Permanent Residency Courses in New Zealand in 2024

Do you want to know about the best permanent residency courses in New Zealand? Do you wish to understand how you may transform your Student Visa into a Permanent Work Permit? New Zealand is one of the selected countries in the world where you can get a PR if you are contributing to empowering the skilled workforce of the country.

What are the best permanent residency courses in New Zealand? This is the most searched query among students whose study visa is about to expire soon and they want to stay in New Zealand. We often come across aspirants who wish to pursue certain short-term courses in New Zealand. These courses could grant them permanent residency in New Zealand.

However, no such courses in the entire education system of New Zealand have yet been created to serve the dedicated purpose. However, you can pursue courses that can improve your professional skills to contribute in the workforce. These courses can make your effort slightly easier to get a Permanent Residency in New Zealand.

Types of Visa in New Zealand

The main reason behind this is the requirement of two different kinds of VISAs serving two different purposes, viz. Study Visa and Work Visa.

Study VISA: When an aspirant applies for a study permit in their visa, the approved visa is valid for the duration of the course they have applied to study. It does not allow you the time to find a job in the same country. A different visa is needed to work in a foreign land.

Work VISA: This kind of visa is approved based on the visitor’s intent to visit abroad for work or occupational purposes. In this case, the kind of visa approved is a work visa, which is also valid up to a certain time, depending upon your requirements.

Permanent Residency Courses in New Zealand

Aspirants may encounter certain courses that promise them permanent residency in New Zealand or in the rest of the globe. It is important for them to note that no courses are designed to provide a residency option that would continue after the course ends. The tenure of your residency is as long as the course is. The best course to study in New Zealand for PR depends upon the applicant's areas of interest.

Nevertheless, there are always options to explore which courses are eligible for PR in New Zealand, by checking which courses promise you a job offer in the specialised sector of your choice. After the completion of that course, you may stay back in the country for some industrial exposure, which may later help you acquire a full-time regular job in New Zealand. In this case, you would need to apply for a Post-Study Work Visa, as a study visa cannot be extended more than the course duration.

How to apply for Courses offering Permanent Residency in New Zealand?

1. The first step would be choosing the domain you wish to study and checking out the industrial options for getting trained there.
2. The next step involves visa application to New Zealand, which includes Student Visa followed by Post-Study Work Visa.

Post-Study Work Visas

To attain a work visa post studies in New Zealand, first, you need to understand the different kinds of Post-Study Work Visas:

Post-Study Work Visa (Open):

This is the basic kind of visa you would need to stay in New Zealand until you find a job in your relevant sector after your studies are complete. The visa is valid for up to 1 year (12 months) after your study visa. Meanwhile, you may get employed part-time with any unrelated industry to support your living expenses. As soon as you receive the employment/offer letter from the industry you aspire to join, you may apply for an Employer Assisted Post-Study Work Visa.

Post-Study Work Visa (Employer Assisted):

This visa implies particular employment from a particular organization, which further allows you to gain work experience for the coming two years. For this, you need to have an Open Post-Study Work Visa. Please ensure that you apply for this visa within a span of three months from the end date of your study visa. In the case of a doctoral degree, the time duration is of six months for the same.

Skilled Migrant Visa in New Zealand for PR

Once you have received the employer-assisted post-study work visa, you may apply for Permanent Residency in New Zealand under the Skilled Migrant Category. There are ample opportunities for professionals from all around the world, whether undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, or doctorates that too irrespective of the place of education, whether from New Zealand or any part of the world. On the other hand, the chances of attaining a Skilled Migrant Permanent Residency in New Zealand improve if the nature of your profession, needs regular skill updating.

Please note, whether you apply for a student visa, employment visa, or even a post-study work visa, you are required to clear the health and character tests/checks. Also, note that the eligibility for a visa is counted using a Point System, which constitutes elements like the applicant’s age, professional experience, academic qualification, and last but not the least, the job offer from an industry of skilled employment.

PR Points Calculation in New Zealand for Skilled Migrants

There are five broad areas that are marked based on the skilled migrant's details applying for a PR in New Zealand. Applicants have to have a minimum score of 100 in order to be eligible for getting a PR in New Zealand. These areas of marking are as follows:

You might want to consult our professional counsellors. With their professional experience and guidance, you can explore a list of acclaimed New Zealand universities that offer certain courses which may help you get a PR in New Zealand.

Related readings on studying in New Zealand:

• Introduction to Education System in New Zealand
• Types of Education Institutions in New Zealand
• Understanding Levels of Tertiary Education in New Zealand