How to Immigrate to New Zealand

Last Updated: September 3, 2022 References Approved

Leaving one's current country in favor of New Zealand (Aotearoa) is a big decision. As New Zealand offers several options to immigrate there, each with varying difficulty, deciding the appropriate route to pursue will help you immigrate successfully without wasting much time. The following article explains the various methods of how to Immigrate to New Zealand.

Method 1

Method 1 of 8:

Immigrate as a "skilled immigrant".

1
Submit an expression of interest to the New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS).^{[1]
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- The NZIS will then decide whether or not to accept you. If accepted, you will be given either a permanent residence visa or a visa that allows you to live in New Zealand while looking for work.

Method 2

Method 2 of 8:

Obtain a work visa or work permit.

1
Obtain a Work to Residence (WTR) visa.^{[2]
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- The three ways to get these are to apply for a WTR1 Talent Visa (accredited employer), WTR2 Talent Visa (arts, culture, sports), and WTR3 Visa (long term skill shortage).
- To obtain a WTR1 or WTR2 Talent Visa, you must be aged 55 or younger, meet health and character requirements, and have found an employer (for WR1) or nationally known organization (for WR2) that wants to make use of your talents.
- To obtain a WR3 Visa, you must be under age 53 when you apply for the visa and under age 56 when you are eligible for residence. Your skill must be on New Zealand's Long Term Skill Shortage List.
2
Obtain a general work visa.
- Do this if the WTR visas do not work for you.
- You must have a job offer in New Zealand to get a general work visa.

Method 3

Method 3 of 8:

Invest in New Zealand

1
Invest at least NZ$10,000,000 in the country to obtain residence in New Zealand under the Investor 1 category.^{[3]
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- You must have spent at least 73 days in 2 of the last 3 years in New Zealand before you are granted residence.
2
Invest at least NZ$1,500,000 in the country to obtain residence the Investor 2 category.^{[4]
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- Do this if the Investor 1 category is not in your best interest. You must be age 65 or younger, meet minimum English language standards, and have been in New Zealand for at least 146 days in each of the last 3 years.

Method 4

Method 4 of 8:

Obtain a long-term business visa.

1
Apply under the Entrepreneur category if you have established a business in New Zealand, have been self-employed for at least 2 years, and can demonstrate that your business has benefited the country.^{[5]
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2
Apply under the Entrepreneur Plus Category if you have successfully established a business in New Zealand, are self-employed, have invested at least NZ$0.5 million, and have created at least 3 full-time jobs for citizens or residents of New Zealand.^{[6]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 8:

Request residence based on family status.

1
Check with the NZIS to see if you qualify if either of the following apply:^{[7]
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- You have any family at all in New Zealand or your partner is a native or permanent resident of New Zealand.
- You have more family in New Zealand than your current country.

Method 6

Method 6 of 8:

Retire in New Zealand.

1
Apply for a visitor visa under the Temporary Retirement Category.
- Note that there is a NZ$2,600 fee to do so.
- You must be at least 66 years old.
2
Invest at least NZ$750,000 for at least 2 years in New Zealand in an approved investment once you are accepted.
3
Demonstrate that you have at least NZ$500,000 in maintenance funds and an annual income of at least NZ$60,000.^{[8]
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4
Maintain travel and/or health insurance for the duration of your stay.

Method 7

Method 7 of 8:

Purchase a franchise in your current country.

1
Successfully operate a franchise in your current country.
2
Demonstrate to the NZIS that you would be able to operate a franchise successfully in their country.
- This option is only recommended for those who are desperate to immigrate, as it does not guarantee residence in New Zealand.

Method 8

Method 8 of 8:

Plan your move to New Zealand.

1
Find a home in New Zealand after you have been accepted.^{[9]
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- Check www.realestate.co.nz for rentals or houses or search on the Internet for other sites.
- Contact anyone you know in New Zealand for recommendations.
2
Find an international mover.
- A simple search on an Internet search engine will help you choose the best international mover.
- Contact anyone you know who has moved internationally for recommendations.
3
Move to New Zealand.
- Make sure you close all bank accounts in your current country and transfer them to accounts in New Zealand as soon as possible.
- Pay off any debts or other liabilities before you leave. Take care of any other problems that you may have difficulty solving when in a different country.
- Board a plane and head to New Zealand.

Community Q&A
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Question

How do I get citizenship for New Zealand?

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To become a citizen of New Zealand, you must live in the country for at least 5 years, be proficient in English, demonstrate good character, and plan to remain living in New Zealand after you're granted citizenship.
Question

How do I apply for a visa to move my family to New Zealand?

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If you are a citizen or permanent resident, you can complete the family or dependent visa applications as their sponsor. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor your dependents. However, adult family members would need to independently qualify for a visa based on their country of origin, background, and experience.
Question

Can I move to NZ? I have Syrian nationality living with my family (2 kids and wife) in Saudi Arabia.

Community Answer

If you can do one of the steps in this article you can move to New Zealand.