[Canadian]

Hello: This is my first post. I am so pleased that there are others with experience and knowledge they are willing to share on immigrating to NZ.

I am in a position to retire in a few years at age 55. I would prefer to do so in NZ but there isn't an immigration category for retirees.

As I am sure everyone on this board knows, the primary route to entry into NZ is through employment. My wife is a high school teacher and a few months younger than me. The cut-off age for gaining employment in NZ is currently 55. I would appreciate opinions and advice on the chances of us getting into NZ with my wife being 54? I realize there are many factors that affect the point scoring system, but we score well in everything but having relatives in NZ. I suppose what I am asking, is our age a major deterrent?

If/when we do get in, how long must my wife work before she can retire and we can be allowed to stay in NZ?

[Mickstim]

Hi Canadian. Sorry I don't have the answers for you but wanted to welcome you to the forum and wish you good luck with your search.

[Belmont Babes]

Hi there. You need to do a points indicator test

I think you lose points for each 5 years of age

Good luck
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/LinkAdministration/ToolboxLinks/pointsindicator.htm?level=1

[Silverwing86]

Hi Canadian and welcome to the forum !

From what I've read on the INZ site, 55 years is indeed the cut off age for the SMC (Skilled Migrant Category).

Assuming though, that you were able to achieve PR before your wife reaches the cutoff age and without depending on a job offer for points, I think you would then be free to do as you please. Once you have the PR (Permanent Residency) in your pocket, I don't believe there is a rule in place that actually requires you to get a job (I know we haven't had any contact with INZ at all after gaining PR without job offer, and we have been here for eight months now).

The question is though, how INZ deals with someone being so close to the cutoff age, I have no idea about this, hopefully someone else will be able to tell you more.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but wish you the best of luck with your research.

Silver

[Canadian]

Thanks for the replies. I just did a quick calculation and scored 130. Assuming my wife gains employment, and we make the move, how long does someone have to work before they can quit, be allowed to stay, and live as a retired person?

Related to the above, I am assuming that one we can stay we can take advantage of the NZ medical system????

[holland]

Canadian, I dont know the answers to your questions, but I wanted to say hello and welcome.

J and G xx

[Canadian]

what is the length of time after someone enters NZ with employment that they obtain PR?

Thanks

[BkyMonster]

If you submit an EOI you are, in effect, applying for PR.
The whole EOI process takes a varying amount of time based on circumstances.
I hear it goes faster if you have a job offer.
To further answer your question, if you are granted PR based on a job offer (you claim EOI points for a job offer) you will need to work for that employer for 3 months.
However, the EOI may not result in PR and your case worker might recommend a work permit. With the Work to Residence I believe you need to have the job for 2 years for PR.

If you have 130 points and your qualifications or work experience are in an area of absolute skill shortage (the short list) you may very well be picked sooner rather than later--without a job.
I hear right now that the ITA (If the EOI is picked from the pool they may send you an Invitation To Apply--for permanent residence) takes 2-4 months to arrive without a job offer and the medicals, police checks and other information you need to gather for that can take some time as well.

Hope that helps

[Oregonkiwi]

Assuming my wife gains employment, and we make the move, how long does someone have to work before they can quit, be allowed to stay, and live as a retired person?


http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/accepted/default.htm
If you claimed points for an offer of skilled employment, you must take that job up within three months of being granted your permit. You must also stay in that job for at least three months and provide us with evidence that you have met these requirements within seven months of being granted your first residence permit.
If you got points for already having a skilled job that you have held for less than three months, you must stay in the job until three months is up.


And as Silverwing already said,
Assuming though, that you were able to achieve PR before your wife reaches the cutoff age and without depending on a job offer for points, I think you would then be free to do as you please. Once you have the PR (Permanent Residency) in your pocket, I don't believe there is a rule in place that actually requires you to get a job (I know we haven't had any contact with INZ at all after gaining PR without job offer, and we have been here for eight months now).

(Becky - sorry, that kind of repeats your post - you beat me to it :) )

[IanW99]

...
However, the EOI may not result in PR and your case worker might recommend a work permit. With the Work to Residence I believe you need to have the job for 2 years for PR.

If you do get a WTR and you stay in your job for 2 years then yes you can get it changed to a PR. But, if you have a job in NZ then there is no problem in applying for a PR straight away i.e. you do not need to wait 2 years. It will however cost you more to do it this way. If you have been in the job for 3 months before the PR application then there won't be the 3 month clause either.

Also, for medical cover, if you have a PR or a work visa of two years or more then you are covered the same as if you were a kiwi.

Ian

[Canadian]

That is very helpful. I am hoping that if my wife were to obtain employment that she could stay in the job a minimal amount of time as we will have the resources to live without working for a living. I would have thought that NZ immigration would have required a longer work period than 3 months in order to approve entry (and PR). If they don't, then that meets our needs. I personally think that we will be a net benefit to NZ with us bringing in appreciable foreign dollars. I assume that an increased number of consumers, with money to spend, will make NZ a stronger country. It's population is quite small at the moment.

[Silverwing86]

Hi Canadian,

I still get the feeling it's not quite clear how the process works.

Thanks for the replies. I just did a quick calculation and scored 130. Assuming my wife gains employment, and we make the move, how long does someone have to work before they can quit, be allowed to stay, and live as a retired person?

If you calculated the 130 points on the basis of not having a job offer, you can apply for PR outright. Again, a job offer is not a requirement when submitting an EOI/applying for Permanent Residency, you just get additional points for it if you do have one, and the more points you have, the quicker your application will be handled.

If you were granted PR without a job offer, there is no requirement to work at all. You get the PR stickered in your passport and that's it. Noone will ever check whether you have actually taken up work in the Skills area you claimed points for when submitting your EOI/applying for Permanent Residency.

If the 130 points was calculated on the basis of having a job offer, what Oregonkiwi quoted applies, ie; the applicant has to take up that job within three months of being granted PR and stay in the job for three months. After having done so, the condition attached to the PR (section 18A) will be removed and full PR granted, meaning you can stay in NZ as long as you want, whether you choose to work or not.

To summarise: if you gain PR without a job offer, entry is already approved without any conditions. If you gain PR with a job offer, there will be a section 18A stamped on your PR permit in your passport which will require the applicant to remain in the job for which points were claimed in the EOI/application for PR, for 3 months.

I hope this clarifies things a bit for you. Have you checked out the INZ site at all yet ? I know it's a bit of a hard slog, but most of the basic information is findable and well worth looking into. The link Oregonkiwi posted is most relevant to your current questions and here is the link to the general page for the Skilled Migrant Category: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/overview/default.htm.

Good luck !

Silver

[Canadian]

I really appreciate the detailed feedback!!

[Silverwing86]

You're very welcome, hope it was of some use to you...

Silver