New Zealand has shown positive signs as far as Immigration is concerned! The annual Immigration growth touched an all time high in the last five years with the arrival of permanent migrant outshining departures by 21,253 in the year 2009, confirmed Statistics New Zealand.
The statistics are having a positive impact on the Kiwi economy. Alan Bollard, Governor of Reserve Bank confirmed that NZ economy is gradually coming out of the economic catastrophe.
The growth in immigration might fuel consumer spending and accelerate a demand for housing in the country. Also, fewer citizens are leaving the country as compared to last few years. Close to 41,600 citizens left NZ to settle abroad last year, 19,160 fewer than in 2008. The figures clearly show that departures are falling at a gradual level.
Recession had a huge impact on NZ tourism, while other parts of the world were not left untouched too! Promotion of the Kiwi Land as a prospective travel destination for Aussie people also enhanced the number of visitors coming to NZ in a major way. The visitors from Australia rose by 11%.
Reports also show that 341,000 people came to NZ in December, as compared to 322,000 in December 2008. More arrivals would mean aiding spending in an industry, hence enhancing the NZ economy. The news is surely a positive ray, not only for the NZ citizens but for all those immigrants who are planning to move to New Zealand.
According to a survey released by Asia New Zealand Foundation, Asia would play a critical role in New Zealand’s economy in the upcoming future. The stats depict that 81% believe Asia is important to the NZ’s future while 40% out of them think it to be immensely important. The reports from 2008 stated that 75% would believe that Asians would play a critical role for the Kiwi future.
The report also said that more Kiwis think that free trade agreements would enhance the Kiwi economy; the stats went up from 74% to 78% as compared to 2008. Talking about those who think that import from Asia would favor the NZ economy, the number enhanced from 58% to 63%.
Richard Grant, executive director of the foundation elaborated that the survey was based on questions that had connections with recession, economic crisis and its impact on Immigration. It forced the respondents to think about the state of Kiwi Land in the upcoming years. In addition, they were asked questions on various facets that would affect the country, particularly Asian tourisms, free trade, to name a few.
Trade Minister, Tim Groser said that Asian was never so critical economic factor for the Kiwis. Ethnic Affairs Minister Pansy Wong said that the outcome is really pleasing. The reports clearly signify that Asia and NZ have a lot in store for each other as far as the future years are concerned.
In this era of globalization, Immigration is playing a critical role in enhancing the economies of various countries!
Towards the end of the 2009, New Zealand’s home prices hit record high, thanks to the shortage of properties for sale. As per the the figures presented by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, the country’s typical house price was $360,000 in the month of December, which was an increase of $5,000 from the previous month. Reportedly, its typical house price in December 2008 was $328,500.
As a result of the skyrocketing home prices, lesser number of sale transactions had taken place in New Zealand. The REINZ reported that, a total number of 4,957 houses were sold in December, a significant slip from the previous month. In November, 6,056 sale transactions were made in the Kiwi land. But, December 2009 witnessed an increase of 15 percent in house sales from the same time of 2008. However, it was not that high to match the record house sale rate in the same time of 2006, when sales were up almost 40 percent.
Let’s have a look at the highlights of the REINZ’s figures:
In December, New Zealand’s house prices were 9.6 up as compared to one year ago. A year ago, recorded median house price was $328,500.
December’s house price was 2.2 percent higher than December 2007. Reportedly, in 2007 New Zealand’s median house price was $352,000.
A total number of 4,957 sale transactions were made in December 2009, up from December 2008’s figures which is 4,302.
Reportedly, it took an average number of 33 days to sell a house in December 2009, while in December 2008, it needed 45 days on an average.
If we compare the figures of median house prices in twelve regions of New Zealand from 2008 and 2009, it comes clear that almost every region witnessed a rise in prices, barring one which on the contrary recorded a drop in prices, while another did not see any change in the prices!
Recently, this year’s first draw for expressions of Interest (EOI) for the category of Skilled Migrant took place. The draw on January 13, picked up a total number of 593 Expressions of Interest. Now that the selection of the EOI is over, the selected applications would be processed for preliminary check. The check will determine if the applicants would be issued with an invitation to apply for New Zealand residency.
Below are a few highlights of the draw taken place on January 13, 2010:
A total number of 483 Expressions of Interest, with total points of 140 or more being selected this time.
A total number of 110 Expressions of Interest, with total points of 100 or above, (however, below 140) being selected.
Out of the 593 applications, a total number of 521 Expressions of Interest were from those who have New Zealand job offers.
The first Expressions of Interest draw of 2010 under the aforementioned category brought disappointment to many applicants who wished to immigrate to the Kiwi land. A total of 631 Expressions of Interest were not selected. These EOIs remain in the pool, for the applicants might have met the general requirements needed to immigrate to New Zealand, but they could not satisfy the criteria set for the Expressions of Interest pool selection.
Now, these applications will be in the pool for three months and may get selected in another draw in the near future. However, if the EOIs are not selected after three months, the applicants may require to submit Expressions of Interest again!
Want to know about the labor market in New Zealand? Indeed, you should have the knowledge about the same if you are planning to go and work in the country. Here is our little effort to help you in doing your homework in researching the New Zealand labor market, before you file application under the Skilled Migrant Visa category.
From a general viewpoint, it can be said that an average male employee in New Zealand works 37.9 hours in a week. Besides, he is being paid $1,010 per week for 1.2 hours overtime. The average female employee works 35.6 hours per week. She works for additional 0.5 hours to earn $816 a week.
Taking the statistics of salary ranges, over the last few years as basis, it can be assumed that finance, accounting, insurance, gas, electricity and water are the sectors in the country where employees earn some of the most attractive salary packages. Their average wages are twice as compared to that of the employees in retail and accommodation, restaurants or cafes sectors.
In New Zealand one can expect to get work if he/she has skills and experience. Or in other words, if you are expecting to get higher salary wages you must have a considerable amount of experience. A chartered accountant in cities like Wellington and Auckland earns from $105,000 to $110,000. The salary package of a corporate management candidate with experience can go over $100,000 per annum. Education sector is another sector where graduates are offered with attractive packages as per the country’s standards. An experienced school level teacher can expect to earn about $56,000 per annum. The yearly remuneration for university level professionals goes up to $73,000.
Intending to migrate to the land of Kiwis under the Active Investor Migrant Category? Well, in that case you can fly to the country through three types of visas. How about migrating under the Professional Investor Visa? But, before you start making your planner, let’s have a look at the requirements set by the Immigration New Zealand for applicants of this visa category.
Below are a few requirements to obtain the Professional Investor Visa:
You must be 64 year-old or younger.
You must have at least NZ$10 million to invest, out of which $2 million should be actively invested.
You must meet the minimum English language standards.
You must have good character and normal health.
Once an applicant is issued with the Professional Investor visa, he/she will need to invest the funds in New Zealand for a period of 4 years. Besides, he/she will need to spend a minimum period of 109 days each year in New Zealand during second, third and fourth years of the investment period.
The individual/individuals with approved visa are given conditional permanent residence, as per the Immigration Act 1987 (section 18A). Once the requirements, such as investment for the 4 years and spending 109 days of the year in New Zealand are fulfilled, the individual will be provided with unconditional permanent residence permit.
Individuals with approved Professional Investor Visas are also provided with Returning Resident’s Visas. A RRV allows an individual to travel in and out of New Zealand for 2 years as a New Zealand resident.
For more information on Professional Investor Visa Category, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!
The New Zealand Family Visa Category states that you must have a close relative already living in New Zealand in order to be eligible to apply for this type of visa. In other words, you may apply for the Family Visa, only if a close family member who resides in the country or who is a New Zealand resident sponsors you. It also requires you to be in one of the four groups. They are the sub-classes of Family Visa category. Let’s have a look at them:
Partnership: This states that you may apply for a Family Visa to go to New Zealand, given you are the spouse or a genuine partner of a person who is a permanent resident or citizen in the country. You may be allowed to apply even if you have same-sex relationship of at least twelve months with a New Zealand resident.
Parent: Again you can apply for the visa as a parent of a New Zealand permanent resident/citizen. However, there is one condition applied to this category- you must have the same or greater number of adult offspring (resident) in New Zealand than any other country in the world.
Dependent Child: If one of your parents (or both) is a New Zealand citizen/permanent resident, then you can also apply for permanent residence in the country.
Sibling or Adult Child: You can again apply for New Zealand permanent residence if you have your brother/sister or parent who is a citizen and permanent resident in the country.
As a New Zealand permanent resident/citizen, you can sponsor any individual who fits the bill as mentioned in the above categories.
The Dependent Child Visa comes under the Family Category. The Dependent Child policy allows children to move to the land of kiwis to be with their parents. Under this category, as a parent you are allowed to sponsor your biological, as well as legally adopted children. For this, however, you must be a citizen or permanent resident.
Basic requirements to obtain the New Zealand Dependent Child Visa:
Immigration New Zealand has set a number of prerequisites that need to be fulfilled by the applicants. Below are some of them:
The child must be 16-year-old or younger or 17-24 year-old, with no dependent children.
The child must meet the health plus character standards.
The child must be completely dependent on an adult financially, no matter whether he/she lives with the adult or not.
The dependent child may be required to produce evidences to support his/her relationship to the parents, as well as the latter’s residence status/proof in the New Zealand.
The dependent child must have been born or adopted prior his/her parents applied for New Zealand residence/declaration of parent residence application or
He/she must have been born after the parents applied for New Zealand’s residence application or
He/she was adopted as per the New Zealand law.
Once all the prerequisites are fulfilled by the dependent child, he will provided with a permanent residence visa, so that he/she can live with the parents permanently in New Zealand. Besides, the applicant will also be issued with a Returning Resident’s Visa (RRV), which will allow him/her to travel in and out of New Zealand for maximum 2 years as a New Zealand resident.
To know more about New Zealand Dependent Child Visa, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!
The New Zealand Entrepreneur Category requires you to run a successful business for two years in New Zealand as a prerequisite to obtain permanent residence in the country. Thus, before you could apply for an Entrepreneur Visa, you are required to obtain a Long Term Business Visa popularly known as LTBV.
In order to obtain a LTBV, you will need to convince the Immigration New Zealand that you have a good New Zealand business plan. Once you are provided with a LTBV, you will need to operate your business there successfully for a minimum of two years. When you meet this requirement, you are eligible to for apply for permanent residence under the Entrepreneur Category. However, this is not the sole requirement. The Immigration New Zealand will require you to have at least 25 percent shareholding of the business, as well as active role in managing and operating the business.
Besides, Immigration New Zealand would like to know that whether your business is benefiting or has benefited New Zealand’s economy during the years. To prove the same, you may need to produce evidence that will support:
That you have revamped your business
That you have launched new products and services
That you have generated new job opportunities in your business
That you have expanded new market access.
Things to Remember:
Your application to obtain an Entrepreneurship Visa will not be considered by Immigration New Zealand in certain cases. For instance, if your business established in New Zealand is different from the business that you mentioned in the LTBV application. In certain cases, the Immigration Service can still accept your application. To know more about this, contact an Immigration and Visa Consultant!
Under the Business Category, the Immigration New Zealand allows people to reside in the country both temporarily and permanently. With this program the country encourages business people, entrepreneurs and investors from all over the world to establish or run business in New Zealand.
There are basically three options included in the Business Category- (1) Long Term Business Visa (LTBV); (2) Entrepreneur Visa; and (3) Investor Visa. Today, let’s have a look at the Entrepreneur Category:
The Entrepreneur category is basically aimed that attracting successful business people and encouraging them to obtain the permanent residence in New Zealand and continue their contribution to the country’s economic growth. In order to qualify for residence under Entrepreneur category, you must meet the following requirements:
You must have run a business successfully or be lawfully self-employed in a business for a minimum period of two years in New Zealand under a different visa. You must have an active involvement in the operation and management in that business.
You must have invested at least 25 percent in the business. In other words, it requires you to own at least 25 percent of the shareholding of the business.
You must produce evidence that can support that your business is benefiting in New Zealand. Appropriate evidence should also support that the business is meeting the country’s employment and immigration law.
You must prove that your partner or children have not applied for or received any assistance in the name of welfare during the days in New Zealand.
You must meet the standard health, character and English language requirements.
Always make sure you seek the help of a professional Immigration and Visa Consultant for any issues related to obtaining visas!
