Individual and Family Visas
Individual and Family Visas
Migrant Services by Turbo Staff have successfully assisted with thousands of visas across a number of different visa categories.
From assisting migrant workers and their families to relocate to Aotearoa, to assisting with upcoming visa expiries or changing visa conditions, our advisers are experienced across a variety of different circumstances. We are happy to talk through your situation to see if you are eligible for a visa based on current policy.
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Skilled Migrant Category
The objective of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is to grant residence to those who have the skills to fill identified needs and opportunities in the Aotearoa market.
Applying for residence under the SMC can be incredibly confusing and complicated. We can guide you through the process with as much or as little assistance as you require.
Each applicant will have different circumstances, so our advisers are well trained in interpreting what level of assistance you might need to get an SMC application off the ground. Even if you are not eligible right now, we may be able to assist you with an alternative pathway or give you alternative options for your future in Aotearoa.
Immigration New Zealand has provided a points calculator which outlines the eligibility criteria you will need to meet to be eligible to submit an Expression of Interest.
You must meet a minimum of 160 points to be invited to apply for residence.
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Investors and Entrepreneurs
Immigration New Zealand has investor business migration visas for investors who want to gain residence in Aotearoa.
If you are looking to invest in your Aotearoa lifestyle, investor visas may be a good option for you and your family. There are two investor categories:
- Investor 1 (minimum investment NZ$10 million for at least three years)
- Investor 2 (minimum investment NZ$3 million for at least four years)
However, if you do not have investment funds on a large scale, Immigration New Zealand also has options for entrepreneurs looking to start or bring their businesses to Aotearoa.
The entrepreneur category is also on a points system, based on a minimum capital investment of $100,000 among other criteria. This is a work visa which has a pathway to residence.
Applications under these categories can often be complicated and require experience and a sound knowledge of the immigration instructions to navigate through the application process.
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Essential Skills Work
Employers can employ offshore workers to assist in maintaining their capacity and supporting the provision of their services, by supporting work visas for suitably skilled and/or qualified applicants when there are no New Zealanders available to fill the roles on offer.
Along with meeting generic health and character information, applicants will need to prove that their offer of employment meets the following criteria:
- The job offered is a substantial match to a skilled occupation in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO)
- The applicant holds the relevant qualification, or are suitably experienced to do the role, as outlined in the ANZSCO description
- The applicant's previous employment is lawful and verifiable (if experience is used to qualify an applicant for the role)
- That the offer of employment is acceptable, including the offer meeting the market rate for the position on offer
- The employer has tested the labour market to prove that there are no New Zealanders readily available or trainable to do the role on offer
As of July 2021, Immigration New Zealand has implemented changes to the Essential Skills instructions. Depending on the offer of employment, work visas are granted in tiers - based on the wages being either below the Aotearoa median wage (lower-skilled), or above the median wage (mid-skilled), which is currently set at $27.00/hr.
Lower-skilled work visa applicants will also be required to provide a Skills Match Report from Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ). Their prospective employer will need to engage with WINZ to prove that there are no New Zealanders available before offering the role to the applicant.
The different skill levels determine the length of the visas, along with the ability of the work visa holder to support partners and dependents for New Zealand visas.
Please make contact for details on the most up to date policy.
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Partners and Dependents
There is a variety of family visa options, based on the immigration status of the supporting person.
There is a provision for the following types of family members:
- Partners of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders
- Partners of work visa holders
- Partners of student visa holders
- Dependent children of work visa holders
- Dependent children of student visa holders
Partners will be required to prove that they have lived with the supporting partner and that they are in a genuine and stable relationship, to be considered for a New Zealand visa. There are some very limited circumstances where the living together requirement may be relaxed, however, strong evidence would need to be provided as to why this criterion has not been met.
Dependent children may be eligible for student or visitor visas depending on their age, where their parent has been granted a mid-skilled (or higher) work visa, and their supporting parent(s) meet the minimum income threshold.