Immigration to Canada New Zealand
Immigration to Canada New Zealand
Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand consists of the North Island, the South Island, and over 700 smaller islands. New Zealand is an economically and socially developed country that ranks high in international comparisons of national performance, including protection of civil rights, economic freedom, government transparency, quality of life and education. Since the country is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, citizens of New Zealand have strong ties with other states. Indeed, many people are discovering the ways of immigration to Canada. Today, more than 15,000 residents of Canada claim full or partial New Zealand ancestry.
Study Immigration to Canada New Zealand
Many international students aim to obtain higher education in Canada. One of the reasons for its decision is further immigration to Canada. As a rule, students from New Zealand choose at least two-year full-time programs at Canadian Designated Learning Institutions. After graduation, they can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). PGWP allows international students to gain work experience in Canada for up to three years.
Students from New Zealand who want to apply for immigration to Canada can use the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). If foreigners apply under CEC, they must have at least a year of Canadian work experience and get a job under the Skill Type 0, A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). If residents of New Zealand apply for immigration to Canada under PNP, they are required to have one year of work experience and get an offer of employment that is included in one of the mentioned NOC categories.
Work Immigration to Canada New Zealand
Residents of New Zealand often use their qualifications for immigration to Canada. The most popular work programs among foreigners are the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). Once the citizens of New Zealand get a year of work experience under one of these, they can apply for immigration to Canada under the PNP or CEC.
Canadian employers who suffer from labour shortages in the country can hire workers from New Zealand under the TFWP. Hence, they need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that demonstrates that local workers are not available to fill the position. In turn, the residents of New Zealand need to submit a job offer letter, a contract, a copy of the LMIA, and the LMIA number to apply for a work permit.
Unlike the TFWP, Canadian companies do not need an LMIA to hire foreigners under the IMP. They just need to post a job offer in their Employer Portal on the government’s website. Nevertheless, foreign residents who want to apply for further immigration to Canada under the IMP must be eligible to get an open work permit.
The LMIA exemption categories that can apply for the open work permit include inland permanent residence applicants, spouses and common-law partners of foreign workers and international students, bridging open work permit applicants, occupation-restricted open work permits for caregivers, refugees, vulnerable workers, family members of foreign representatives and military personnel, professional athletes, applicants for secondary and post-secondary co-op programs, post-graduation work permits applicants, Canada World Youth Program applicants, and International Experience Canada: Working Holidays participants.
International Experience Program
Canada allows residents of New Zealand to work and travel in the country under the International Experience Program, namely the Working Holiday category. This stream allows foreigners to find a temporary job to help pay for their trip for up to 23 months. Nevertheless, citizens of New Zealand can participate in the International Experience Program only once. To be eligible for the Working Holiday stream, foreign citizens ought to fulfill the eligibility requirements.
- They must be 18–35-year-old residents of New Zealand.
- Foreign residents need to have at least 2,500 CAD to cover their expenses.
- Citizens of New Zealand should have health insurance for the duration of their trip.
- Applicants must be admissible to Canada.
- Residents of New Zealand should have a round-trip ticket or prove they will buy a departure ticket at the end of the authorized stay in Canada.
- Applicants must not be accompanied by dependants.
- Citizens of New Zealand ought to pay the processing fee of 156 CAD and the open work permit holder fee of 100 CAD.
Family Sponsorship
Many residents of New Zealand have relatives in Canada that allow them to use family sponsorship programs for immigration to Canada. Citizens and permanent residents of Canada apply for the program to reunite with their spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, children, parents, and grandparents who live in New Zealand.
For immigration to Canada under the family sponsorship program, a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner must be at least 18 years old and has a long-lasting relationship with a Canadian. Residents of Canada can sponsor their biological and adopted children who are less than 22 years old. The parents and grandparents sponsorship program is designed as a random selection system. It means that applicants should wait for a decision from 20 to 24 months.
Programs of the Express Entry Stream: Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades
For immigration to Canada, residents of New Zealand can use the Express Entry programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). The stream allows skilled workers with foreign work experience to get Canadian permanent residence status. To use this program for immigration to Canada, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements.
- They ought to gain at least one year of skilled work experience under NOC Skill Type 0, A, or B within the last ten years. For immigration to Canada, the work experience must be in the same Skill Type as the primary occupation.
- Applicants need to provide Canadian credentials or foreign credentials along with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
- Citizens of New Zealand should pass the English or French Language Proficiency Test and meet at least Level 7 of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
- Applicants need to have enough personal funds for immigration to Canada unless they have a valid job offer or legally work in the country.
In addition, the immigration officer evaluates the applications of the residents of New Zealand based on their age, level of education, language proficiency, work experience, job offer, and adaptability for immigration to Canada. Today, the current pass mark is 67 out of 100 points.
Citizens of New Zealand who have skilled trades occupations can apply for immigration to Canada under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). To qualify for this program, they need to meet several requirements.
- Applicants must get no less than two years of full-time work experience in a NOC Skill Type B (skilled trade occupations) within the last five years.
- Residents of New Zealand are required to obtain a full-time job offer for at least one year. If they do not have an offer of employment, they may get a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
- Applicants should take the English or French Language Proficiency Test and meet or exceed CLB Level 5 in speaking and listening and Level 4 for reading and writing.
- Citizens of New Zealand must prove they have enough savings for immigration to Canada unless they have a job offer or legally work in the country.
Business Immigration to Canada from New Zealand
Business immigration to Canada is also an effective option for the residents of New Zealand. One of the most popular streams among foreigners is the Provincial Entrepreneur Immigration Program. The program is designed for citizens of New Zealand who have management or entrepreneurial work experience. To qualify for this program, the applicants need to meet several requirements.
- Residents of New Zealand must have at least three years of work experience within the last five years. The experience should be gained in the role of business owners or senior managers.
- Applicants ought to invest 200,000-1,000,000 CAD in a Canadian business and have 600,000-1,500,000 CAD of personal funds.
- Foreigners must have the intention to buy or launch a business in Canada and hire at least one full-time local professional.
- Citizens of New Zealand should pass the English or French Language Proficiency Test and meet at least CLB Level 4.
The other options for immigration to Canada are the Start-Up Immigration Program and the Self-Employed Immigration Program. To qualify for the Start-Up program, foreigners must prepare a business plan, get a support letter from a designated Canadian investor, meet CLB Level 5, have 13,213 CAD of personal savings, and launch an innovative business.
To apply for immigration to Canada under the Self-Employed Program, citizens of New Zealand need to be 20-50 years old, have a diploma degree, get no less than two years of work experience as a self-employed person, possess at least 13,213 CAD of personal savings, and pass IELTS.
The province of Quebec offers three programs for immigration to Canada. Residents of New Zealand who are ready to invest in local business for five years can apply for the Investor Program. To apply for the Self-Employed Program, applicants should have at least two years of self-employed experience in the profession or trade they want to practice in Quebec. The Quebec Entrepreneur Program is launched for foreigners who aim to start or buy a business in the province.
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