Skilled worker immigration to new zealand

New Zealand has a points-based system for skilled worker immigration, which is designed to attract highly skilled and qualified workers to fill labor gaps in the country. Here are the general requirements and process for skilled worker immigration to New Zealand:

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Age: You must be under 56 years old.
  2. Qualifications: You must have a recognized qualification that is relevant to your occupation.
  3. Work experience: You must have at least 2 years of work experience in your occupation.
  4. Language: You must have a good command of English, as it is the primary language spoken in New Zealand.
  5. Points: You must score at least 160 points out of 180 in the points-based system.

Points-Based System:

The points-based system assesses your skills, qualifications, work experience, and language ability. You can score points in the following categories:

  1. Qualifications (up to 60 points)
  2. Work experience (up to 30 points)
  3. Language (up to 30 points)
  4. Job offer (up to 20 points)
  5. Other factors (up to 40 points)

Application Process:

  1. Check your eligibility: Use the Immigration New Zealand's online tool to check if you are eligible for skilled worker immigration.
  2. Submit an expression of interest: If you are eligible, submit an expression of interest (EOI) online, which includes your personal details, qualifications, work experience, and language ability.
  3. Receive an invitation to apply: If your EOI is selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for a visa.
  4. Submit your application: You must submit your application online, including all required documents and information.
  5. Wait for a decision: Your application will be assessed, and you will receive a decision on your visa application.

Visa Options:

There are several visa options for skilled workers, including:

  1. Essential Skills Work Visa: This visa is for workers who have a job offer in New Zealand and meet the points-based system requirements.
  2. Skilled Migrant Category Visa: This visa is for workers who do not have a job offer but meet the points-based system requirements.
  3. Work to Residence Visa: This visa is for workers who have a job offer in New Zealand and want to work and live in the country for up to 30 months.

Required Documents:

You will need to provide the following documents as part of your application:

  1. Passport
  2. Qualifications and transcripts
  3. Work experience certificates
  4. Language test results (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL)
  5. Police certificates
  6. Medical certificate
  7. Proof of job offer (if applicable)

Processing Time:

The processing time for skilled worker immigration applications can vary depending on the complexity of the application and the workload of Immigration New Zealand. However, you can expect the process to take around 6-12 months.

Fees:

The fees for skilled worker immigration applications vary depending on the type of visa and the complexity of the application. However, you can expect to pay around NZD $500-$1,000 for the application fee.

I hope this information helps! If you have any further questions or would like more information, please let me know.