Looking to migrate to New Zealand in 2024? Here are some updates and insights on the potential visas available to you.
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Young Brits, New Zealand wants you: Working Holiday Visa update
The working holiday visa is a super popular option with young people looking to try out life in New Zealand. Last year alone, 46,703 working holiday applications were submitted at 95% approval rate. Additionally, there were 2,344 working holiday extensions applications approved.
If you are from the UK, then you are eligible for this visa between the ages of 18-35 (for other countries the upper age limit is 30). It enables you to stay in the country for between 12 to 36 months. It allows young people to work, train or study but they are not able to take up a permanent job.
Every year, the working holiday visa is renewed with a new quota of the number of people that can apply from selected countries. Fortunately for those from the UK, Brits have the largest quota at 15,000. The total cost of the visa is $470, and it has a typical processing time of eight weeks. Once the quota is met, the application process shuts until the following year.
It was recently announced when the scheme would open for different countries. UK hopefuls should save the date for 25th June 2024. To find out more, click here.
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Permanent Residence Visa goes digital
It may be some way down the track for you, but there comes good news for those looking to settle for good in New Zealand: the application process for permanent residence has moved entirely online. Once you have held a resident visa for two years, you will be eligible for permanent residency in New Zealand. This gives you the right to stay indefinitely: you can travel, study and work. Plus, your spouse and dependents are able to join you. The move of this process online is not only intended to reduce the need for paper but also to make it easier for you to track the progress of your application. Find out more here.
Other visa options
Over the age of 35? Not yet settled in New Zealand? Not to worry. There are other visa routes to go down. One of the most popular is the Work to Residence Visa, this is for those that have currently work for, or have a job offer from, an accredited employer, and have worked in a Tier 2 Green List in-demand role for 24 months. You may wonder: what’s a Tier 2 Green List? New Zealand has a grade system for occupations, with Tier 1 Green List marked jobs allowing you to get a Straight to Residence Visa.
Currently, there are 193 roles listed on New Zealand’s Green List (for both tiers 1 and 2). The roles are wide-ranging. Here’s a snapshot of what is listed under Tier 1: acoustic engineer, careers counsellor, dentist, midwife and surveyor. In Tier 2: automotive electrician, bulldozer operator, dairy cattle farmer and a plumber. Keep an eye on the list to see your occupation pops up.
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