[2009PR]

We're at that strange age, early 50s, kids both left home, one lives in Oz the other more than likely will go to USA, Canada or NZ certainly not stay in UK, so we are thinking that we will up sticks, retire early! and move to NZ.

The plan is 2009/10 but I am an ultra organised person and want to plan, plan, plan.

We are coming out for a 5 week visit to the North Island in December this year and next year plan to do the same on the South Island.

Has anyone out there "retired" early out to New Zealand, we would love to do B&B if we could but need to know that we could support ourselves financially incase at our age we are not allowed to work in New Zealand.

Any help would be more than appreciated and now I have found this site I will trawl all the forums that apply.

Just want a push in the right direction, if you are only retiring, do you actually need to apply to emigrate, we are starting this adventure with very little knowledge but that is why I am starting know to amass as much knowledge as I can before we make the move.

Thanks for anyone who can help us.

[ourquest]

Hi 2009PR and welcome to the forum.

In your early fifties you will still be able to enter NZ as skilled migrants, this essentially requiring that you have the skills NZ needs and are expecting to take up employment. This is a points based application with some other significant character and health requirements.

There are some investor categories which require vast sums of money, details are available as with my other points here at www.immigration.govt.nz .

If you did the B&B thing you would need to apply for a long term business visa (LTBV) which requires business plans, funds of about $100K (to support yourselves until you get PR around 2 years after arriving) and various requirements after the same 2 years to prove you have made your business contribute towards NZ. Note you are not permitted to open the B&B under a LTBV and then rely on investment income instead...you must carry out your plan and fulfil requirements.

Apart from all these options the bad news is there is no category for people to purely retire to NZ, even if your funds allow it (unless you have more than the millions required to be considered a genuine active investor).

But there is always a way if it is meant to be, and I haven't exhausted all the options here...best to let other forum contributors add to this to help you begin your adventure.
All the best and feel free to ask any questions.

[Mickstim]

Hi 2009PR

We are also retiring to NZ - although not really very early, but have received PR on a parent sponsorship. I have 3 kids and 2 of them in NZ (the other in S Africa). Parent sponsorship is fairly simple if the majority or an equal number of your offspring are in NZ. So - if you could pursuade one of your kids to settle there it should be fairly straightforward that way (another option for you to think of!)

Best wishes

Barb

[Nick88]

I agree with Ourquest, you might have enough points using the Skilled Migrant route, but you lose points for having grey hair that have to be made up for elsewhere. Your best bet is probably the LTBV way. There is another thread in the Intro section where it is talked about a little bit.

I will keep an eye on your post count and PM you when I can. If I can give any more advice I would be happy to.

[ourquest]

Hi 2009PR,
As Mickstim has pointed out the family category is another option, but as none of your children are in NZ at present it isn't an option now. NZIS use what they term "centre of gravity", as Mickstim says at least as many of your children resident or citizens of NZ as any other single country. Health and character requirements also exist, and I think there is now a sponsorship requirement for the respective NZ child that requires them to have more than a minimum level of income, but I couldn't get onto their website this morning to confirm this. Either way, your options on the family category are dependent on a number of factors falling into place (which are outside your control) so it looks like one of the other categories might be better for you to sink energy into.

Mickstim...Do you regularly encourage your son/daughter in SA to move to NZ? It is disturbing but understandable how many people in SA are currently considering other countries to live in.

Good luck 2009PR, I hope the contributions so far have given you some direction, and happy planning!

[veronica]

go for the skilled migrant one if you can get enough points as its simpler than the LTBV. theres nothing to stop you changing what you do when you get here if you fancy doing the B & B route.
Pete and I came over in the same age bracket that you are in. feel free to PM if yu want to. cheers

[2009PR]

Thanks to all who have answered, never used a Forum before, can someone tell me how I can get an e-mail to say I have replies and I hovvered my mouse over quick reply and didn't seem to work, hope this goes to all who replied to me and I have some info to work on now. I don't think a Bookmaker, as they are known in England would score any points as the Racing is run by the Government in NZ I think, I am a very very retired secretary so we will just have to persuade the kids to move there.

[Hippywench]

If you look at the very top of your original post, you will see 'thread tools' with an arrow at the side. click on the arrow and you will see three options. The last one says 'subscribe to this thread'. Click on that and you will then see another page where you will be asked to choose your notification type. click on the arrow next to the box saying 'no email notification'. Click on the option you want then click on 'add subscription'. You will then be taken back to the thread.

Edited to add: you need to click on 'quick reply', not just hover the mouse over it.

[asterix]

Hi
A bit of a round about way to get to NZ but if you have a son/daughter in Australia it may be better to emigrate there and then move to NZ. At the moment it is still possible for N.Z and Aussies to work and live in both countries without restrictions. Not sure how it would work in your own case. Age unfortunately is a factor too. Something else to think about!
Best of luck

[kanatakiwi]

Hi
A bit of a round about way to get to NZ but if you have a son/daughter in Australia it may be better to emigrate there and then move to NZ. At the moment it is still possible for N.Z and Aussies to work and live in both countries without restrictions. Not sure how it would work in your own case. Age unfortunately is a factor too. Something else to think about!
Best of luck

not too much of an expert on this, but I am an oldie myself, came here with my kiwi husband so that made it easy for me. Just wanted to add re the post quoted above, that most people tell me its easier to immigrate to NZ than Aus, and in fact we meet many people who immigrate here first to get citizenship and as soon as they get they are free to go to Aus where they wanted to be in the first place. (Because of the agreements between the two countries)

[migratory birds]

Trouble with Aust is that you need to apply before your 45th birthday (may be differennt if going in on a family visa).

Look at age requirements for NZ - you either need to apply or be approved before your 55th.

Good luck!

[victoria]

NZ before your 56th birthday.
A friend's mother (in her 80's)went to Oz earlier this year as a full time student! She's having a grand time living with her son & wife.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Thanks to all who have answered, never used a Forum before, can someone tell me how I can get an e-mail to say I have replies and I hovvered my mouse over quick reply and didn't seem to work, hope this goes to all who replied to me and I have some info to work on now. I don't think a Bookmaker, as they are known in England would score any points as the Racing is run by the Government in NZ I think, I am a very very retired secretary so we will just have to persuade the kids to move there.

You need to make 5 posts before you get the e-mail facility.