2: Collect Needed Papers
One must approach the immigration process with all the relevant documents in order. The specific documents required may vary depending on your visa category, but generally, you will need:
- Valid passport
- Birth certificate
- Educational qualifications
- Letters of recommendation and employment history
- Police clearance certificates
- Certificates of medical fitness, chest X-ray papers.
- Proof of funds or income
- Certificate of marriage or relationship status if any
If any of the documents submitted are in another language, they must be translated into proper English at the same time.
Step 3: Apply Now
The final step is to appear for IV as soon as you have collected all the documents you need to submit with your visa application. This can be done either through the New Zealand Immigration official website or by posting the documents to the desired Immigration New Zealand office.
When submitting your application, you will need to provide:
- Completed application form(s)
- All supporting documents
- Applicable fees
This means that one needs to be very careful to avoid leaving out or providing wrong details since this may lead to the application being rejected or delayed.
Step 4: Wait for Processing
When you are done with your application, you will have to wait for it to be reviewed by Immigration New Zealand. It may take a few days, weeks, or months to process a visa depending on the type of visa, whether the application was fully complete, and other applications that have been processed.
At this stage, you may be asked to come in for an interview or to submit further information or documents. It may be requisite thus to respond to any communication made by Immigration New Zealand as soon as possible to prevent any undue delay.
Step 5: Get Decision and Plan Your Move
Once you are approved, you are issued with a visa that enables you to reside and seek employment in New Zealand. At this stage, you are ready to plan and prepare for the move such as looking for a new home, organizing how the household items will be transported, and how to travel.
If your application is turned down, you might be allowed to appeal the decision that was made or perhaps re-apply under a different visa sub-category depending on the circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions that people often ask regarding the New Zealand immigration process:
Waiting time: How much time does it take to complete the entire process?
The time taken to process a New Zealand visa application request will therefore greatly depend on the need for which the application is being made, the full and proper completion of the application as well as the influx of applications processed at a certain time by Immigration New Zealand. Appointments can last from a few weeks to a few months depending on the type of visa that one wants to apply for. It is recommended that one applies early enough before the date he/she plans to commence his/her travel.
Am I allowed to work while waiting for the visa?
On a sad note, New Zealand laws make it impossible for you to work in New Zealand while waiting for the approval of your visa application. Before one is allowed to work in the country legally, they have to secure a visa, which may take some time before it is approved.
What would happen if my visa application is rejected?
There are several reasons for a visa application refusal and if this happens you can either ask for a review of the decision or try to apply again under a different category depending on the circumstances. You should contact Immigration New Zealand for the facts behind the score decline and the possible steps to take.
Can my family members come with me?
In many circumstances, your spouse and dependent children may visit you in New Zealand or follow to join you later depending on the eligibility requirements. However, it is necessary to look at the visa of the country for families and other members suitable for the person.
Is it compulsory to learn English?
In general, for most of the visa types, you may be required to pass the test in the English language. They can do so through either of the standardized tests like the IELTS or TOEFL or through the previous academic and or work experience that the candidate has had in any English-speaking environment.
Can I apply for a permanent residency immediately?
Generally, you will require a temporary permit first and some degree of stay requirements before you can qualify for a permanent residency in New Zealand. It may take some time to go up to several years considering your visa category and other personal factors.
