Gaining permanent residency in New Zealand is a long and complicated process, and the threat of Covid-19 has made it even more challenging. We explore the steps to gaining permanent residency and the challenges that could affect your application below. To learn more, read on.
The first stage of gaining permanent residency in New Zealand is getting a resident visa. A resident visa allows you to live, study and work in New Zealand indefinitely, but there are conditions to meet in order to apply for a permanent resident visa two years after securing a resident visa. New Zealand has different residence categories that you can apply for a resident visa:
While there are many pathways to the residence, the process isn’t always simple. There are many challenges that can impact your application or cause prolonged delays.
One of the most frustrating parts about applying for a skilled migrant visa in NZ is the waiting period. There are very few immigration officers currently available at Immigration NZ. There are various factors that officers consider before approving an application, making it a very time-consuming process. To make matters worse, applications for resident visas are on pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a huge backlog of resident visa applications waiting to be processed, causing unprecedented delays in the immigration process.
There is not a lot of flexibility when it comes to resident visa applications. If you don’t meet the specified requirements outlined in the visa category, your application will not be accepted. For example, applying for a partnership visa can be particularly challenging, because the legitimacy of relationship can be hard to prove along with how long you have lived with your New Zealand partner.
Your health may also affect whether you are granted a resident visa. All applicants must prove that they are of an acceptable standard of health and are not a threat to public health. Some of these rules are quite outdated and don’t keep up with our changing health system, so this can be difficult to manage too.
To gain residency in NZ, you must meet the character requirements set out by Immigration NZ. If evidence shows that you are not of good character, your application may be declined. A police certificate from your country of citizenship is usually required to provide evidence of no criminal offences and in some cases, these certificates may be required from a number of countries. Even if you have less serious character offences, you may need a character waiver before your application is approved. This can make it a challenge for many to get residency.
A permanent resident visa offers many more privileges and freedoms than a resident visa. As a permanent resident, you will be allowed to travel in and out of New Zealand as you please (under the Covid-19 restrictions of course). To gain permanent residency, you must demonstrate a ‘commitment’ to New Zealand through one of the following criteria:
You and your family must also be of good character. Convictions may occur after a resident visa is granted but before a permanent resident visa is applied for. These need to be disclosed and may affect eligibility. Likewise, a conviction within 10 years of first becoming a resident may affect permanent residence status.
These are highlights of the criteria for becoming a Permanent Resident. Take professional advice to establish your eligibility and plan ahead.
Gaining permanent residency in New Zealand can be complex, but with the help of NZ licensed immigration advisers, the process can be made simple and straightforward. At Malcolm Pacific Immigration, we have the knowledge and expertise to solve a range of complicated immigration issues. Contact us today for professional visa assistance.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our team is on standby, ready to help.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our employer team is on standby, ready to help.
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Today the government announced a pathway to residence for migrant workers who are living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave who are eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else they will miss out on this one off opportunity.
Today the government announced a pathway to residence for people living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else you miss the boat.
The government has moved the introduction of the new employer accreditation process across to mid-2022. At the same time, the Minister of Immigration announced new work visa rules for migrant workers who are already in New Zealand and working full time.
The government has increased the median wage to $27 per hour from 19 July. Any Skilled Migrant residence application lodged after this date will need to include a skilled job offer that pays at least $27 per hour. For some lower-skilled occupations, the minimum pay rate increases to $40.50 per hour.
From 19 July 2021
From 30 June 2021
Employers of migrant workers must become accredited from 1 November 2021 before work visa applications can be processed. Most employers are not accredited. Those that are accredited will have to roll into the new system when it goes live in late September.
From mid-2020 (delayed)
Skilled occupation "Dairy Cattle Farmer" spilt into three occupations. New occupations are: "Dairy Farm Manager", "Assistant Dairy Farm Manager" and "Dairy Herd Manager". Each sit at different skill levels, therefore, the award of points will depend on pay rates, job tasks and other requirements.
From 15 February 2021
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool for six months (to be reviewed in April 2021). Invitations to Apply for Residence remain suspended. The last selection from the Skilled Migrant pool took place on 18/03/2020.
From 7 October 2020
The government added four new occupations that are now regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. These are:
Aged or disabled carer, Bicycle mechanic, Driller and Nursing Support worker.
From 27 July 2020
Anyone invited by Immigration NZ to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category where their invitation is dated between 1 November 2019 and 15 April 2020 (inclusive) has now been granted an additional six months to lodge their residence application.
From 27 May 2020
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool. This means Invitations to Apply for Residence are also suspended. Malcolm Pacific Immigration does not anticipate selections to resume until after the general election held on 17 October 2020.
Immigration NZ is now prioritising Skilled Migrant Residence applications where the main (principal) applicant meets the criteria:
From 24 February 2020
From 7 October 2019
The government recently added more occupations that are now to be regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. In order to qualify for points, the job must be paying at least the current median wage (or higher for certain occupations) at the time the residence application is lodged.
From 1 November 2021
From 1 November 2021 anyone who is not a NZ citizen must be fully vaccinated (unless exempt) before travelling to New Zealand. Fully vaccinated means your last dose of vaccine was given at least 14 days before travelling and it was an approved vaccine.
Applications for employer accreditation closed at the end of June 2021. Applications lodged before the closure date are still being processed. New applications for accreditation open on 9 May 2022. The process will be quite different to what employers have experienced in the past. Businesses will need to meet minimum standards.
Wednesday, 1 December is fast approaching and it is estimated that around 16,000 individuals and families can apply in the first wave for the 2021 Resident Visa opening next month. It is exciting for the thousands of people who have been waiting patiently to become residents that finally the finish line is in sight.
The first wave of applicants can apply from 1 December 2021. Around 16,000 applications are expected in this first wave. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. In total, the government expects approximately 110,000 applications that will include about 165,000 people.
The second group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 March 2022 are those who hold an eligible work visa and either meet "Settled", "Skilled" or "Scarce" as set out above. In total Immigration NZ estimate around 110,000 people will qualify to apply for this visa.
The first group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 December 2021 are those that on 29/09/2021:
Is this the only requirement to qualify for residence? No. In addition to the eligible work visa criteria workers also need to be regarded as one of the following:
People who were lawfully in NZ (or in Australia when the travel bubble closed between April and July 2021) on 29/09/2021 need to meet the visa eligibility criteria:
The government has introduced a limited pathway to residence for people who are already living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave of people eligible to apply. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. The deadline to apply for the 2021 Resident Visa is 31 July 2022.
A small number of critical health workers (taking up jobs for six months or longer) or specialist workers (taking up jobs that are for longer than six months) who were granted border exemptions may also have eligibility for the 2021 Resident Visa. They will need to have arrived in NZ and lodge a 2021 Resident Visa application.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
The work visa categories set to close are:
From September 2022 people holding job offers in a small number of occupations may apply for residence. Some occupations are a direct pathway to residence and others require a period of two years or longer before applying.
There are qualification and/or occupational registration requirements to meet. Establishing if an overseas qualification matches the NZ equivalent qualification before applying is paramount for success.