Categories for Immigration

Business Immigration
General Skills Category
Family Category
Humanitarian Category
Work Permit

General Skills Category
The migration to New Zealand consist of skilled employers with an experience necessary to satisfy the criteria required of working immigrant under the "General Skills" Category. This category is based on a points system under which points are awarded for different factors like qualifications, work experience, age, job offer, settlement funds, family sponsorship, or spousal qualification. The principal applicant can be either spouse. De facto and same sex relationships are recognized for the purpose of an application by a couple provided the relationship can demonstrate stability.
Qualification must be the equivalent of a New Zealand degree and it should also meet New Zealand standards as set by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Certain occupations require registration or licensing and must be shown to have been accredited.
The required points are set at 30 as per the latest revision as of 7 October 2002. Failure to obtain these points will not essentially mean that immigration to New Zealand is not possible. A pass mark of 25 as of 7 October 2002 may enable an applicant to obtain the right to enter New Zealand for a fixed duration of six months in order to obtain work to secure unconditional permanent residence.
There are other working categories that enable an applicant to secure entry on a work permit basis without having to satisfy the points based "general skills" category. Please refer to us for further details. The majority of all applications are lodged under this category. This category is based on a point system. Points can be scored for age, qualification, work experience, qualification of spouse as well as transferable assets.
Furthermore the applicant can obtain 2- 8 points by presenting a New Zealand job offer and 3 additional points if any direct relatives living in New Zealand are supporting the applicant.

Minimum requirements for an application
Minimum requirements for applying to immigrate to New Zealand are qualification of at least 3 years apprenticeship/studies comparable to a New Zealand base qualification. In majority of cases it is necessary to apply for an assessment of your overseas qualification. There's a list of recognized qualification for the skilled worker category. Moreover the applicant has to show a full-time work experience of a minimum of 2 years preferably in the qualification the aspirant is claiming points for.

Special residence policy with 6 months work-visa
Applicants who meet all minimum requirements and score at least 5 points below the current minimum points may be granted a work-visa/permit for a period of 6 months. This work-visa/permit will be a so-called open work-visa/permit, which means there wont be any restrictions. The applicant will be allowed to find permanent employment during these 6 months and the residence application will be on hold for a period of a maximum of 9 months. However, only job offers, which are of acceptable standard fulfilling the requirements of current valid residence policy can be converted to 8 points in the residence application. This new policy is a pretty good one as it widens the scope of obtaining New Zealand Visa. The fact is that a huge chunk of applications under the General Skills Category are being turn down, as the applicant did not take any professional advice on the details of the process.The reasons are mostly formal mistakes in administration and documentation, language barriers, lack of awareness of the present immigration laws as well as misleading or incomplete information given by authorities.
Once an application has failed, substantial personal and financial is required to have a positive outcome.

Family Category
Under Family Immigration category the applications is acceptable only if the applicant is supported by relatives who have been living in New Zealand as citizens or at least 3 years on a permanent residence visa. A direct relative implies spouses or blood relation brothers and sisters, parents or children. Points could be claimed for direct relatives for the General Skills Category as well.

Humanitarian Category
The applications under this category are cautiously scrutinized. The main criterion is that a direct relative who is already living in New Zealand is prepared to support the application. The applicant has to prove evidence that only living in New Zealand can ease his psychological and physical harm. This can apply for the applicant as well as for any other person involved. Sufficient and satisfactory evidence has to be provided.

Work Permit

The New Zealand immigration policy is deliberated to ensure that immigration enhances the cultural and economic progress of the country. It still remains a land of opportunity and the determined will succeed. In fact the New Zealand immigration rules are designed to positively welcome hard working, self-reliant, ambitious individuals.
A Work Permit is an endorsement in your passport which allows you to work in New Zealand. It will state the expiry date of your permit and the conditions of your permit. The conditions may include the type of employment, the employer's name and the location in New Zealand you are permitted to work in. You do not need a visa or permit to work in New Zealand if you are:

a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand Residence Permit holder (to re-enter you need a current New Zealand Returning Resident's Visa), or
an Australian citizen, or a resident who holds a current Australian resident return visa, or
exempt from the requirement to hold a Permit to be in New Zealand.