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New Zealand Immigration
New Zealand immigration law in recent times has
gone through a number of significant changes as successive governments
strive to achieve a balance between the desire to increase the
population while ensuring that new immigrants to New Zealand are
able to integrate and assimilate easily into the local populace.
This overview of New Zealand immigration rules
and regulations therefore should be taken as a guide only. The
scope of this article is to outline the various categories, visas
and other criteria that allow people to enter New Zealand for
a vacation, working holiday, or permanent immigration. |
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There
are many available categories to enter New Zealand under different
permits or visas, so in every case you should consult the New
Zealand Immigration website for the latest information. Additionally
there are numerous agencies that offer advice and assistance on
New Zealand immigration issues for a fee. Be very careful about
paying for these kind of services. If you enter into an agreement
with an immigration agency to help you enter New Zealand be certain
about what you will get for your money and, where possible, try
to get independent references for the agency concerned.
New Zealand Holiday Visa / New Zealand Visitor's Visa
Most people visiting New Zealand are required by the immigration
service to have a visitor’s visa or permit before arriving
in New Zealand. In its simplest form the visa is granted to allow
a person to travel to New Zealand and apply for a visitor’s
permit on arrival.
The permit then allows a visitor to stay in New Zealand for a duration
of up to nine months and to engage in certain activities freely.
There are a number of countries that New Zealand has an arrangement
with that entitle citizens from those countries or territories to
enter New Zealand for a certain period of time without the need
for a visitor’s visa. Consult the New Zealand Immigration
website, here,
for a list of current countries under that scheme.
New Zealand Work Visa / Permit
To work in New Zealand you are required by the immigration service
to hold a valid work permit. To travel to New Zealand you will first
need a work visa – this is an endorsement in your passport
that allows you to enter New Zealand and, upon arrival, apply for
a work permit. The permit will be granted for a specific period
of time and allows you to seek employment, or related activities,
for the duration of the permit’s validity. Citizens from Australia
or people who are otherwise exempt from the requirement for a work
visa do not need to apply to the New Zealand immigration service
for a work visa. Please note that the general work visa / permit
is different from the ‘Working Holiday Visa’.
There are different categories of Work Visa such as; Specific Events,
Work to Residence, Studying etc., and different rules apply to each
category - so check with the New Zealand Immigration department
for the latest rules and criteria concerning these visas. In all
cases you will normally be required to demonstrate that you have
sufficient funds for your stay in New Zealand and that you have
a return ticket out of the country. Your passport will need to be
valid for at least 3 months after you intend to leave New Zealand.
You can find more information and an application form for work visas,
from the New
Zealand Immigration website. |
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