Filipinos who want to work and live in New Zealand should be aware that there are several pathways they can take to achieve their aim. The best options available for you would depend on your qualifications, status, work experience, skills and capital.

The said factors would determine which of the available pathways to enter New Zealandyou can take. You can enter via the Skilled Migrant Category which is points based, as a Work Visa Permit which is not points based, via Active Investment, as an Entreprenuer, or thru a family member. For Filipinos the first two pathways is the most common way of entering New Zealand.

How to Apply Via the Skilled Migrant Category

The Skilled Migrant category scheme of New Zealand is perfect for aspiring immigrants that have a university degree and years of work experience. To help the Immigration Department in determining if a particular individual is entitled to receive an invitation to apply for residency, they used a point system.

All applicants are required to prove that they are physically fit, have good character, are competent in the English language, and are not more than 55 years old. They are also required to achieve at least 100 points. The points system are given based on the following criteria:

Skilled employment:

If you are presently employed in New Zealand and have been working for at least a year (12 months) you get 60 points.

A person who is employed for less than 12 months but has been working for at least 3 months gets 50 points. The same goes for an individual who has a job offer in New Zealand.

If your present occupation/employment offer in New Zealand falls under the following category- future growth area, identified cluster, or area of absolute skills shortage, you get an additional 5 points.

If the location of employment/ job offer is in a region outside Auckland, an additional 10 points is added.

If your spouse is also currently employed/has job offer in New Zealand, another 10 points is added.

Years ofWork Experience: The number of years that you have been working is also given importance. The job experience must be in a comparable labor market.

Two years work experience= 10 points,

Four years work experience= 15 points,

Six  years work experience= 20 points,

Eight years work experience = 25 points,

10 years work experience = 30 points

One also get an extra points if the work experience is inNew Zealand and another bonus points if the work experience belongs to what is considered a future growth area, identified cluster or area of absolute skills shortage or to the long term skill shortage list.

A point are also added depending on one’s age and if one has an immediate family residing in New Zealand.

How To Apply!

To know if you are eligible to apply as a permanent resident in New Zealand, check out Visit the Immigration Service's Points Calculator for an initial assessment online: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/pointsindicator/

Then you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for residence here: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/apply/eoi/default.htm. Your EOI will be ranked according to your points and if your score is 140 and above- you are automatically selected.

If your first-time application for EOI for residence is unsuccessful, it will remain in the pool for 120 days. If eithin that period, ypu ar still not selcedt, you can opt to apply for anptehr EOI.

If your EOI is selected, you will be invited to apply for residence so you need to submit necessary documents such as passports, qualifications and relevant certificates to the Immigration Service.

The documents you submitted will be verified and the Immigration Service will asses your application. You can be given a permanent residence visa or a visa allowing you to live in NZ while looking for work.