How to get PR (Permanent Residency) in New Zealand after Study?

New Zealand is a popular destination for Indian students not only for studies but also for work and settling with family. For that, you need to get a New Zealand PR (Permanent Residency). It is a legal document that allows you to stay indefinite time in New Zealand. As a student, getting PR in New Zealand after study completion will give you access to work in New Zealand indefinitely and social welfare benefits.

A New Zealand PR visa is a document issued by Immigration New Zealand. The NZ PR visa is a legal document that allows you and your family members (Your spouse and kids) to settle in the country. There is no doubt that every year many Indian students reach New Zealand for higher studies. Due to available job opportunities and modern infrastructure, many of them want to settle in NZ. Now, the question is how to get New Zealand PR after studies. Please note that there is a difference between the terms Resident Visa and Permanent Resident Visa.

New Zealand is the preferred country to study and work abroad. As we all know a student visa in New Zealand is the most common visa that Indian students beyond 18 years of age apply for. Other than this, candidates, who have completed two years of studies in the country and wish to get PR in New Zealand have to note that it is quite difficult to define the time period for visa validation. In this blog, we are going to help you know all about New Zealand PR, how to apply, its benefits and more.

New Zealand PR Process

After the successful completion of a degree from any of the acclaimed universities of New Zealand, the next step is to apply for the correct type of visa, depending on the job opportunity in hand. The New Zealand PR process is not complicated at all. All you need to do is understand your needs and eligibility. Majorly, there are two type of Permanent residency in New Zealand. Below, we have mentioned the details:

• Post-Study Work VISA (Open): This visa has flexible options for students who have completed their course but are still looking for a job. This visa guarantees your stay in the country for 3 years to give you an opportunity to find a job related to your field of study or research. In the meanwhile, you are allowed to work in any field, in order to support your livelihood in New Zealand.
• Post-Study Work VISA (Employer Assisted): This visa, on the other hand, is not flexible with the type of job you opt for, after study. Providing a window of two years, this visa gives you a chance to find a specific job role with a specific employer. Please keep in mind that you should apply for this visa within three months of the expiration date of your student visa.

Related Readings

• Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand
• Job prospects for Indians
• Part-time work options in New Zealand

How to Apply for New Zealand PR From India

To apply for New Zealand PR from India, you need to fulfil the eligibility and then proceed with the application process. Here is the step-by-step process of the New Zealand PR application from India:

• Create a RealMe account (On New Zealand Immigration) for yourself.
• Mention every detail asked there.
• Upload all the required documents such as ID proof, health certificate and job offers.
• At last, pay the NZ PR visa application fees online (NZD 6,450).
• The NZ visa authority will connect with you through email and share the update.

About New Zealand Permanent Residence VISA

The ultimate goal of pursuing a professional career is to get a job of your choice related to your field of expertise. Hence, you apply for a permanent residence visa that allows you to stay in New Zealand for an indefinite period of time and attend public-funded services at the same time. A New Zealand PR is definitely beneficial to get good job offers, based on numerous factors such as your years of experience, age, and educational qualification to name a few. This visa also allows you to travel to and from New Zealand to any part of the world, without conditions.

Benefits of a NZ Permanent Residence VISA

A few of the innumerable benefits that follow a PR in New Zealand are:

• You can live, work, travel and study in New Zealand indefinitely without any restrictions
• You can avail medical facilities at subsidised rates as well as social security benefits
• Your children shall be eligible for free education at state-run schools and universities
• You can sponsor your relatives to apply for permanent resident visas, provided they meet the residency and assurance of support requirements
• You can apply for New Zealand citizenship after staying in the country for several years, needless to say that you fulfil all their other criteria such as basic usage of English language, communicative skills, good character, and a clear intent to continue staying in the country
• Children born in New Zealand shall automatically gain citizenship of the country by birth

New Zealand PR Visa Requirements

The basic requirements to adhere to in order to obtain a PR Visa in New Zealand are:

• Age less than 55 years
• Fluency and good command of the English language
• Good health and good character
• Job offer in hand (in case you have applied for a sponsored work visa)
• Ability to prove your intent of stay in the country

One can apply for a PR visa in New Zealand through various categories mainly the Skilled Migrant Category, Partner Category, and Business and Investment Category.

New Zealand PR Points System

You can apply for New Zealand visas by directly applying to the New Zealand Government. This is comparatively cheaper than getting in touch with agents or the visa bureau. In order to judge your eligibility, the government has formed a PR points system in which points are allotted under the following heads:

• Employability: 60 points for current skilled employees for over a year, 50 for people looking for a job/working for less than a year
• Work Experience: Ranges from 10 points for 2 years up to 30 points for 10 years, plus bonus points for benefits and growth appraisals in your work experience
• Qualifications: 50 points for a Bachelor’s Degree or any other major Diploma qualification and 55 for a Master’s or Doctorate Degree
• Family Ties: 10 points for close family members in New Zealand
• Age: Maximum of 30 points for 20-29 years up to a minimum of 5 points for 50-55 years of age

Securing 160 points gets you selected for ITA (Invitation To Apply) for a visa. The minimum submission criteria would be 100-135. However, it is not certain that this shall guarantee an ITA.

How to Get PR in New Zealand?

PR VISA, the application for which costs 190 NZD, can be obtained in New Zealand based on the following categories:

• Skilled Migrant Category Resident VISA: This is the best option for New Zealand immigrants, where you would first need to submit an online EOI (Expression of Interest). Once your EOI gets selected, you can expect a notification from NZ Immigration within the next two weeks. Then, you are required to submit your residence application with the required transcripts and other necessary documents. After processing your application, you can expect to hear from the immigration office within a span of 10 working days.
• Family Category VISA: You can apply for a PR visa under this category if you are a spouse/partner, parent or dependent child of a New Zealand permanent resident or citizen. One important thing is you have to be sponsored by either of the above-mentioned relatives in New Zealand so that you can stay with them as an NZ permanent resident.
• Business and Investment VISA: In this, you can apply under the Investor Category if you wish to invest in a New Zealand-based firm. Another option is to apply under the Entrepreneur Category where you have to show that you are willing to establish your own business venture in the country. Needless to say, even after every point is taken into consideration, the chances of your application getting accepted/rejected lie solely at the discretion of New Zealand Immigration.

Before applying for permanent residency in New Zealand, you need to have this information handy to understand your requirements and apply for the appropriate VISA. Good luck with your application!

Feel free to mention any query in the comment section and we will be happy to answer your question. For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. 

Related Read

• Permanent Residency Courses in New Zealand
• Understanding Levels of Tertiary Education in New Zealand