How to Get PR in New Zealand - Meaning, Eligibility, Application & Different Pathways

New Zealand is among the top countries to earn, live and settle with your family. But to stay in the country for an indefinite period, you will require a valid citizenship visa. Here you will find information on how to get PR in New Zealand, its eligibility criteria and other details. So, keep reading!

The eligibility criteria for the New Zealand PR process is as follows:

• Applicants should be below 55 years of age.
• Must qualify in health and character.
• Can speak and understand English.
• Have a job offer from an employer in New Zealand.
• Enough proof that you intend to stay in the country.
• Must have a minimum of 100 points based on qualification, age, employment, work experience, etc.
• Have a minimum of two years of work experience and enough documents to prove it.
• Applicants must hold three to six qualification certificates issued by recognised institutes.

Individuals can also apply for permanent residency in New Zealand if they hold a visa for the partner category, skilled migrant category, business and investment category. We will discuss this in detail later. But, first, let us know how to get PR in New Zealand.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for New Zealand PR from India. Follow these steps to experience a flawless process:

Step 1: Check the Eligibility Criteria

Before starting the process, make sure you qualify all the criteria mentioned under PR eligibility. For this, you can also take the help of an immigration expert.

Step 2: Take the NZQA Assessment

If applicants have received their qualifications from outside New Zealand, they must undergo an NZQA assessment. However, you can skip the process if your overseas qualification is recognised and mentioned under the List of Qualification Exempt from Assessment. The sole purpose of this assessment is to verify your education credential and compare if it is up to the mark.

Step 3: Submission of Expression of Interest

This electronic pool requires applicants to mention their intent why they want to settle in New Zealand. The process goes through two stages, the first step is the document submission process, and the next stage involves checking the profile and sending the invitation.

Step 4: Wait for Invitation

Next, you have to wait for the officials of New Zealand to accept your EOI and send you an invitation to submit a residence application. After filling in the details, provide appropriate documentation to support your claim relating to age, work experience, qualification, language proficiency, etc.

Step 5: Approval of PR Visa

Lastly, the authority will verify your credentials and the information provided. Then, if they feel positive about your request, they will grant you permanent residency in New Zealand.

The following documents are necessary for you to present at the time of your NZ PR application form submission:

• Job offer letter including details of your employer, working hours, remuneration, position and other essential information.
• Certificate of good character issued by police.
• Medical proof to show that you are healthy.
• Evidence to prove your genuine and stable relationship with your partner if that is the basis of your visa.
• New Zealand Qualification report.
• Proof that you know the Standard English language.

If you are wondering how to get citizenship in New Zealand, then there are three pathways you can opt for:

1. Skilled Migrant Category Visa
2. Family Category Visa
3. Business and Investment Category Visa

To know more about this pathway refer to the following sections.

1. Skilled Migrant Category Visa

This is the most common way people gain citizenship in New Zealand. So, if you find yourself skilled employment in NZ, you can permanently work and live in the country.

However, you will have to follow a two-step process. Also, remember, the points are allocated on factors like age, work experience, education, etc.

Eligibility Criteria

The criteria that one needs to fulfil for getting an SMC category PR visa are:

• Proficiency in English
• Age is less than 55 years
• Good character
• Having a good health

How to Apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Visa

Step 1: The first step involves submitting an expression of interest and other applications showing that you meet all the thresholds and are qualified by the digital pool.

The data you need to fulfil include details of your qualification, skills, etc. Officials accept your EOI and send an ‘Invitation to Apply’ if you gain a decent score in the NZ point-based immigration system.

Step 2: You can then submit a residence application under this particular category.

2. Family Category Visa

There are further subdivisions under this category. For example, if you are a partner or spouse, parent or dependent child of someone who is a permanent citizen of NZ, you can apply for it too. However, a relative in NZ must sponsor you to complete the PR process in New Zealand.

3. Business and Investment Category Visa

Under this type of New Zealand visa, individuals interested in doing business and investing in properties can apply for permanent citizenship. So, they can contribute to the country's economic development and overall growth.

• Investor Category

If you are willing to live in the country by investing in any property, you can opt for an investor category visa.

• Business Category

This category is for those individuals who are willing to establish a business in New Zealand. However, the criterion for this path is that you need to have a two-year business background in NZ. But for some exceptional cases, it is six months.

When carrying out New Zealand PR process from India, the time taken for approval will depend on the category of visa you hold. For example, if you apply for NZ PR through the Skilled Migrant Category, you can get an Invitation to Apply (ITO) as soon as three weeks.

On the other hand, residence applications are processed within four to fifteen months. It will vary upon the checks and documents required. However, a business visa takes eight to ten months, except for the Investor 1 Plus category. You can expect an approval period of three months or less for the latter one.

Now, talking about the fees required for applying PR in New Zealand, the officials fix it depending on the applicant's nationality. For Indians, it is NZ$ 190.

After you have followed the New Zealand PR Process from India, you can check the status of your application by following the procedure mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the website of 'New Zealand Visa Status’.

Step 2: Fill in the necessary information as asked by the portal. It includes Passport Number, Receipt Number, Date of Birth, etc.

Step 3: Once you click on the 'Submit' button, the status will appear.

Having a permanent residency in New Zealand means you will be able to enjoy all the rights that every other citizen of the country gets. However, being a residence is not the same as being a permanent residence. Instead, permanent residency is a consequence of residency. In other words, you can apply for the New Zealand PR process only when you have lived for two years in the country using a residency visa.

The benefits of getting an NZ PR are:

• Live indefinitely in NZ without any objection.
• Your children can gain admission to any school in NZ.
• Enjoy healthcare facility assistance in NZ.
• Enter and exit New Zealand whenever you want, like any other permanent residence.