Moving countries and changing jobs can seem daunting enough, let alone working through your immigration application. Ensuring all the forms are filled out correctly, and the requirements are met takes time. If you miss something or unintentionally make a mistake, the risk could be that your application is rejected.
The help of a licensed immigration adviser can reduce stress significantly during the immigration process and help to provide you with the confidence that your application is correct.
A New Zealand licensed immigration adviser offers services, from the professional assessment of your personal situation to managing the application process. Even if your New Zealand visa is about to expire, or you're simply interested in your different visa options, licensed immigration advisers can help you with your immigration process.
People use immigration advisers for various reasons. Common reasons include:
It's important to talk to professionals as immigration laws change regularly. Getting advice from well-meaning friends and family may not give you enough accurate information. The information that was applicable for them or how rules have changed since their application can complicate your understanding of your individual New Zealand immigration process.
Contact Malcolm Pacific Immigration today for a free consultation. We have a team of skilled and experienced advisers in New Zealand who can assist you every step of the way.
Immigration advice and services are regulated by New Zealand legislation. The Immigration Act 2009 (the Act) defines the regime, while the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the IALA) defines laws that govern the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA), which regulates immigration advisers and licensing.
New Zealand's immigration governance aims to promote and protect the interests of consumers receiving immigration advice and enhance New Zealand's reputation as a migration destination by regulating the people who provide immigration advice.
The New Zealand regulatory immigration system is responsible for:
The Immigration Act 2009 is New Zealand's fundamental source of immigration law. It provides a framework for managing immigration to balance the country's national interests in line with international obligations and protect New Zealand citizens, residents and migrants.
The Immigration Act 2009 is responsible for:
The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 was designed to protect consumers and enhance New Zealand's reputation as a destination for migrants. It also enables people to receive ethical and accurate advice and information from licensed professionals.
The IALA requires people who give New Zealand immigration advice to be licensed unless they have an exemption.
The Immigration Advisers Authority oversees licensed advisers. The IAA was set up to promote and protect the interests of people receiving New Zealand immigration advice, and they have people's best interests at heart.
The Immigration Advisers Authority is responsible for:
At Malcolm Pacific Immigration, we ensure that all of our immigration advisers are up to date with the latest immigration rules. We provide the right advice and support to make the process easier to understand and stress-free.
New Zealand's Immigration policy can be complex. It may seem overwhelming for any applicant, especially if it's your first visa application.
Gaining an in-depth understanding of the visa application process is not just time-consuming, but it can have many downsides. For example, trying to do the application yourself could lead to a declined application because you didn't include all the documentation required for your situation. When you are hoping to successfully secure a job to support your application, you want to ensure everything is clear for you and your employer.
Hire experienced professionals to get it right the first time.
Talking to a professional adviser can help answer any questions about the immigration system, visa options, and the application process.
An immigration adviser will give you guidance on your potential immigration options. They help you to understand the different visa categories and how to choose the one that applies to you.
Immigration advisers are responsible for keeping up-to-date with information on the latest changes to the system.
Your immigration adviser should have the finger on the pulse of your application, following up with Immigration NZ and other New Zealand government authorities to ensure your NZ work visa application or residency application is being processed. They should always be aware of what stage your visa application is at and keep you in the loop with important updates.
Licensed immigration advisers know the law like the back of their hand. They help you navigate the complex immigration system and ensure your application is as strong as possible.
A reputable and experienced immigration adviser knows what you need to do to get your application approved.
Applying for a New Zealand immigration visa and understanding the INZ system can be extremely stressful, but turning to a licensed adviser will help.
Handing the process to a professional adviser is the best choice to provide you with a smooth process and avoid the stress associated with a life-changing decision.
Licensed immigration advisers save you time and money. They help you submit a well-prepared application, meaning you are less likely to have your application rejected and saves you time and money in the long run.
As experts in their fields, they have been trained and, in most cases, passed the Graduate Diploma in NZ Immigration Advice before being granted their license.
When you start your search for an immigration adviser, you may feel overwhelmed with the number of options available. So how can you know who the right person for the job is?
Here are some tips for what you should look for in an immigration adviser.
Ensure your immigration adviser has a valid license from the Immigration Advisers Authority.
Immigration advice is a highly regulated industry, which is why we ensure all of our advisers are up to date on the latest rule changes through regular in-house training and professional development. So whether you're looking at moving to New Zealand, want to visit the country, or need to gain a student visa, we can help. Malcolm Pacific Immigration provides the right advice, removing the risk of getting information from less reliable sources.
Check that your immigration adviser is reputable and has good reviews from clients. This means they stay up-to-date with the latest changes to the immigration system and provide accurate advice and information.
We stand behind our actions. When you work with Malcolm Pacific Immigration, you know you are getting our signature service and our company's commitment to supporting you all the way. With over 35 years of experience delivering trusted, outstanding service to businesses, we're happy to share some of our client feedback.
We have the largest team in the country, so we have the capacity to provide you with personal service and move applications quickly to lodgement. When a team member is on leave, there is always someone for you to talk to. It is hard to do this job well each and every day if there is just one adviser looking after many clients.
The right immigration adviser should listen to your problems and answer your questions. They should make you feel comfortable and be willing to help even after the application has been submitted. You need to know what is happening as the process moves forward - that is what helps you keep calm.
Our direct contact phone numbers, experienced team and dedication to outstanding service mean that we'll get your applications moving as quickly as possible.
Don't go through the immigration process alone. We are here to save you time, stress and money. Keep up to date by reading immigration NZ news, and contact our expert immigration advisers with any questions.
We are New Zealand's largest and most experienced team of licensed immigration advisers. Our experts will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of immigration. All you need to do is get in touch.
Contact our licensed immigration advisers today for immigration guidance.
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:
In order to address labour shortages in New Zealand's crucial industries the NZ government has implemented a "Green List" of sought-after high-skill occupations. This list offers a prioritised pathway to residency.
There are qualification and/or occupational registration requirements to meet. Occupations are broken down into two tiers:
The recent additions in May 2023 across many sectors can be found here