PASSPORTS & VISAS
Yes, you will need a
passport. Your passport must be valid for the entire time you are travelling.
Hopefully, that’s obvious information to you. However, it might not be as
simple as it sounds. For example, you might get issued a four year work permit,
but your passport might only be valid for three and a half years. Sort that out
BEFORE you leave, because trying to do so in the UK could turn into a major
headache. Further, remember that every visa stamped into your passport requires
a separate page. If you are planning to travel to a lot of countries, make sure
you have adequate pages in your pasport for all the visas. If you run out of
space, you may end up being turned back at Immigration. Much more complex is the
Visa situation.
NZ
Passport
Compared to other
countries, applying for a New Zealand passport is a very easy process.
You can get a
passport application form free of charge by calling the Passport Office on 0800
22 50 50 or through a travel agent, but they may charge a small fee for handing
out forms.
A new passport
costs $80 and an adult passport is valid for 10 years.
To
complete the application form you need to provide:
Payments can be
made by credit card or cheque.
Internal Affairs
will process your passport application in 10 working days providing it is
correctly completed.
For
more information
New Zealand
Passport Information
Phone: 0800 22 50 50
Website: www.passports.govt.nz.
For Births,
Deaths and Marriages
Phone: 0800 22 52 52.
Visa Options
The relationship
that the UK has with other Commonwealth countries has resulted in young citizens
of those countries enjoying a unique situation - the ability to enjoy a working
holiday in the UK. Over the years, thousands of young Kiwis have taken advantage of this special relationship to broaden their
development, but it's important that you recognise that it's a privilege and
that you don't abuse the special circumstances that you've been granted.
All Commonwealth citizens
can visit the UK for up to six months, without a Visa. However, it is highly
illegal to work under this arrangement. If you are planning to stay longer, or
you are intending to work while you’re in the UK, you will need one of the
Visas listed below:
Visitors Visa.
The Visitors Visa may be issued at the Port of Entry to the UK by the
Immigration Officer, and is allocated for a period not exceeding six months. You
will need to show that you intend to leave the UK by the end of your visit, you
do not intend to take up employment, and have sufficient funds in order to
support yourself whilst in the UK (i.e. minimum £1000. Please note that credit
cards and monies lodged outside of the UK are not normally considered as proof
of funds. We suggest that travellers cheques would be suitable.)
Two Year UK Working Holiday Visa.
The
Visa is available for Commonwealth Citizens aged between 17 and 30 inclusive. In
other words you can apply from your 17th birthday, up to your 31st birthday. You
are only allowed one 2yrWHVisa in your lifetime and you must gain Entry
Clearance before you travel to the UK as a Working Holiday Maker. You cannot
apply for the WHVisa from inside the UK. It’s now possible to work full time
on a working holiday visa! The form that you need to make your application on is
called a “VAF1”.
Four Year UK Ancestry Employment Visa.
The
basis is that you have a grandparent who was born in the United Kingdom. You
must be a Commonwealth Citizen in order to be considered for this Visa. If you,
or a parent were adopted, then you may still be eligible to apply, given that
there is reasonable proof to show from your grandparent to you. An application
may be considered through any one of the four grandparents, alive or deceased,
who were born in the UK. This visa can be applied for if you are already in the
UK!
Marriage Visa.
You
can apply for this visa if you marry a British citizen, or person who has
settlement status in the UK. If the applicant is outside of the UK then he/she
must apply for Entry Clearance in order to be able to travel to the UK
specifically as a Spouse. The Visa allows the holder to work without restriction
and to exit & re-enter the UK multiple times. The two year marriage visa, is
a probationary period. One month before the end of the two years, the Home
Office will require to see proof that the couple have been genuinely living
together throughout the two years. They will then consider issuing a status
called, Indefinite Leave to Remain (I.L.R.) also known as Full Residency
Permanent Residency. It is no longer possible for people who are in the UK
on 6 month visitors visa to then apply in the UK for a marriage visa.
Work Permits
Work
permits are granted if an employer can demonstrate that they have tried to
recruit someone in the UK/European Community to fill a vacant position. If
granted, a work permit is valid for up to 5 years and the individual can only
work for that employer. If you wish to change employers your new employer will
have to apply for a new Work Permit. You can apply for permanent residency
(Indefinite Leave to Remain) once you've completed four years of continuous work
permit employment in the UK.
Highly
Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP)
The
Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is designed to allow highly skilled people to
migrate to the United Kingdom, to look for work or self-employment
opportunities. The programme now has a new assessment for applicants aged under
28 as well as an assessment for those 28 and over.
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is different from the work permit scheme
because you do not need a specific job offer in the UK to apply. It is different
from business routes such as the Innovators scheme or other business categories
because you do not need a detailed business plan; you do need to create jobs;
and you do not need to invest in the UK.
There
is a points-based method. Points are scored in five main areas:
MORE INFO & LINKS
For more
information about visa regulations, once you arrive in the UK, contact the Home
Office - the office is open for UK immigration and visa extensions from 8.30am
to 4pm.
Overseas visitors
(including holders of working holiday visas), overseas students and work permit
holders with inquires should contact:
Immigration and Nationality Bureau: 087 0606 7766
or check the website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
For up to date
information regarding visa requirements for whichever country you may be
travelling to, contact your High Commission in London - New Zealand High
Commission 0991 100 100 or alternately
the British High Commission at home: British High
Commission in New Zealand.
Check out Value
Visas (e-mail info@valuevisas.com),
visa-office.com,
entryclearance.com, Ambler
Collins, Globalvisas
& Hensley &
Platt (NZ Migration Experts) for all your visa needs and requirements.
