Step 1 Visas & Immigration
So, you have decided you want to look at New Zealand as a possible destination for emigration (that’s when you leave South Africa). Immigrants (people coming into New Zealand), generally can’t just pitch up here and start to work or open a business.
So, in simple terms, you can come into New Zealand on a visitor visa, which is most often for a maximum period of 3 month. It’s easy to apply for yourself. And, if you like it, or have a job to come to, you can then apply for a work visa. We will not deal with the full variety of visas.
Also, bear in mind that it is an offence for anyone other than a lawyer or a registered immigration advisor or Immigration New Zealand, to give immigration advice. So, we have been careful to assist with the links to the relevant websites only, and only used information available on the official websites.
All Immigration Advisors must be registered. There are some wonderful companies and individuals, and there are also the others. Please take care
All the information in this section is copied and pasted directly from the Immigration New Zealand websites. We have taken care not to interpret it or to give immigration information which is not freely available on NZ government websites
Please click HERE for all the LATEST changes that have been made by Immigration New Zealand
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Visitor Visa
You don’t need an agent to apply for a visitor visa. You can apply online. All Saffas (remember that word) need a visitor visa. This is not unusual. There are lots of places where NZ requires a visa. However, check if you have a British passport or one of the other visa waiver countries, you may not need one. Check here
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), announced in 2019, will replace 6 visas with a streamlined single visa process
Employers must be accredited to hire a migrant on the new Accredited Employer Work Visa.
If you are eligible, apply for a Straight to Residence Visa, Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce or Transport Work to Residence Visa.
There is a list of roles exempt from the median wage threshold.
From November 2023 how long you can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV is changing.
Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa
Most immigrants will find the use of an Immigration Advisor or lawyer useful at this point. Even if you don’t decide to proceed with emigration, a registered advisor or lawyer can at least tell you if you are heading in the right direction or if you are wasting your energy, and need to look at an alternative destination
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
This visa is for those wanting to live in New Zealand permanently and you have skills that can contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth. Your application is more likely to be accepted if you have employment in an area in which New Zealand has a skills shortage.
If you are applying for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you need to find the closest matching Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) occupation for your current job or job offer. You must also be suitably qualified to do the job — your training and experience must match your occupation’s ANZSCO skill level.
Entrepreneur Visas
Some Saffas who don’t have the skills or qualifications, but have the funds or business experience, may want to consider one of the business visas. This specific visa is a 3-year visa, structured in 2 stages. You are required to invest at least $100 000 and have an acceptable business plan. Your enterprise must create jobs for Kiwis or have export potential. There are also a variety of other business and investment visas, with increasing levels of investment up to $10m. Some high wealth individuals use the upper levels when age does not allow them to qualify any other way. It is strongly suggested you do not attempt this route without using a registered Immigration Advisor or a lawyer.
Entrepreneur Resident Visa
This visa is for people who have been self-employed in New Zealand at least 6 months, or have operated a business for two years on another visa that allows self-employment.
If you apply after less than 2 years of being self-employed, you’ll need to have an Entrepreneur Work Visa, have invested capital of at least NZ $500,000 and have created 3 new jobs in New Zealand.
Visa Costs
You need to take into consideration that all visas have a certain cost. It is possible to apply for any of the visas yourself. It is generally less expensive applying directly online, than submitting a paper application. Visas can cost from $246 for a visitor visa, to $530 for an Expression of Interest or $3310 for Residence. These fees vary from time to time. Here are the current processing times.
Your agent or lawyer will also charge you for the work done in putting together the application. This can sometimes be a considerable volume of work, and agents don’t work for nothing.
Also, you need to be aware that there will be costs for couriers, photographs and other costs.
Time frames for visa processing will also vary, and are on the INZ website
