Immigration New Zealand (INZ) manages all applications for visas.
If you hold a job offer from the University of Canterbury (UC), you will only be able to begin working for UC after INZ grants you the relevant visa.
You will therefore need to consider your immigration needs: temporary work visa, resident visa, or both.
Note that to purchase property in New Zealand, citizenship or residence is required.
Types of relevant work visas we can support include:
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa (SMC)
To be eligible for any New Zealand visa, you must meet health, character and identity requirements (among others). This means INZ may require evidence of qualifications, medical and police certificates as part of your application. These may take time to obtain, so it is worth looking into early.
Please refer to INZ for all visa options.
Accompanying Partners and family
For accompanying family members refer to INZ:
Support from UC
UC will do what it can support you with your visa application, such as providing employer letter of support where applicable, however we are unable to give you independent immigration advice.
If you require immigration advice or assistance, or hope to purchase property in New Zealand, you may wish to engage a licensed Immigration Adviser or immigration lawyer at your cost, or Find Immigration Advice.
Meeting immigration requirements can take time, so we suggest that you visit the INZ website as soon as possible to identify the relevant pathway and prepare to submit an online application.
As UC is an accredited employer with INZ, you may be able to apply for an AEWV once you have received your offer of full-time employment from us.
This type of visa can be granted for up to 5 years (from 27 November 2023).
To be eligible for this visa, you must be able to show that you:
- Have the required experience and / or qualifications for the job
- Meet the health and character requirements, and
- Have met, or are able to meet the necessary New Zealand occupational registration requirements to take up the offer (if required)
Check the criteria at INZ for an idea on your eligibility.
Bringing Family
Partners of AEWV holders can be supported for a partner work visa, and children can be supported for a visitor or student visa. For more information, refer to Bringing Family.
AEWV holders are also able to apply for a Residence visa if they meet the criteria.
Please find more information on both work and residence visas on the Immigration New Zealand website.
A new Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (SMC) will be open to eligible applicants from 9 October 2023.
A resident visa allows the holder to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Eligible partner and children can be included in this application.
As principal applicant, you must have a skilled job or job offer for a role lasting at least 12 months with an accredited employer in New Zealand to apply.
INZ states that straight-forward applications that have all the required information will be decided within 6 to 8 weeks.
As the principal SMC applicant, you can claim 3 to 6 points from your:
- New Zealand occupational registration
- qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher), or
- income from your job or job offer (earning at least 1.5 times the median wage in New Zealand).
Please refer to INZ for more information.
