Frequently Asked Questions - about New Zealand immigration

• How many people will be granted the right of permanent residence in New Zealand this year?

• How do I find out if I am eligible to apply?

• How long does it take to get a permanent residence visa?  
• Once approved, how long before I must move?
• Will the immigration authorities or Embassy help me to prepare my application and make sure that everything is correct before applying?
• Can the immigration authorities refuse my application?
• My migration consultant has assessed me as being eligible for residence in New Zealand. If I apply without his or her help, can I be certain of success?
• Why do most people use an officially-recognised migration agent to double-check their visa application?
• What is a permanent resident?
• When I migrate, will I lose my current passport?

How many people will be granted the right of permanent residence in New Zealand this year?

For the 2010/11 New Zealand Residence Programme the maximum number of new residents that can be approved for residence has been set at 50,000.

How do I find out if I am eligible to apply?

Check the current New Zealand immigration regulations - click here.
Take a 5 minute FREE eligibility "Quick Check - click here
Proceed to a detailed "Full Check" assessment by our NZIAA Licensed Immigration Advisers - click here

How long does it take to get a permanent residence visa?

Every application is different and processing times largely depend on the type of visa being applied for. As a general rule however, it takes most applicants for permanent residence in New Zealand 6 to 12 months (including the time required to prepare the application before lodgment) to receive a decision on their visa application. Spousal cases and temporary work visas tend to be a little quicker at 3 to 6 months, while applicants requiring professional registration can take an additional 6 to 12 months to process.

For an indication of visa processing times, please click here.

Once approved, how long before I must move?

Normally, your arrival must be within 1 year from the date of your medical tests or police certificates, which occur during the processing of your residence visa application. So, if you deduct part of the official processing time, you will generally be left with 6 to 12 months to land in New Zealand. The exception is for temporary visas, such as work visas, in which case you may only have a number of months to enter the country.

Will the immigration authorities or embassy help me to prepare my application and make sure that everything is correct before applying?

No. This type of service is no longer provided by Government. The authorities exist to enforce the immigration law, make decisions on residence applications and to issue residence visas. Although basic information and application forms are available, the authorities are unable to provide independent advice and personalized guidance on your specific case. Only a New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser can provide this kind of service.

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Can the immigration authorities refuse my application?

Yes. A surprisingly large number of applicants are unaware how strictly the immigration regulations are enforced and are often unnecessarily refused or delayed due to technical errors on their application or by submitting the wrong supporting documentation. So the moral of the story is to seek the professional guidance and independent advice of a migration consultant before lodging an application for residence. Migration agents exist to help you find the best way through the immigration maze and are highly effective in doing so.

My migration consultant has assessed me as being eligible for residence in New Zealand. If I apply without his or her help, can I be certain of success?

No. Although you may fundamentally qualify under the immigration policy, you are by no means guaranteed of success. In order to be approved, your application must be prepared in accordance with the prevailing immigration regulations and submitted together with the appropriate supporting documentation. The ways in which to do this are not always clearly set out by the immigration authorities and can result in many applicants presenting their cases incorrectly, inevitably leading to unnecessary delays or refusal. So you are strongly advised to seek the assistance of a migration consultant for the entire residence visa process.

Why do most people use an officially-recognised migration agent to double-check their visa application?

Mostly to protect themselves from the HIGHER FAILURE RATE: D.I.Y permanent residence visa applicants can fail to receive their residence visas due to application errors, misunderstandings or confusion that commonly arise during the immigration process. This compares to an average success rate of over 95% for those applicants that apply through an officially-recognised migration agent.

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What is a permanent resident?

Essentially, a residence permit is a right affixed into your passport granting you the permanent right to live and work in a country. Once employed, you are generally eligible for state medical care, but must be resident in New Zealand for at least 2 years before qualifying for social welfare assistance (i.e. unemployment benefits). Temporary residents (those on student and work visas) are generally not entitled to medical care or social welfare assistance at any time. These applicants are recommended to take out private health insurance. Temporary visas are for up to 3 years and can be renewed depending on term of employment or length of course.

When I migrate, will I lose my current passport?

No, not necessarily. Firstly, you will enter as a permanent resident which does not affect your current citizenship status. After 5 years you can apply for New Zealand citizenship (but this is not obligatory). The New Zealand Government universally allows dual-nationality (i.e. the holding of two passports), so you could retain your current passport and obtain a New Zealand passport as well. Having said this, you must check that your own country of citizenship allows dual-nationality, as this right must be reciprocal. If not, you will need to surrender your other passport in order to become a New Zealand citizen.

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(Information in this page has been verified by Christine Yap, Licensed Immigration Adviser (IAA) No.200900258 as at 1st July 2011.)