Work To Residence Visa For NZ

Option 2: Straight to Residence Work Visa

Typically, it targets those who already work in high-demand occupations listed on Tier 1 of the Green List. These eligible roles include engineers, paramedics, programmers, electricians, and many others. It does offer a faster pathway to permanent residency.

You can apply, if you already have a job in New Zealand or you’ve been offered a position by an accredited company.

Option 3: Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Resident Visa is designed to entice foreign nationals to the country who have the skills and qualifications to work in a job that positively impacts their economy.

The job offered must pay you at or above the median wage, and you need to have gained at least 6 points before you can apply.

These points can be made up from how long you have worked in the country. For example, for each year you have legally worked in New Zealand, you gain 1 point. You can claim other points from the qualifications you have such as a valid degree or diploma.

For the job to be considered a skilled occupation, it must be on the Long-Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) or the Canterbury Skill Shortage List (CSSL). It must offer a salary at or above the median wage, and the contract must be for at least 30 hours a week.

Care Workforce and Transport Sector Worker category

You can apply for this visa if you have a job or have been offered a role in either healthcare or the Transport sector.

Some eligible jobs in healthcare include;

• A residential care officer
• An aged or disabled carer
• A nursing support worker
• A personal care assistant

Some eligible jobs in the transport sector include;

• A bus driver and truck driver
• An aircraft refueller
• Furniture removalist
• A tanker driver or a tow truck driver.

When you’re applying for a residence visa in either of these sectors, you must already have a valid work visa or other visa that allows you to work in New Zealand and you have worked in the job for at least 2-years. Your salary must exceed NZD$28 per hour.

Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa

The Talent Resident Visa is for skilled workers who have been working at a job in New Zealand for more than 2-years.The job must be with an accredited employer. It must be paying more than NZD $55,00 per annum before tax, you’ll need to provide evidence of this.

To be eligible, you’ll need to already have a valid Long Term Skills Shortage List Visa, or it has just expired and you are waiting for a permanent residence application to be processed.

For all of these work visas, if you have included a partner and any of your children on the application, you’ll need to provide proof you are indeed related to them. Such as, valid marriage and birth certificates for each additional family member.

Additionally, all applicants will need to be in good health, be under 55 years old and be able to provide a certificate proving a good understanding of the English language.

Before starting an application, you must prepare the following documents. If applicable, you’ll also need to provide your valid passport, marriage or birth certificate.

Typically, they include:

• A valid passport to prove your identity and to show that you are under 55 years old.
• One photograph taken by a professional or a business who takes photos.
• If bringing your family members, you’ll need marriage and birth certificates.
• A police clearance certificate for you and any family members aged 17-years or older.
• A copy of a chest X-ray certificate, and it must be done in the last 3-months.
• A full medical examination for all dependents under 24-years old. However, if they are younger than 10, they do not need to have a chest X-ray.
• Proof of your work experience, such as a contract from accredited employers.
• Proof of your qualifications like a copy of a degree or a diploma.
• Evidence you have passed an English language test, if required.
• A letter from your accredited employers who is offering you a job.
• Proof you have enough money to support yourself and any dependent children.

After understanding what documents you will need, make sure that you prepare them well before applying for these visas.

If required, have copies of your documents and originals, ensure they are valid and up to date.Doing this early can help avoid any issues like delays in processing your application.

It is also important that you ensure the photo you provide meets the current photograph requirements, they are:

• It must be between 500 KB and 3 MB
• It must be between 900 x 1,200 pixels and 2,250 x 3,000 pixels
• It must either be a JPG or JPEG file.

Failing to follow the guidelines and submitting the correct documents may result in your application being refused. It can also lead to refusal if you provide false or misleading information.

To avoid these issues, it is best to prepare and submit your application well in advance, this will help account for any potential delays in your application going through the processing stage.

For more complex cases, consider seeking expert advice from a licensed immigration adviser. Our Team at Total Law has many years of experience dealing with immigration matters, including handling visa applications. Contact us at 0333 305 9375 or message us online.

To apply for a Work to Residence Visa, follow these steps.

Step 1: Choose your submission method:

When applying for a permanent Work Visa in New Zealand, you have two options, you can either submit an online application. Or you can choose to submit a paper application. However, the online option is recommended due to it being the fastest way to receive a decision.

To begin, you will need to create an online account at the Immigration New Zealand website. For this you will need a valid email address and create a password, make sure to keep this safe. As you may need it in the future to track the status of your application.

Step 2: Gather your documents and submit the forms

Before starting, double-check that you have gathered your documents. They will vary depending on the Work to Resident Visa you want to apply for. The general documents include passports, birth certificates, and marriage certificates.

Also prepare your;

• Financial documents
• Employment contracts
• Proof of experience
• Medical certificates

After creating your account, you will need to log in and choose the visa category you want to apply for. For example, choose the Work to Resident, or Skilled Migrant Resident Visa etc. Take you time to carefully fill out the forms making sure you understand the questions being asked, your answers must be truthful and accurate.

At this stage, you’ll need to upload the scanned copies of your documents. Before moving on, it is a good time to check for any errors or if you have missed anything.

Step 3: Pay the application fee

Once you are satisfied, you will then need to pay the visa application fee, these fees do vary depending on which country you are from and which visa you’re applying for.

Currently, the fees for all Work to Resident Visas range from NZD $860 to NZD $4290 per applicant. Once payment is confirmed, your application will be submitted.

Step 4: Wait for a decision

After completing your application, you’ll need to wait for a decision, if you have done everything right you can expect to receive it within 2-5 months time.

The length of time it takes can sometimes vary, this can depend on which visa you’ve applied for, the complexity of your application, and the current workload of immigration authorities. In some cases, you may be required to attend an interview with an Immigration Officer.

Once it has been processed, they will contact you with their decision. If they request further information make sure to be prompt in your reply, so as not to add more time.

If successful, you will be notified of where and when to pick up your documents.

Once a work to residence visa has been granted making sure that you stick to the conditions set by immigration New Zealand is vital.

Some of these include;

• Depending on the visa, you must maintain and continue to work for the same employer.
• Complying with the salary requirements, it must remain at or above the minimum income thresholds for your visa.
• Complying with medical, you may be required to undergo a medical check once in a while. You must also maintain your good character.
• Some visas have travel restrictions, so before travelling outside of New Zealand, double-check to see if your visa allows this.
• Reporting any changes in your employment, address, or contact details to immigration.

In addition to those conditions, as a resident visa holder it is also important that you keep your documents up to date. For example, your passport must remain valid with your visa. If it expires, you must apply to transfer your Work to Resident Visa or other over to your new passport.

If you fail to comply, it can lead to fines or even deportation, it could even result in you being barred from re-applying for any other visas in the future. However, depending on the nature of your actions, you may only face a warning.

If you want to continue to make New Zealand your permanent home then you need to carefully read all of the conditions attached to your visa, making sure you understand them. And adhere to them throughout your stay.

For those who are unsure, can always contact Immigration New Zealand or consult an immigration lawyer like Total Law. We always stay up to date and informed about any changes in visa regulations or policies that may negatively affect these conditions.