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

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Dec 26, 2024 17:54 IST

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.

how to get pr in new zealand

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.

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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.

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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?

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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

Q:   How to get PR in New Zealand after study?

A:

To get PR in New Zealand, you have to fulfill below mentioned eligibility after completeing study:

  • Have required educational qualification (Minimum UG).
  • Minimum two years of work experience in New Zealand.
  • Have a job offer from an employer in New Zealand.
  • Age should be less than 55 years.

Apart from these, you may need to show some other proof  depending on your job.

Q:   Does New Zealand give PR after study?

A:

New Zealand government does not offer Permanent Residency (PR) immediately after completing your studies. Students need to get a post-study work visa, which is the most preferred route for international students. The duration of PSW visa depends on the level of your qualification and where you studied. It can be for 1, 2, or 3 years.

During this duration, you will get a valuable work experience in New Zealand, which will help you to get PR.

Q:   What is the fee for PR in New Zealand?

A:

The fee for a Permanent Resident Visa in New Zealand is NZD $315 (INR 15,640). You can pay this amount by using your credit card. This is a non refundable application fee. The fees for New Zealand Permanent Residency (PR) can vary depending on the specific visa category you are applying.

Q:   Is New Zealand good for Indian students?

A:

With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.

Q:   Which course is better, Master in Management or Master in Project Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand?

A:

The University of Auckland offers the best UG and PG programs for international students at an affordable tuition fees. Auckland Unversity Master in Project Management is slightly better than the Master in Management because of its tuition fees for first year. Mentioned below is the tuition fees for first-year for international students:

ProgramFirst Year Tuition Fees
Master in Project ManagementINR 25.11 L
Master in ManagementINR 26.11 L

Q:   How much funds are needed for a New Zealand study visa?

A:

 International students need to show sufficient funds for getting a New Zealand student visa. Students need to show NZ$ 20,000 for a full year of study or NZ$ 1,250 per month for getting a New Zealand study visa.

Cost of New Zealand Student Visa Application

  • New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 19,200 (approximately).
  • Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees.
  • Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520.

Q:   What is the cost of studying in New Zealand?

A:

The tuition fees that a student would need to pay will depend on the type of qualification and the university they are looking at to pursue their education. While courses such as humanities, education, and arts are likely to cost less pursuing subjects such as medicine and engineering costs on the higher side.

The below table sheds light on the tuition fee charged level-wise in New Zealand from international students applying to their universities:

Study Program Level

Annual Costs in NZD

Diploma or Certificate courses

NZD 23,000 - NZD 47,000

English Language courses

NZD 350 (per week)

Undergraduate degree

NZD 22,000 - NZD 32,000

Master's degree

NZD 26,000 - NZD 37,000 

Doctoral degree

NZD 6,500 - NZD 9,000  

Q:   Is living in New Zealand expensive?

A:

The cost of living does not includes only the tuition fee but also other expenses like textbooks, NON-tuition fee, accommodation cost and other personal expenses. The moment a student lands in New Zealand, they need to pay $35 international visitor and tourism conservation levy. The living cost can vary as per the accommodation option, location and personal spending habits.

In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment.

About the Author
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Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert

Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio

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All courses in ANZ

Armed with B.Com from Delhi University, Anuradha Sharma has accumulated rich experience as an education counsellor. She is especially adept at handling Australia and NZ admission procedure. Before becoming a GTE Exp... Read Full Bio

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Comments

(6)

Y

Yuri Kwon

4 months ago

Hi, If I complete my Masters in interior design in nz and then go for a 3 year psw visa, after my visa ends can I apply for Skilled Migrant Category Resident VISA, whether I have a job or not? And if job is required, any job in my stream that is interior design will do?

Reply to Yuri Kwon

T

Thiri Mon

a year ago

Hi, I am from Myanmar. I would like Join the Master of Professional Accountant at New zealand University . My question is If I get study permit at New Zealand , what kind of visa can apply for my spouse and kids. Is there any visa type like spouse open work permit ?

Reply to Thiri Mon

Hello Thiri, in case you get a study permit in New Zealand, you can apply for a dependent visa for your spouse and kids. Check out more details here - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/student-spouse-visa-for-new-zealand-applycontent5767 Good luck!

p

prabhjot

2 years ago

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 Qualifica

...more

Reply to prabhjot

s

soju varghese

5 years ago

Hai ..what are the criterias for getting pr for indian students .. can we apply for pr if we have a job related to our studies ?

Reply to soju varghese

p

prabhjot

2 years ago

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 Qualifica

...more

5 years ago

Is point system PR is open in Newzealand? How much time does it take?

Reply to