Pathway to Get Permanent Residency of New Zealand

It is natural for international students to consider settling down in New Zealand after completing their degree from there for obvious reason. Certainly, New Zealand is a beautiful country that has numerous opportunities with high quality of life, remarkable health care facilities and exceptional education system. New Zealand has been immensely generous and accommodating towards offering post study work opportunities to international students who have studied there and wish to work afterwards. As of new changes introduced in post study work visa by New Zealand’s Government in November 2018 last year, an international student can have his post study work visa for up to 3 years to find an appropriate and suited employment to his qualification. (You Can Get Details about Admission Requirements of Universities of New Zealand Here)

The Changes in Post Study Work Visa

Previously, after graduating the students had to compromise on any kind of job because of employer’s sponsorship and restriction despite getting high level qualification just for the sake of settling in New Zealand. This exploitation of graduates by employers has been overviewed by Government and some positive changes have been made to give required freedom to international students in finding an apt employment for them.  These positive changes in post study open work visa of New Zealand according to qualification levels are stated below:

• The employer assisted post study work visa has been removed at all qualification levels

• Level 7 qualifications (Bachelors degree holders from New Zealand) or above can have post study work visa of 3 years duration. The post study work visa is automatically provided by the Government of New Zealand to Level 7 or above qualification students as the enroll in the university. They know they have opportunity to live in New Zealand for 3 more after completing their degree to find the job of their choice.

• The qualification level from 4 to 6 including Level 7 qualified but without degrees (graduate diploma holders or graduate diploma holders in teaching students) can have one year post study work visa.

•  The international students enrolled in Level 8 qualification (Post graduate certificate or diploma) must be related to Long Term Skills Shortage list area can have post study work visa of 12 months duration.

Post Study Work Visa (Open) Duration Allowed According to Qualification

The duration allowed in a post study work visa (open) is totally dependent on your qualification level which is:

Level 7 Qualification or Higher:

If you have studied at least 30 weeks of this qualification in New Zealand then you can have three years post study work visa (open). 

Level 7 Graduate Diploma:

If you have studied at least 30 weeks of this qualification in New Zealand then you can have one year post study work visa (open). An additional one year extension in the visa will be granted in case you are currently working and are in process of getting registered with a professional or trading firm. II- You can have two years post study work visa (open), if you have studied outside Auckland.

Non Degree Level 7 Qualification:

if you have studied at least 30 week of this qualification in New Zealand then you can have post study work visa (open) of one year duration if you have studied in Auckland and two year duration post study work visa (open) if you have studied outside Auckland.

One Qualification at 4 to 6 Levels (2 years duration program):

If you have studied 60 weeks of this qualification in New Zealand then you can have one year post study work visa if you have studied in Auckland and two years duration post study work visa if you have studied outside Auckland.

Two Qualifications at 4 to 6 Levels:

If you have studied at least 30 weeks of each qualification in New Zealand (combining both qualifications duration must be 60 weeks and the second qualification must be at higher level than the first) then you can have one year duration post study work visa (open) if you have studied in Auckland and two years duration post study work visa (open) if you have studied outside Auckland.

Post Study Work Visa (open) Processing Time for Pakistani Students

Ideally, the processing duration of post study work visa takes 16 days but in some cases it might take around 64 days but more than that.

Post Study Work Visa (Open) Cost

The cost is NZ $ 298.

Rights of Post Study Work Visa (Open) Holders

They can do any sort of job without restriction until the duration of their work visa expires and they can live anywhere in New Zealand.

Post Study Work Visa Requirements

• You meet character requirements (you have not been involved in any sort of criminal and unlawful activity during your studies duration)

• You meet health requirements ( you are not suffering from any disease that can be considered as threat for general public’s health)

• You meet qualification requirement as mentioned above

• You have financial support evidence of NZ$4,200 for your duration of stay in New Zealand

• If you are applying for post study work visa (employer assisted) then you are required to have an employment contract from New Zealand based employer, company or firm.

Points Assessment System of New Zealand’s Immigration for Pakistani students 

Age

Employment

Work Experience in Skilled Employment outside New Zealand

Work Experience in New Zealand

Qualification

How to Get Permanent Residency of New Zealand

After having been lived in New Zealand for job hunt or for gaining skill related to your field you can apply for permanent residency based on point’s assessment system of immigration. You can choose either one of the following permanent residency categories based on points and skills. The Government of New Zealand has simplified process of attaining permanent residency by introducing various categories of PR visas.  The Skilled Migrant Visa is the most commonly availed PR visa type by most of the immigration aspirants who wish to settle down in New Zealand. The point assessment system includes, qualification, age, work experience and employment contract. Each PR Visa category’s eligibility is met by achieving points based on these factors. One must choose wisely which visa category suits the best to his/her profile and apply for it likewise.  The Permanent residency Visa Categories are:

• Skilled Migrant Visa

• Work to Residence

• Residence from Work

• Business Visa

• Family Category Visa

• Dependent Child Visa

Skilled Migrant Visa

The Skilled Migrant Visa allows the holder to live in New Zealand for indefinite period of time. The eligibility of this type of visa is based on points assessment mentioned above.  After meeting points assessment eligibility the candidate would be asked to fulfill following requirements:

• Prove English Language Proficiency by appearing at IELTS, PTE or CAE test and passing it with good grades. (Know Upcoming IELTS, TOEFL Test Dates)

• Meeting character and health requirements of New Zealand

• You can assure that you will abide laws of New Zealand

• The applicant should attain minimum 100 points in points assessment system of immigration mentioned above to attain Skilled Immigration Visa

Business and Investment Visa

Those planning to set up a business in New Zealand by investing money or have a unique business idea that has potential of growth can apply for either investor or entrepreneur category of permanent residency visas.

Investor Category:

There are two types of investor category residency visas including Investor or Investor plus visas. The applicant would have meet investing amount eligibility, character requirements, language requirements, health requirements and current bank statement proving that you have enough financial resources to afford your living while your stay in New Zealand.

Business Category:

The individuals who have already been running a business in New Zealand for last two years can apply for this visa after meeting other eligibility requirements such as Bank Statement, character requirements, health requirements,  Language requirements and others.

Family Category Visa

The family category visa is for those individuals whose parents, child, partner or spouse hold a permanent residency visa of New Zealand. The holder of family category visa can have same privileges as his sponsoring family member.

Silver Fern visa

This type of permanent residency visa is dedicated to young and enthusiastic individuals who want to work and live in New Zealand.  The applicant has to find a suitable employment long term contract from a New Zealand based employer.

How to Apply for Permanent Residency of NEw Zealand 

The process of applying for permanent residency starts by lodging an EOI (Expression of Interest) by making an account online on New Zealand’s immigration website which is handled by governmental authorities.

• If you gain 160 points through above mentioned point’s assessments immigration system then you will be granted PR visa automatically and you will receive an email from the authorities stating your EOI (expression of interest) has been accepted.

• Or if you do not gain 160 points then you will be included in pool system and wait for the selection process.

• The selection process takes 6 months maximum

• As you get selected you will be issued an ITA (invitation to apply) for permanent residency

• For submitting application permanent residency you will have to complete the required documentation and pay fee of NZ$530 if applying through online means or NZ$650 if applying through paper application. The application will be submitted at New Zealand’s immigration office or online official website.