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Student Visa

Studying in New Zealand at a University or Tertiary Institution is a great way to migrate to New Zealand and obtain an internationally recognized qualification. Depending on the course of study, you can also work while you are studying, and potentially be granted an open work visa at conclusion of your studies so you can then actively seek full time work in New Zealand.

There are many different pathways on which courses to study and the New Zealand visas available to you and your family. We will ensure you are advised of the best pathway for you and your family to meet your long-term goals. We offer a complete end-to-end service for Students, from selection of an appropriate course, offer of place through to approval of your Student Visa and your family visas.

We are licensed immigration advisers, so we know what it takes to have your Student Visa application approved by Immigration New Zealand.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WORK RIGHTS IN NEW ZEALAND

You can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week if your full-time programme of study meet certain requirements.

The most common are:

Studying for at least two years between level 4-6 course or one year course of level 7 or higher.
The study leads to a NZ qualification that gains points for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Studying an English language course that meets conditions approved by Immigration New Zealand.

You may work full-time during all vacations during study of at least one academic year. You can work full-time over the Christmas and New Year holiday period if studying for at least eight months course that has minimum of two semesters.

If you are enrolled in Masters by research or doctoral degree programmes awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution, there are no restrictions on the hours you can work while studying. There are unlimited work rights for PhD and Masters research students

BRINGING YOUR FAMILY TO NEW ZEALAND WHILE ON STUDENT VISA

In most cases the spouse and dependent children of a student can apply for and be granted a visa for the same duration as their partner or parents’ student visa. They can be granted either a visitor visa, student visa or work visa depending on the Tertiary course of study.

If your partner is granted an Open Work Visa, they can work full time in New Zealand.

If you have school age children, they may be able to attend Primary, Intermediate or Secondary school as “Domestic Students”, again which is dependent upon the tertiary course selected. Alternatively, they may need to pay international student fees.

Ask us now to ensure the correct tertiary student course is selected and your family are granted the right visa options.

Essentials Skills Policy - work Visa

The essential skills policy is aimed at attracting highly skilled workers and to protect the interest of New Zealand citizens and residents.

The policy states that immigration officers must not issue a work visa where it is found that that there are New Zealand citizens or residents who can either take up the job offer or trained to do the work on offer. To determine the availability of workers among New Zealand citizens and residents, the immigration officers are obliged to seek advice from the Work and Income, a wing of the Ministry of Social Development.

Under the policy, the immigration officers cannot approve applications for ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5 jobs (jobs that are not deemed skilled under the skilled migrant policy) unless advice is sought from Work and Income.

This requirement to seek advice from another government body will lead to fewer grant of work visas and will delay the process. Where an occupation is included in the Long Term Skill Shortage List or immediate shortage list and if the applicant meets the specific requirement listed in the lists, then immigration will accept that no New Zealand citizens or residents are available.

Residence Visa

You can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week if your full-time programme of study meet certain requirements.

The most common are:

Studying for at least two years between level 4-6 course or one year course of level 7 or higher.
The study leads to a NZ qualification that gains points for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Studying an English language course that meets conditions approved by Immigration New Zealand.

Entrepreneur Visa

If you have business experience, you may qualify for an entrepreneur work visa under the entrepreneur policy. Entrepreneur is a three- year temporary visa issued for the purpose of enabling the visa holder to establish and run a business in New Zealand. After the business is run for two years, you can apply for residence under the entrepreneur residence policy. You may be able to apply for residence earlier than two years if certain conditions are met.

Before you submit your application you should identify a business you intend to start once the visa is granted. The proposed business must be related to your current or previous business experience. The proposed business must be considered high growth, or innovative or having export potential. You can either establish a new business or buy at least 25% shares in an existing business. You must prepare a business plan and submit it along with your application. A good business plan, preferably prepared by an accountant, will improve your chances of succeeding in your application.

You must also meet health and standard requirements and have a minimum standard of English. You must have enough funds to finance the business and maintain you and your family during the visa period.

The application is dealt by the business migration branch (BMB) of Immigration based at Wellington, New Zealand. If the application is approved, you will be issued with a work visa to run the business. Your spouse, if any, will be issued with an open work visa to work for any employer. Your children, if any, will be issued student visas or visitor’s visas

Investor Category

High Networth Individuals (HNI) who have millions to invest in New Zealand may qualify for residence under the investor category. There are two categories - Investor Plus (Investor 1) category and Investor (Investor 2) category.

1. Investor Plus

$10mNZD.
Invested for 3 years.
44 days in NZ in each of the last 2 years of a three year investment period or 88 days over the three year investment period (depending on the make-up of your investment).
Invested for 3 years.

No additional requirements.

2. Investor Visa

$ 3mNZD.
Invested for 4 years.
146 days in NZ in each of the last three years of a four year investment period or 438 days in NZ over the four year investment period (depending on the make-up of your investment.
Invested for 3 years.

Additional requirements.

Minimum 3 years business experience.
language requirements apply.
Family members must have English language ability the same as principal applicant or pre-purchase ESOL tuition.
Maximum applicant age 65 years.

In all cases, residence visa issued with conditions. The conditions to be lifted after three or four years on meeting the conditions are met. The policy is a much improvement over the previous policy. The increase in the upper age limit will be attractive to those people who wish to retire in New Zealand. The investor plus category requires no business experience which means that people who have acquired wealth through property and without any business experience may qualify.

Short-term business Visas

Business people who wish to enter New Zealand for the purpose of undertaking business consultation or negotiations to establish or expand a business enterprise in New Zealand you will be eligible for a special business visitor visa. Similarly sales representatives of overseas companies having presence in New Zealand may also qualify for this special visa.
Senior business executives of overseas companies having a New Zealand subsidiary can come to New Zealand to work on short term projects in New Zealand. Senior managers, executives and specialist personnel of multinational companies will also be eligible for special work visas, if they are seconded to New Zealand as an intra-corporate transferee.

Employer Sponsored

New Zealand employers can sponsor overseas workers for temporary as well as residence. To protect the interest of New Zealand citizens and residents, only skilled workers are allowed to be sponsored. Where an occupation is included in the long-term skill shortage list or the immediate skill shortage list, then the employer is free to offer employment to any overseas workers without having to show that no local candidates are available to take up the job offer. The prospective employee must meet the qualifications/work experience requirement specified for that occupation in the long term or immediate shortage list. The overseas worker can apply for a work visa under the essential skills policy or under the long-term skill shortage list. Under the long-term skill shortage list policy, there is a minimum salary requirement but the advantage of applying under this category is that it will lead to residence after working for the employer for two years and there is no English language requirement Employers can also choose to become accredited employers with Immigration New Zealand and once become accredited, the employer can sponsor overseas workers for both temporary as well as residence visa.

Partner Migration

If you are in relationship with a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident, you may qualify for residence under the partnership category. Both marriage and de-facto relationships are recognized. Same sex relationships are also recognized.

To be issued with a residence visa under this category, Immigration should be satisfied that you have been living together for 12 months or more in a partnership that is genuine and stable. There is also the requirement that you are physically living together unless there are compelling reasons for living separately. Residence will not be granted unless you have been living together for at least 12 months.

You must meet both health and character requirements. There is no upper age limit. There is also no English language requirement. The application must be sponsored by your New Zealand citizen or resident partner.

To be eligible as a sponsor, your partner must not have sponsored anyone for residence under the partnership category for the last five years and has not supported more than one partnership residence application.

There is no automatic right to residence on the basis of your relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident. The onus is on you to establish that your relationship is both genuine and stable. You should expect Immigration to carry out thorough verification. In some cases, even unannounced house visits are carried out by immigration officer to verify the details.

Parent Migration

Immigration has recently suspended applications under this category which means till a new parent application policy is announced, no new applications will be accepted.