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The majority of applications are made under this category. The policy is based
on a numerical points system. Points are allocated for factors such as age,
qualifications, work experience, settlement factors, assets and job offer from
a New Zealand employer.
Every principal applicant must have a tertiary (University/Polytechnic or
trade) qualification that is the equivalent of a New Zealand tertiary
qualification that meets a minimum standard as set by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and at least 2 years work experience relevant
to that qualification (unless they have a qualification gained in New Zealand,
when the work experience requirement is waived).
The minimum age to lodge an application is 18 years and the maximum 55 years.
All applicants mustmeet a minimum standard of English.
Points are allocated in the following areas:
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• Overseas qualifications
• New Zealand qualifications
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Learn more about:
• work experience
• Job offer
• Age
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• Settlement funds
• Spousal qualifications
• Medical Examinations
• Family sponsorship
• New Zealand work experience
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The pass mark allocated to your case is the score on the week you lodge your
application. The pass mark is used to adjust the flow of new arrivals,
increasing the mark to slow migration and decreasing it to increase levels. The
minimum score is 29, it cannot go below that without a change in policy.
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It is possible to apply for residence with less than the pass mark. Providing
the Immigration Officer allocates your points within 5 of the pass mark then
he/she MAY offer you a work visa. This allows you to come to New Zealand (you
must arrive within 3 months from date visa issued) and upon arrival you will be
given a 6 month work permit. If you can find a full time job within that time,
you will be allocated the extra 5 points for the offer of employment and your
residence can be finalised. Your Consultant will advise you on the viability of
this option to your personal circumstances.
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The Investor Category relates to persons who have accumulated significant
assets off-shore, can demonstrate that those assets have been legitimately
accumulated either by virtue of their own tax paid business endeavours or, in
the case of gifted funds, that the person gifting the funds did so. They must
be prepared to bring those assets to New Zealand (as cash) and invest them for
at least 2 years. The process involves a significant level of disclosure.
The minimum investment level is NZ$1,000,000.
The minimum age is 25 and the maximum age 84 years.
This is a complex Category requiring substantial paperwork to ensure the
evidential demands are met. Good advice will ensure you are not forced to move
any more money than is necessary. Points are allocated in only three areas:
• Age
• Business Experience
• Assets
As with the General Skills Category, a pass mark is set on a weekly basis and
has a minimum requirement of 12 points. Should the number of applicants look to
exceed the allocation then the pass mark will rise to slow the numbers. This
policy has been in existence for over 5 years and the pass mark has never risen
above the minimum.
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| Entrepreneur/Long Term Business Visa
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The Long Term Business Visa (LTBV) is a prerequisite to an application for
residence as an Entrepreneur.
The LTBV requires an applicant to prepare and present a business plan for
either the creation of a new company in New Zealand or for the purchase of part
or all of an existing business. The plans are required to be in a specific
format and there are specific requirements that make these plans different to
standard business plan formats.
Applicants must show a business background and that they have both funds to
purchase or set up the business and funds to keep themselves to maintain and
accommodate themselves until the business provides for them.
After a minimum of two years of involvement an application for residence as an
Entrepreneur can be made providing there is sufficient evidence to show the
applicant has successfully started a business or added value to an existing
business.
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This category requires you to have a family member who is a Resident or Citizen
of New Zealand. Family is defined in a very narrow way under this Policy and
covers spouse or partner, parents, children and adult, single brothers and
sisters only. The Policy is complex. Each case should be considered in the
light of the specific facts. In some instances a family relationship may offer
advantages in other categories. Premiers will provide you with a detailed
assessment of how best to make use of your connections.
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An application for residence under Humanitarian circumstances is a very
specialised area of immigration policy. The policy is complex. In simple terms,
it requires three elements: sponsorship by a close family member; the presence
in a related person (not necessarily the applicant) of serious physical or
emotional harm and demonstration that residence of New Zealand is the only
reasonable solution to that harm.
The presence of serious physical or emotional harm needs to be demonstrated by
a physician or psychiatrist; and any claims made, are aggressively tested by
either an Immigration Service Medical Referee or Psychiatric Referee, in an
adversarial environment. The test is tough, as is demonstrating that residence
of New Zealand is the only reasonable solution.
Pursuing a Humanitarian case is complex, expensive, slow and uncertain; and
while we are particularly skilled in the area, we do not recommend clients
pursue an application unless the case is fundamentally extremely strong.
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| Refugee and Special Status
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• Refugee
New Zealand has an annual quota for Refugees, which is set and administered by
the New Zealand Government through the United Nations. The current quota is
750, and is only available to people with U.N. Refugee status.
• Special
There is a special quota for Western Samoans. This quota is only available to
Citizens of Western Samoa, and if the quota is not filled, the unfilled places
are not available to other people. Despite the apparent simplicity of policy,
when overviewed as above, it is, in fact, a complex and bureaucratic process to
work through.
Despite the apparent simplicity of policy, when overviewed as above, it is, in
fact, a complex and bureaucratic process to work through.
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