UK Visa For New Zealand Citizens

Overview of UK Visa For New Zealand Citizens

The United Kingdom has always been a popular destination for New Zealanders to travel to. There were over 59,000 New Zealand-born residents registered in the 2015 UK census, and many more have flocked to the UK since then to take advantage of its cosmopolitan cities and stunning scenery.

The strong ties between the two countries are well-known, with both the UK and New Zealand being said to share a similar sense of humour and approach to life. Both countries also share a common language and similar governmental systems, as well as a strong political link through the Commonwealth of Nations.

However, even with the shared similarities, the UK’s proximity to Europe and highly diverse international culture still provide a fresh and exciting prospect for New Zealanders looking to start a new life abroad.

It’s therefore no surprise that many New Zealanders single out the UK as one of the top destinations in the world to visit and emigrate to.

If you’re a New Zealander looking to up sticks and emigrate to the UK, there are a range of visas and immigration routes available to you, including the highly sought-after Ancestry visa. Whatever your preferred route will be to moving to the UK, IAS can help and advise you every step of the way.

UK Entry Requirements for NZ Citizens

If, as a New Zealand national, you want to make the trip to the UK permanent and do not have British/Irish citizenship, you will need a visa to live and work there. There are general requirements set out by the UK Home Office that applicants must meet to gain a visa and entry clearance to the UK. For example, you must:

• Be a valid New Zealand passport holder.
• Be over the age of 18
• Have a satisfactory criminal record.
• Meet your visa and financial requirements.
• Pay an application fee
• Prove your knowledge of the English Language
• Be able to provide all relevant documentation (including bank statements) in English or Welsh.

Depending on your visa conditions, you may be able to apply to extend it or, after five years, apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ (permanent residency).

UK Family Visas for New Zealanders

It may be the case that you already have close family who are residents or citizens of the UK. In this case, you may wish to apply for a Family visa in order to travel to the UK and join them.

There are different types of family visas available for those wishing to join someone else in Great Britain. For example, if you are married to someone who is already resident, you may be suitable for a Spouse visa. If you are engaged to a British citizen and wish to marry in the UK with the intent of staying afterwards, then a Fiancé visa could be the best option for you.

The Family visa typically allows you to stay in the UK for around 2 to 3 years initially, after which it can be extended.

The eligible family members you can travel to the UK to join include your:

• Spouse or partner
• Fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner
• Child
• Parent
• Relative who’ll provide long-term care for you

Note that you cannot apply for a family visa if your family member is in the UK temporarily on a student or a work visa.

As part of the application process, you’ll have to give a range of proof and evidence to demonstrate that you’re eligible for the visa. This will vary based on which family member you’ll be joining when you move to the UK.

Depending on your circumstances, you may either apply from within or outside of the UK.

Spouse Visa

A Spouse visa grants foreign nationals the opportunity to make an international move and join their partner in the UK. To be eligible, the partner must be a British/Northern Irish citizen or have settled status.

Your partner needs to earn at least £29,000 per year (unless they claim disability or carer benefits) or, have the equivalent amount in a UK bank account.

Spouse visas last for 2 years and 9 months, after which you will need to apply to extend your stay. After 5 continuous years of living in the UK as a partner on a Family visa, you can then apply for permanent residency.

You must both be over the age of 18 and either be:

• Married.
• In a civil partnership.
• In a long-term relationship (at least 2 years).

If you are not legally married, you must also be able to prove your relationship is genuine by supplying relevant documentation.

Spouse visas last for 2 years and 9 months, after which you will need to apply to extend your stay. After 5 continuous years of living in the UK as a partner on a Family visa, you can then apply for permanent residency.

Fiance Visa

If you have a UK-based partner that you wish to marry, you can apply for a UK Fiancé visa. This visa type is valid for six months, and so long as you marry your partner within the six months, you may then apply for a Spouse visa.

All applicants must be aged 18 or over, and your partner must earn at least £29,000 per year (unless they claim disability or carer benefits). They must be a British/Northern Irish citizen or have settled status in the UK.

You must also be able to prove that your relationship is genuine and any previous marriages have ended by supplying evidence as part of your application.

If you intend to move to the UK permanently, it is worth noting that the six-month expiry date of the Fiancé visa does not count towards the five years you need to apply for permanent residency, and you will not be able to work while holding a Fiancé visa.

UK Ancestry Visas for New Zealanders

One of the most coveted and desirable routes to UK permanent residency for New Zealanders is the Ancestry visa.

This is a special type of visa only available to a small select group of countries, including Commonwealth and British Overseas countries, as well as British Overseas territories.

The most important criteria for the Ancestry visa is proving that one of your grandparents was born in one of the following circumstances:

• In the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
• Before 31 March 1922 in what is now Ireland
• On a ship or aircraft that was either registered in the UK or belonged to the UK government

You must also prove that you intend to work in the UK, and that you meet the minimum financial requirements.

It’s thought that around 80% of New Zealanders have some form of British ancestry, which means that the Ancestry visa may be an accessible and appealing route for many New Zealanders who wish to relocate to the UK.

The Ancestry visa allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years, after which you can extend your visa or apply for permanent settlement, which is known as indefinite leave to remain.

UK Work Visas For New Zealanders

To take advantage of job opportunities in the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), you will need a Work visa. There are various Work visas available for New Zealand citizens wishing to gain employment in the UK, and the one you should apply for will largely depend on your job offer. Some visas can be used as a route to permanent residence, whereas others are temporary.

Skilled Worker Visa

For professionals who are moving to the UK from New Zealand, the Skilled Worker visa is the best option. It allows you to live and work in the UK for up to 5 years, after which, provided you have stuck to your visa conditions, you can apply for permanent residency.

To be eligible for the Skilled worker visa, you must have a confirmed job offer (before you apply) from a Home Office-approved employer. You will need a certificate of sponsorship that details your job role, and you must prove that you meet the financial requirements. In addition to your visa application fee, you will need to pay a healthcare surcharge.

Health and Care Worker Visa

Holders of the UK Health and Care Worker visa are permitted to live and work in the country as a medical professional. You must be qualified and have an eligible UK job role within the National Health Service (NHS), an NHS supplier, or in adult social care.

To be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, you must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer approved by the UK Home Office. You will need a certificate of sponsorship and your job occupation code.

This visa lasts for up to five years and can be extended as many times as you wish, provided you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Alternatively, after five years, you can apply for permanent residency.

Innovator Founder Visa

If you intend to set up an innovative business in the UK (meaning something that is not already trading or on the market) and it is endorsed by an approved body, you should apply for the Innovator Founder visa.

Your business idea must be viable with the potential for growth and be scalable. You should be able to provide realistic plans for how the business intends to create job opportunities and expand into national and international markets.

This visa is valid for 3 years, after which, provided you have not breached any of your visa conditions and your business is still trading, you can apply for permanent residency.

Temporary UK Work Visas

If you want to live and work in the UK temporarily, you will need a Temporary Work visa. There are different types of temporary work visas, all designed to suit your circumstances. Typically, temporary work visas are valid for 12 months or less. Some examples include:

• Seasonal Worker visa
• Government Authorised Exchange visa
• Creative Worker visa
• Religious Worker visa
• Charity Worker visa
• International Agreement visa

To be eligible for a Temporary Work visa, you should have a certificate of sponsorship from your UK employer and meet all financial requirements.

Global Business Mobility Visa

Also known as a UK Expansion visa, this visa allows you to enter the UK for up to 12 months to set up a branch of a business that is already trading overseas, provided you already work for that business. The business cannot already be trading in the UK, and the job must be on the UK Home Office’s list of eligible occupations.

If, after 12 months, you are still trading in the same job, you can apply to extend your visa for a further 12 months. You can bring your partner and child(ren) with you to the UK as dependents, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand Citizens

If you’re an NZ citizen interested in a working holiday and your desired destination is the UK, you may be eligible for a Working Holiday visa. Also known as the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa, you must be between 18 and 35 when you apply.

This visa grants the right to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months; however, it is a temporary visa and, therefore, New Zealand citizens cannot apply to extend this or use it as a pathway to permanent residency.

To be eligible for a Working Holiday visa, you must have at least £2530 in pounds sterling in your bank account.

Student Visa

If you’re aged 16 or over and want to relocate to the UK from New Zealand to study, you may be able to apply for a student visa. If you are 16 or 17, you will need written consent from your parents. You must have been offered a place on a course by a licensed sponsor and prove you can fund the course and meet the visa’s financial requirements.

Your length of stay will vary depending on the length of your course; however, if you are planning to study at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If your course is below degree level, you can usually stay for up to 2 years. After this time, you may be able to apply to extend or switch your visa if you want to stay longer.

Residency and Citizenship in the UK

If acquired, ‘indefinite leave to remain‘ grants individuals the right to live, work and study in the UK without restrictions. Eligible holders of ILR (also known as settled status) are granted a national insurance number and can access public benefits should they meet the usual requirements. It also allows you to use the UK’s National Health Service. It is the path to gaining British citizenship.

Complete Relocation Service for your Move to the UK

As international immigration lawyers, we are experts in helping people migrate to other countries. Not only do we offer professional advice on immigration law and regulations, but we also provide full relocation services.

We can help you plan your move pre-departure, making sure you have left no stone unturned. We can guide you through all residency and visa applications and provide legal departure assistance. We can help you organise shipping for your belongings and pets, help you find a new home (including temporary accommodation) and offer advice regarding home sales and home management.

Further information on our relocation services can be found here.

Moving to UK from New Zealand Checklist

Documents

Collect all necessary important documents, for example:

• Passport
• Certificate of Sponsorship
• Criminal record certificate
• Bank statements
• Evidence of knowledge of the English language
• All documents required for your visa application (e.g business plans, proof of relationship)

Closing accounts and Subscriptions in New Zealand

To enable a smooth transition, it is wise to make sure you have closed all of your accounts and subscriptions in New Zealand before you travel. Our team of immigration experts can help you with this and can help you transfer money and convert it into the UK’s official currency.

Health and Travel Insurance Considerations

It is worth reading your visa conditions to check what help may be available to you should ill-health or an accident occur. Most newcomers are not allowed to immediately access the National Health Service, and therefore, it may be wise to organise health and travel insurance.

Notifying Relevant Authorities about Your Move.

You should inform the relevant authorities before you depart New Zealand and enter the UK.

Arrival procedures at UK Airports

There are airports in all major cities in the UK. When you arrive, you must be able to get through UK customs. It is worth checking what you can and can’t bring to the UK before you travel. We can help prepare you in case any problems arise.

Accommodation Options Upon Arrival

If you need temporary accommodation when you first arrive in the UK, we can help arrange a hotel. We can also advise you on how to find a more permanent home.

Register with Local Authorities in the UK

When you arrive in the UK and have settled into your accommodation, you will need to register with the relevant local authorities. We can help you do this if you are not sure where to register.

Understanding UK Transportation Systems

It is worth taking the time to understand the UK transportation systems. For driving license enquiries, we can help you contact the DVLA, or we can provide you with information regarding public transport.

How Can IAS Help?

Moving away from your home to a new country is always a daunting one. While the UK may be more popular than other countries for New Zealanders to move to, UK visa requirements and entry requirements can sometimes be complicated and difficult to navigate.

For any questions or queries about moving beyond New Zealand’s borders and starting a new life abroad in the UK, IAS can help.

We are dedicated immigration law professionals committed to helping individuals like yourself successfully apply for a UK visa and achieve your goal of emigrating. Whether you’re looking to emigrate with an Ancestry visa, to join family, or for work, we can help you apply for a visa that fits your needs and anything else you might need to make the relocation process a success.

We can assist you remotely throughout the process of applying for your visa from New Zealand, helping you with your application and supporting documents while also providing you with all the tools and knowledge you need to keep the international move from New Zealand to the UK stress-free.

We can also help you apply for a short-term visitor visa if you’d like to visit the UK first before committing to a move, and also help you track your visa status for whichever visa you’ve applied for.

For further information about how IAS can help you come to the UK, and more information about the range of services we offer, contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244, or contact us online.