New Zealand Visas

New Zealand offers spectacular scenery, a relaxed lifestyle and a population that’s passionate about sport with the world famous ‘All Blacks’ rugby team. New Zealand can boast some of the best food and wine regions on earth and as the country’s landscape becomes ever more familiar in the cinema, the country is rapidly becoming a popular destination not just for those who wish to visit but for those looking to relocate overseas on a permanent basis.

Find out whether you qualify for a visa for New Zealand now, by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area.

Short Stay New Zealand Visas

New Zealand Tourist Visa

A New Zealand tourist visa permits its holder to remain in New Zealand for up to three months. For those who need to stay longer, it will be necessary to apply for a New Zealand visitor’s visa which is a multiple entry visa for a maximum visit of 9 months within its 18 month duration. Tourist and visitor visas are valid for those entering the country to visit family and friends, for the purposes of tourism, receiving medical treatment, or to engage in business activities excluding employment. All applicants must be able to show that they intend to depart from New Zealand within the validity of their visa and that they can support themselves whilst in the country.

New Zealand Business Visas

New Zealand welcomes international business talent and foreign nationals may immigrate to New Zealand on a long term business visa designed to help people who wish to start a business. New Zealand business visas are initially issued as a temporary residence permit valid for three years however they may enable candidates to move into the New Zealand Entrepreneur category and apply for a grant of permanent residency. Candidates are assessed on their business experience in a senior management position, their ability to invest sufficient capital to make their venture viable, and their benefit to New Zealand’s cultural, economic or technological development through the introduction of new technologies, the creation of jobs and the expansion of new or existing markets.

Candidates must also be in good health, be proficient in the English language and submit a detailed business plan which outlines the applicant’s financial resources, business history and the viability of their proposed venture.

Investing in New Zealand

New Zealand also offers an investor visa for those who wish to relocate to New Zealand by making a substantial investment. This visa service leads to permanent residency in New Zealand and requires candidates to demonstrate a minimum of five years of business experience owning at least 25% of a business or having extensive senior management experience. Candidates must also demonstrate a genuine desire to settle in New Zealand and must be able to invest at least NZ $2 million.

Living and Working in New Zealand

New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa

Under the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa specific roles are identified by the New Zealand Government and skilled migrants from overseas may immigrate to New Zealand to fill these positions based on their skills and experience. Skilled migrant visas function on a points system, and candidates will be assessed on such criteria as their age, qualifications and employment, with extra points awarded to those who already have a job offer, for previous work experience and for skills which are in shortage. Extra points may also be awarded where the applicant’s partner has valuable skills or a job offer and for candidates who have relatives in New Zealand.

New Zealand Work Permit

In New Zealand, work permits are broadly divided into the New Zealand Work to Residence Visa and the General Work Visa. The Work to Residence visa or WTR allows a candidate to apply for permanent residency after two years of work in New Zealand and may be obtained by securing sponsorship from an accredited New Zealand employer, possessing exceptional talent in the arts or sporting fields, or by applying for a position which features on the Long Term Skill Shortage List. In all cases, WTR permits are multiple entry visas for leaving and entering New Zealand and are valid for 30 months.

The General work visa requires a job offer from a New Zealand company but is appropriate where the applicant’s skills do not feature on the Long Term Skill Shortage List. Unlike the WTR visa a general work permit does not lead to settlement and is granted for three yeas at a time.

New Zealand Family Visas

A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident may sponsor their spouse, unmarried partner or fiance to join them in New Zealand. The New Zealand partnership visa as it is often referred to requires both partners to be at least 18 years of age, and it must be shown that parties have been legally married to one another or in a close relationship, cohabiting in an arrangement akin to marriage for at least 12 months.

Studying in New Zealand

A student visa is issued for a foreign national who wishes to study in New Zealand at a specified educational institution on a nominated course. New Zealand study visas are generally issued for a period of one year and are renewable as necessary. In most cases a New Zealand student visa is issued for full time courses, although in some case it may be possible to work part time, and although engaging in employment is not generally allowed, limited work may be permitted where the course duration is more than a year.

Student visa applications can only be made by those who have a confirmed offer of a place at a New Zealand educational institution. Applicants must show that they have arranged accommodation, that they are in good health and that they are able to financially support themselves throughout their stay in New Zealand.

You can set your New Zealand visa application in motion today by completing one of our online assessment forms. Just answer a few simple questions and a specialist New Zealand immigration consultant will contact you.