One of the greatest attractions for migrants is the enjoyable yet affordable lifestyle the country has to offer compared to other Western countries. Finding employment is a top priority for the majority of migrants coming to New Zealand. With the assistance of the New Zealand Immigration Service, UNI is able to provide invaluable advice and inside information on the lifestyle, Government and culture of the South Pacific so you can be prepared before you leave your country.

UNI enables professionals to self-assess their own attributes and make an informed decision regarding permanent residency and citizenship in New Zealand before making an application to the New Zealand Immigration Service. Our specialist team is experienced in all aspects of private immigration are able to contribute premium travel and immigration resources.

The Skilled Migrant Category is the most popular immigration category for people wanting to live and work in New Zealand. Based on a points system, applicants can obtain points for qualifications, age, employment experience and more. We have compiled a lot of relevant resources and information to assist you in making your own application under this category, including all official NZIS documents and application forms. New Zealand welcomes entrepreneur's and is also an attractive country for people wanting to invest or set up a business within such a dynamic country. If you are a mature businessman wanting to invest in New Zealand, a young entrepreneur or a savvy businessman eager for new challenges, the Business Investor Program is the best for you.

If you are married to a New Zealand citizen or resident or have been together in a genuine long-term relationship and would now like to live in New Zealand with your partner? Maybe you have an adult child who has NZ citizenship or residency and you would like to join them here? If you have family living in NZ or are in a relation with a 'Kiwi' then you may qualify for immigration under the Family Sponsored stream.

If you wish to settle permanently in New Zealand you will need to apply for a Permanent Residence Visa or Permit. There are different ways of applying for a Permanent Residence Visa or Permit: Skilled, Business, Investor and Family Migration as well as Work to Residence.

The Skilled Migrant Category addresses applicants who are planning to take up skilled employment in New Zealand.
The application process under the Skilled Migrant Category consists of two main stages:

In most cases an assessment of the applicants qualifications will be necessary as well.
Minimum requirements for a residence application under the Skilled Migrant Category are:

In principle every applicant who meets these criteria is eligible to submit an Expression of Interest under this policy.

All Expressions of Interest received by Immigration New Zealand are ranked from highest to lowest points and placed in a Pool.

Every fortnight Immigration New Zealand selects those Expressions of Interest with the highest points scores. This process is called Selection.

The number of Expressions of Interest selected from the Pool is determined by the number of immigrants New Zealand is aiming to gain during each current year. The lowest points score necessary for an Expression of Interest to be selected from the Pool is called Selection Point. Only Expressions of Interest with a points score equal or higher than the Selection Point are selected.

It is therefore of great importance to score as many points as possible when submitting an Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest which have been successfully selected from the Pool will undergo a preliminary verification and only those applicants, who have successfully passed this stage, will then receive an Invitation to Apply for a Residence Permit.

At this second stage of the application process all documents proving the point claims made in the Expression of Interest have to be submitted to Immigration New Zealand together with the Application for Residence.

Immigration New Zealand will then assess your application for residence against Government residence policy and look at your ability to settle successfully and make a real contribution to New Zealand's social and economic development. As part of this step you might be invited to attend an interview.

Depending on how well you are able to demonstrate your ability or potential to successfully settle in New Zealand.