Educate to Migrate – become a New Zealand citizen in 8 years’ time

Why Choose the Master’s Pathway?

In the past decade Tania and Steve have helped many families obtain residency on this pathway. One of our greatest rewards is seeing our former clients getting their New Zealand citizenship certificates and passports.

What do you need to achieve this goal?

You will need to have:

• At least a bachelor-level degree;
• A good level of English. The entry level for Masters study in New Zealand is Academic IELTS 6.5.   You may need an English language booster course before you start Masters course
• Sufficient funds for to pay for your tuition fees and also provide for your personal maintenance and return travel while you are in New Zealand; and
• Motivation!

How does it work?

Masters Study

1. 1. You will apply for a Student Visa to study your Masters degree. This will entitle you to work up to 20 hours per week and fulltime in summer holidays.Choosing the right course and institution is critical.  The institutions we prefer take a proactive approach to introducing their students to New Zealand employers.   This helps you build your business networks in New Zealand and is important for finding skilled employment later on.
   2. At the same time your partner can apply for a Partnership-Based Work Visa which will entitle them to work full-time in any occupation for any employer.
   3. School-age children can apply for dependent child Student Visas that will allow them to study at any Government Primary or Secondary School as domestic students. This means that you will not need to pay international school fees for them.
      Infant children can apply for dependent child Visitor Visas.

Graduation

4. 1. When you graduate, you will apply for a 3-year Post Study Work Visa. This visa will entitle you to work full-time for any employer in any occupation.
   2. Your partner and children will also apply to renew their visas for a further 3 years.
   3. You will look for well-paid skilled employment in a mid or high skilled occupation, possibly with one of the employers you met while you were studying your Masters degree.
      Your open Post Study Work Visa will be attractive to New Zealand employers as it gives them the immediate right to employ you without having to go through bureaucratic processes with Immigration New Zealand.

Applying for Residency

7. 7. If you have an offer of skilled employment in an occupation listed on Immigration New Zealand’s Green List, and you meet any other criteria specified on the Green List for that occupation, you may be able to apply for residence immediately for you and your family.
   8. If your occupation is not on the Green List, you need to be able to claim 6 Skilled Migrant Points to be eligible to apply for residence as a Skilled Migrant. Your New Zealand Masters degree will entitle you to claim 5 Skilled Migrant Points.
   9. Once you have worked in skilled employment in New Zealand for 1 year you will be able to claim an additional 1 Skilled Migrant Point and apply for residence. Your application will include your partner and dependent children.

Residence

1. 10. Your resident visas will entitle you and your family to live in New Zealand for the rest of your lives and to work for any employer in any occupation or be self-employed. These visas will have travel conditions that permit you to leave and reenter New Zealand for up to 2 years.
   11. Your children will be entitled to study as domestic students at New Zealand primary and secondary schools. They will also be entitled to study as domestic students at New Zealand polytechnics and universities.
   12. After 2 years, if you have lived in New Zealand for at least 184 days in each of those 2 years, you and your family will be able to apply for Permanent Resident Visas. Your Permanent Resident Visas will entitle you to leave and reenter New Zealand for the rest of your lives.

Citizenship

1. 13. 5 years after the grant of your first Resident Visa, if you have lived in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days and at least 270 days in each of those 5 years, you will be entitled to apply for New Zealand citizenship.

       New Zealand citizens are entitled to live and work in Australia and, after 4 years living there, apply for Australian citizenship.