Immigraion To New Zealand

Business Migrants Entrepreneur Category Investor Category Employees of Businesses Business Liaison Unit Retirement Visas General Skills Category Family Category Humanitarian Category Immigration   Business   Health and Fitness

General Skills Category

This is the most common category in which indented migrants apply to New Zealand. The objective of the General Skills category is to select migrants who will

-increase New Zealand's levels of human capital, enterprise and innovation; and

-foster international linkages.

To be granted residence under the General Skills category you must score enough points at the time your application is accepted, and meet all other requirements. Immigration and Visas International can assist you in getting the proper assessment done via

Qualifications
You can be allocated points for a fully completed qualification that is comparable to a New Zealand standard. Points are allocated according to the New Zealand qualification to which your qualification is comparable. The comparable New Zealand standard will be determined by the New Zealand Immigration Service. You can only be allocated points for either one qualification, or a series of qualifications, accepted as being comparable to one New Zealand qualification. Partially completed qualifications will not be accepted. If you have completed your qualification in New Zealand you will gain an additional point. A New Zealand qualification is defined as a qualification :

-conferred by a New Zealand institution; and

-with at least half the course time undertaken by the applicant in attendance at the institution in New Zealand.

This excludes those who have gained their qualification with Government sponsored (NZODA) scholarships. For a qualification in an occupation where professional registration is required by law in New Zealand, you must gain full registration The occupations with compulsory registration are :

Architects, Chiropractors, Clinical Dental Technicians, Dental Technicians Dentists, Dietitians, Dispensing opticians, Electricians, Electrical Service Technicians, Enrolled Nurses, Environmental Health Officers, Lawyers, Line Mechanics, Medical Laboratory Technologists, Medical Radiation Technologists, Medical Practitioners, Midwives, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers, Podiatrists, Psychologists (registration required if employed in the state services or in a licensed institution under the Mental Health Act), Real Estate Agents, Teachers in primary and secondary schools and free kindergartens, Veterinarians.

Work Experience
You can be allocated points for a sound work experience.

Offer of Employment
You can be allocated points if you have a genuine offer of employment in New Zealand. The offer of employment must be :

-for ongoing employment by a single employer; and

-for full-time employment; and

-current at the time of application.

The employment must be permanent, for an indefinite term, or for a term of at least 12 months with an option of further terms after that. Positions of self employment, or payment by commission and/or retainer are not acceptable. You must obtain registration if this is required by law to take up the offer of employment. If registration is not required, the employment must be relevant to the qualification for which you are allocated points.

Age
You can be allocated points for your age at the time that you lodge your application. If you are 56 years of age or over; your application for residence cannot be approved under the General Skills category.

SETTLEMENT FACTORS
You can be allocated points for settlement factors. Settlement factors are :

Settlement Funds : You can be allocated points for settlement funds (i.e. cash, shares, stocks and any other assets). These funds must be transfered to New Zealand before residence will be granted and they must be free of debt. You need not transfer your funds to New Zealand until your application has been approved in principle. You have six months from the date of approval in principle to transfer your funds.

You can be allocated points if the funds are owned wholly by the principal applicant or spouse, or owned jointly by the principal applicant and spouse.

Spouse's Qualifications
You can be allocated points for your spouse's fully completed qualification if it is comparable to a New Zealand standard. The comparability rules are the same as for the principal applicant's qualification, except that registration is not required.

New Zealand Work Experience
You can be allocated points for work experience gained lawfully in New Zealand. You can be allocated points for New Zealand work experience under both this section and the Work Experience section.

Family Sponsorship
You can be allocated points for a family sponsor. Your family sponsor must be :

-a New Zealand citizen or resident and;

-a parent, brother, sister or child of the principal applicant or the principal applicant's spouse.

If your family member undertakes to be your sponsor, they are responsible for :

-providing information and advice about settling in New Zealand and ;

-ensuring financial support and accommodation is available to you for at least your first 12 months as a resident in New Zealand.