ABOUT AKO IMMIGRATION SERVICES

Our services will guide you through making your dream a reality. Hands-on, detailed, straightforward, and committed, we will make sure that you understand the steps and the application process. We will stay close throughout your journey.

  Here we take you to the next challenging steps on applying in New Zealand and you will be assisted by a friendly dedicated licensed Immigration Adviser.

NEW RESIDENT VISA 2021

​

Immigration New Zealand has announced an easy and quick path to residence for eligible temporary visa holders and their families. The new resident visa provides certainty for around 165,000 migrant workers who had played an essential part in keeping the country moving over the last 18 months.

Criteria:

• For temporary migrants on relevant ongoing work visas (as of 29 September 2021 or have applied for and later granted)

• Must meet any of the three additional criteria:

  • Been in New Zealand the last three years (*21 days) OR

  • Works in a scarce job OR

  • Paid at or above the median wage of $27

• Must be onshore as of 29 September 2021, except for people who subsequently come to New Zealand as critical workers before 31 July 2022.

• Applicants will have to pass the character and health check

• No English requirement

• No age limit

Eligible visas:

• Post Study Work Visa

• Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa

• Essential Skills Work Visa

• Religious Worker Work Visa

• Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa

• Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa

• Silver Fern Practical Experience Work Visa

• Trafficking Victim Work Visa

• Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa

• Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa

• Victims of Family Violence Work Visa

• South Island Contribution Work Visa

• Work Visa granted under Section 61 (provided the applicant held another eligible visa type within 6 months before being granted a Section 61 visa)

• Some Critical Purpose Visitor Visas (CPVV):

• Critical health workers for longer-term roles (6 months or longer), and

• Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months)

Scarce List:

• Jobs on the Long Term Skill Shortage List

• Jobs requiring occupational registration in the health or education sector

• Personal carer and other critical health workers

• Specified primary sector jobs

Process:

• Online application

• Appropriate fee applies

• INZ targets to approve the application within 12 months

• Applications will be taken in two phases:

  • From 1 December 2021, people with active skilled residence applications or those with dependent 17 years or older who currently have an SMC Expression of Interest (EOI).

  • From 1 March 2022 to 31 July 2022, all other eligible applicants

CRITICAL PURPOSE VISA

The New Zealand government has reopened the border to visitors or workers that have a critical purpose of entering the country. An expression of Interest (EOI) to travel to New Zealand has to be requested first. You will be asked purpose to travel, evidence of relationship, and the $45 fee in the EOI.

If you think you meet the below criteria to travel to New Zealand, you can submit the EOI online request form.

• Family member of a New Zealand citizen or resident visa holder from a visa waiver country

• Family member of a work or student visa holder in New Zealand

  • Partner or dependent child of a temporary visa holder in New Zealand, and you have a visa based on your relationship

  • Partner or dependent child of a temporary visa holder in critical health services in New Zealand

  • Partner or dependent child of a highly skilled temporary worker in New Zealand

  • Partner or dependent child of a teacher in New Zealand

  • Partner of a student visa holder and you normally live New Zealand

  • Dependent child of a work or student visa holder and you normally live in New Zealand

• A work visa holder who normally live in New Zealand

• Humanitarian reasons

• Critical health worker

• Nominated individual

  • Nominated Ph.D. or designated post-graduate student – 250 student limit

  • Nominated priority returning degree or post-graduate student – 1,000 students limit

  • Nominated essential traveler to and from the Pacific

• Other

  • A Tongan or Samoan National requiring essential travel to New Zealand

  • A replacement cargo ship crew

  • Traveling for a reason of national significance

If applying under critical worker, the Employer or supporting agency must lodge the Employer's request for a critical worker exception.

Once the request has been approved, the applicant/s can then apply for the appropriate visa. You will need to meet the requirements of the temporary visa. The duration of the visa depends on the purpose.

TEMPORARY NZ VISA APPLICATION

VISITOR VISA

New Zealand is renowned for its picturesque landscape. From breathtaking Southern Alps to the tranquil beauty of The Northern rivers, lakes and immense seas reflecting the sky, it truly is one’s sanctuary.

 Either you plan on pure leisure or immerse yourself on a short-term study, we make sure that you go through the necessary mandatory details to let you experience the most of your stay.

If you would like help working through the requirements, please contact us and we would be happy to help.

WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

  A short stint of work that allows one to stay up to 12 months in NZ, opens doors of many possibilities. If you are 18-30 of age and have successfully passed necessary requirements, you are in for an experience of a lifetime journey.

Allow us to guide you in this journey. We will work closely with your concerns and see to it that you comply with the appropriate steps to obtain your visa.

STUDENT VISA

Like its sprawling nature, NZ is a perfect haven to nourish the mind. Exceptional, quality-driven and hands-on, NZ’s education system offers a unique learning opportunity that allows a symmetry of fun, adventure and excellence all at the same time.

Naturally warm and welcoming, NZ’s people, culture and its prime academic institution are bound to create an independent, creative, balanced and successful individuals tailor-fit for the future.

Contemplating on embarking on the best investment of your life? our services will guide you through the process of acquiring a student visa.

If you would like help working through the requirements, please contact us and we would be happy to help. We will provide you list of the requirements to ensure that all documents required are submitted.

​

WORK VISA

Finding a balance between work and family is essential. When one dreams of a safe, healthy and secure community where good values are prized and people’s welfare are prioritized, NZ comes close in mind.

Be it a short-term enterprise or initial steps in gaining residency in the future, NZ offers a range of work visas. As this maybe a prelude to one’s future dream of settling in New Zealand, our services will guide you through the INZ work standards.

• Essential Skills Work -   meant for temporary stay depending on the terms of the job being offered, salary and labor market conditions. If your skill, qualification and experiences match with INZ occupational shortage lists and you have a job offer, then this visa is right for you.

• Study to work -   Presents the opportunity to work in New Zealand after completing an educational degree and other qualifications in the country. 

• Family Categories – This option allows you to bring family members to NZ where they could visit for up to nine months or depending on the validity of your work visa.  Normally, under work visa one can support following visas to partner and dependent children:

• Open work visa for partner

• Visitor visa for partner and dependent children

• Student visa for dependent children

However, not all granted with work visa is eligible to support their family. Restrictions applies on other visas. 

Applying for a partner may need both parties to establish authenticity of the relationship, proof of having lived together, the partner being applied must meet health and character requirements as well as the main sponsor's support and financial capacity.

To get a comprehensive analysis of your eligibility, you can contact us and we will assist you to give better chance on your application.  

RESIDENCY VISA APPLICATION

RESIDENCY VISA:

New Zealand’s enviable work-life balance gets you to experience what matters most...spending quality time with your family.

New Zealand ranks as one of the best countries in the world ideal to work, live and consequently to raise a family. Secure, healthy and stable, NZ’s work/professional/industry-related opportunities promise a happy and fulfilling life given the right frame of mind, skills and work circumstances at hand.

Our services will guide you through in making this possibility a reality. Hands-on, detailed, straightforward and committed, we will make sure that you understand the steps and the application process. We will stay close throughout your journey.

 Here we take you to the next challenging steps on applying for residency in NZ.

Visa Categories under Residency Visa Application:

• Skilled Migrant Residence Category – This is a point system based on the applicant’s skills or expertise, professional or industrial that is on a shortage list of job in NZ. Either, there is no New Zealander that fits on the job or one has received a job offer from a NZ employer.

The point system would include; age, skills, specified qualifications and work experience among others.

How it works:

1. Self-assessment - knowing one’s qualifications based on NZ’s point system

2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) – detailing personal information, qualifications, work experience,NZ employment job and other required information. 

3. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)- you will need to submit documentation/evidence of the EOI claims.

4. Submit a resident application – you will be assisted on mandatory requirements needed.

5. Receive a resident visa – if everything is in place and works in your favour, you will receive a visa.

​

• Business Categories – This category is for aspiring residents who have the funds to invest to the country's economic, a business to establish or sharp entrepreneurial skills that NZ sees promising or feasible venture that may add to the country’s economic growth.         

• Family Visa Categories – This category enables one’s partner,dependent children and parent to come and live in New Zealand if you meet the requirements. Strict guidelines are applied and individual  applicant’s merits evaluated and reviewed in depth.

Following are the guidelines if you are;

1. Partner – husband, wife, de facto or civil union partner of a NZ citizen or resident. Authenticity of relationship is verified by proof of living together for at least 12 months.

2. Dependent Child – Dependent children are defined as those aging from 17-24; single, not having a child of their own and financially reliant. 

3. Parent- you are qualified if you have an adult child residing for at least 3 years in NZ, met income requirements for Tier 1 Category, or passed gravity test for Tier 2 Category.

4. Parent Retirement Category  - if you have an adult child who is New Zealand resident and you have met the health, character and financial requirements of this visa.

• Work to Residence Category – enable one to work and subsequently apply residency to NZ after completing the 2 years required. The time and the work they have done in NZ for a certain amount of time gives them the eligibility for residency.

1. Long Term Skill Shortage - when one’s long-term/permanent job matches   with NZ’s long-term occupational shortage list.

2. Accredited Employer – when one’s long-term/permanent job is from Immigration New Zealand accredited employer.    Applicant must meet age, health and character requirement.

Resident Visas are more difficult to obtain. But  it is the road to take if you want an indefinite stay in NZ. Allow us to take you further, we will leave no stone unturned as we take the journey together.

You have our sincerest 100% commitment of hard work and persistence. Contact us, we are ready and happy to serve you.

OTHER SERVICES

We can provide expertise to manage the legal framework responding to INZ query or requesting visa under section 61.

USEFUL LINKS

IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND

Official Website

IAA

Immigration Adviser Authority

IAA LICENSE OF SALLY WELTHE

Details about Sally's Immigration Adviser License

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

Practice Standards

GET IN TOUCH

Appointments only

393A Ngatai Road, Bellevue, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand

info@akoimmigration.co.nz

027 291 3300