So you still want to move to New Zealand? Of course you do. But how do you get started? I’m happy to report that the second step is an easy one. Just bookmark these two websites:
Both sites are maintained by the New Zealand government and offer an answer to any question you can think of regarding immigrating to New Zealand. The problem is that there is a lot of information on these websites and finding information is not easy. We spent many hours reading through the Immigration NZ website during our application process. There are tools to explore the different visa options, online applications, as well as downloadable applications and form instructions. The New Zealand Now website does a much better job explaining the different types of visas (visit/study/work/invest/refugee/family). Spend some time exploring both of them.
If you can’t find what you need in the extensive knowledge base, don’t hesitate to contact Immigration NZ directly (you’ll find contact information at the bottom of each website). We’ve received timely, helpful answers to both our emailed and phoned queries.
As you’ll see by exploring these immigration websites, there are many paths to gaining permanent residence. Our family’s path (from visitor to work to resident) is the most common route (most immigrants we know have followed a nearly identical visa trail) and the one I focus on in this book. I’ll note here that we did all the paperwork and jumped through all the hoops ourselves, and I suspect if you’ve bought this book, you’re considering managing the process yourself as well. But that’s not the only approach.
Perhaps you’ve read everything about immigrating to New Zealand, asked questions, received answers, and a unique wrinkle in your personal circumstances means you’re still flummoxed about the process. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed by the required paperwork and required evidence. Perhaps you’re simply averse to the process and would prefer a bit of handholding? For all of the above, help is available in the form of a licensed immigration adviser. This is an expert who can help you navigate the process with your specific scenario in mind.
Specially trained licensed immigration advisers can legally provide assistance at all levels, from helping you select the correct visa to completing your application for you. If you’re unsure whether you’ll need an adviser, you can get started on the process on your own and engage an adviser as needed to clear a roadblock at any step along the way. Fees vary widely, depending on the level of a particular adviser’s expertise to the level of complexity and urgency of a particular application.
For more information, or to hire an adviser, begin at the Immigration Advisers Authority website: iaa.govt.nz. You’ll find information on the type of services they offer as well as an adviser database.
There are other sources of immigration advice and assistance as well. These include lawyers (both in New Zealand and overseas), Community Law Centres, and Citizens Advice Bureaus (cab.org.nz). Citizens Advice Bureaus in particular are amazing resources in New Zealand communities. They offer free advice, information, and guidance—on matters of immigration, consumer problems, employment and more—for anyone who needs it. Additionally, Justices of the Peace are regularly available for basic legal advice and document certifying.
In our immigration journey, we were able to sort out our visas by reading the government websites, talking to Immigration NZ directly, and asking questions of other recent immigrants. We did have a question regarding health requirements and found a friend of a friend who is an immigration adviser. He gave us the answer—and encouragement—we needed, gratis. That’s the Kiwi way.