Janice Lozano
New Zealand is a popular destination for international students due to its top universities, education system, safety, work-life balance, natural beauty, and welcoming environment. Many international students in New Zealand may be interested in applying for permanent residency (PR) in the country. There are several pathways to PR in New Zealand, including the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa, the Green List Visa, and the Family Category Visa. Students can also apply for a Post-Study Work Visa that allows them to work in New Zealand for up to three years after completing their studies. To be eligible for PR, applicants must meet certain criteria, such as having a job or a job offer in an accredited occupation, and earning enough points on the Points Grid.
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What You'll Learn
Studying in high-demand fields
New Zealand is a popular choice for international students due to its top universities, education system, safety, work-life balance, natural beauty, and welcoming environment. The country offers a diverse range of courses and programs that can pave the way to Permanent Residency (PR).
The Green List Visa is a fast-track route to PR for individuals with qualifications in high-demand occupations. The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa is another pathway to PR, designed for people with skills important to the country's development. To be eligible, your occupation must be on the New Zealand Skills Shortage List, which includes jobs in sectors like healthcare, IT, agriculture, and construction.
International students can enhance their chances of securing PR by pursuing courses in high-demand fields. Here are some in-demand areas of study and their potential career pathways:
- Healthcare: Courses in nursing, medical technology, or healthcare management can lead to fulfilling careers and PR prospects in the healthcare sector.
- Education: Teachers are in high demand, especially in early childhood, secondary, and special needs education. An education-related qualification can increase the likelihood of securing PR.
- IT: New Zealand actively seeks skilled IT professionals. Courses in software development, data science, and network engineering are sought-after and can enhance PR prospects.
- Business and Management: With a thriving business environment, graduates with qualifications in these fields often find opportunities to secure PR.
- Construction: Courses in construction management, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work cater to the growing construction industry. Graduates can explore skilled work pathways to PR.
- Hospitality and Tourism: New Zealand's flourishing tourism sector offers job openings in hospitality management, travel, and culinary arts. Studying these courses can lead to employment in hotels, resorts, and tourism companies, potentially facilitating a route to PR.
- Environmental Sciences: New Zealand's emphasis on sustainability and environmental protection makes programs in this field increasingly relevant. Graduates can contribute to sustainability efforts while improving their PR prospects.
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Getting a skilled job
International students can increase their chances of obtaining permanent residency in New Zealand by pursuing qualifications in an occupation with skill shortages. The Green List Visa is a fast-track route to New Zealand PR for individuals with qualifications in high-demand occupations. The country's thriving tourism sector provides job openings in hospitality management, travel, and culinary arts. Studying these courses can help students secure employment in hotels, resorts, and tourism companies, offering a potential route to PR.
Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, are consistently in demand in New Zealand. Pursuing courses in nursing, medical technology, or healthcare management can lead to a fulfilling career and PR prospects in the healthcare sector. Business courses, such as MBA programs, are also popular among international students. With New Zealand's thriving business environment, graduates with qualifications in business and management fields often find opportunities to secure PR.
New Zealand is actively seeking skilled IT professionals, making IT-related courses a favourable choice. Programs in software development, data science, and network engineering are highly sought after. The country's growing construction industry also presents opportunities for graduates in construction management, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
Students enrolled in courses of 12 months or more can work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during semesters and holidays. A Post-Study Work Visa allows individuals with acceptable qualifications to work for any employer and in almost any job for up to three years, depending on the qualification level. This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency, as it enables individuals to gain skilled work experience and build a strong foundation for their careers in New Zealand.
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Applying for a family category visa
International students can apply for permanent residency in New Zealand after completing their studies. To apply for a New Zealand PR, a person must have a Resident Visa. This typically takes 2–5 years to obtain.
There are several ways to apply for a family category visa in New Zealand. Firstly, if you are the partner, parent, or dependent child of a New Zealand permanent resident, you can apply for PR. However, you must be sponsored, and the New Zealand permanent resident must support your application.
Secondly, if you are a parent with an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply to live in New Zealand permanently. To apply, you need an annual income of NZ $60,000, NZ $1 million to invest for 4 years, and another NZ $500,000 to live on.
Thirdly, if your partner has a work visa that is valid for more than 6 months, and they support your application, you may be able to come to New Zealand to work for the same length of time as your partner's visa.
Fourthly, if your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply to become a New Zealand resident. Your partner must support your application.
Finally, if you are applying for a work visa or already have one, you can apply for your children to come to New Zealand as visitors. They can stay in New Zealand for the same length of time as your visa.
It is important to note that you must have your original passport when submitting your application. Additionally, candidates for all visas must be of good faith, not pose a security risk, and not harm New Zealand's international image.
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Pursuing a career in hospitality, travel, or culinary arts
New Zealand is a great place to pursue a career in hospitality, travel, or culinary arts. The country's flourishing tourism sector provides job openings in these fields, and international students can work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during their studies.
One option for international students to gain permanent residency (PR) in New Zealand is to study in high-demand fields, such as hospitality management, travel, and culinary arts. For example, the University of Waikato offers a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) majoring in Tourism, which helps students develop an understanding of tourism and its management. The University of Waikato also offers flexible degree structures, allowing students to shape a qualification that matches their strengths and career interests. Similarly, Victoria University of Wellington offers a Tourism Management degree, preparing students for a role in shaping the future of New Zealand's tourism industry. The New Zealand School of Tourism is another option, as it is the country's largest private tertiary establishment specialising in training programmes for the airline, travel, and tourism industries.
For those interested in culinary arts, Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand offers a Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Business. This degree prepares graduates to manage world-class culinary businesses and gives them the option to choose from a Food Entrepreneurship or Hospitality Management stream. Graduates from this programme can confidently climb the industry ladder and achieve their dream culinary careers. Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand, also offers a course in Hospitality Management with Culinary Arts, which combines operational excellence with business management in the culinary industry. Additionally, the University of Otago offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Gastronomy, which explores the social, historical, and philosophical dimensions of food and culinary practices.
After completing their studies, international students can apply for PR in New Zealand. To be eligible, applicants must usually have a Resident Visa and fulfil all the PR requirements. There are multiple ways to obtain a Resident Visa, including the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, which requires applicants to submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI). If the EOI is accepted, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will invite the applicant to apply for the visa. Applicants must also have 6 points on the Points Grid to be eligible. These points can be earned by having a New Zealand job or a job offer from an accredited employer. It typically takes 2-5 years to obtain a New Zealand PR.
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Getting a post-study work visa
International students can get permanent residency in New Zealand after completing their studies. The process of getting a post-study work visa in New Zealand is outlined below.
Post-Study Work Visa
A post-study work visa allows international students to stay and work in New Zealand for up to three years, depending on their qualifications. This visa is available to students who have completed their studies in New Zealand and want to gain work experience in their field of study. The eligibility criteria and application process are outlined below.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a post-study work visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have completed a degree qualification of level 7 or higher, studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand.
- For non-degree qualifications (level 7 or lower), the field of work must be related to the field of study and the qualification must be on the list of qualifications eligible for a post-study work visa.
- Applicants must have at least NZD $5,000 to cover their living expenses.
- Applicants must have a valid student visa that was applied for before 11 or 12 May 2022 to be exempt from the list of qualifications eligible.
Application Process
The application process for a post-study work visa can be completed online. Applicants should submit their application no later than 3, 6, or 12 months after their student visa expires. The exact timeframe depends on the type of visa and qualification. Applicants must provide proof of their qualification, financial stability, and other relevant documents as required by Immigration New Zealand.
Additional Information
It is important to note that the post-study work visa can only be obtained once. This visa provides an excellent opportunity for international students to gain valuable work experience and build their careers in New Zealand. Additionally, New Zealand offers a range of other visas, such as the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and the Family Category Visa, which can lead to permanent residency.
Permanent Residency
Obtaining permanent residency in New Zealand typically takes 2-5 years and requires fulfilling eligibility criteria, such as earning 6-100 points on the Points Grid, having a job or job offer with an accredited employer, and demonstrating good character. International students can increase their chances of obtaining PR by pursuing courses in high-demand fields, such as hospitality management, education, environmental sciences, and creative industries.
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Frequently asked questions
To be eligible for a New Zealand PR visa, you must have a Resident Visa. You must also have a job or a job offer with an accredited employer. You must also have 6 points on the Points Grid to be eligible.
Some of the best courses to pursue for PR in New Zealand are in high-demand fields such as IT, software development, data science, and network engineering. Courses in hospitality management, travel, culinary arts, nursing, medical technology, healthcare management, business, and management are also good options.
If you are studying in New Zealand for more than a year, you need to prove that you have at least $15,000 to support yourself for the first year. If you are studying for less than a year, you must have at least $1,250 for each month of your study.
