[actiongirl76]

We've been in Welly for a few weeks and my OH has received a very good permanent job offer - so naturally we are delighted:cheers

We are here on Working Holiday Visas, but this won't let him (or me) take a permanent job..... so what visa do we need?

The company want him to start ASAP.
If we apply for PR (we have not submitted an ITA) will they process our application in a couple of weeks?

OR should he apply for a work permit in the short term, and then submit an ITA? And how quickly will they process the work permit?

Any help or advice really appreciated. I called immigration, but didn't find them too helpfull...!

[Potato]

We've been in Welly for a few weeks and my OH has received a very good permanent job offer - so naturally we are delighted:cheers

We are here on Working Holiday Visas, but this won't let him (or me) take a permanent job..... so what visa do we need?

The company want him to start ASAP.
If we apply for PR (we have not submitted an ITA) will they process our application in a couple of weeks?

OR should he apply for a work permit in the short term, and then submit an ITA? And how quickly will they process the work permit?

Any help or advice really appreciated. I called immigration, but didn't find them too helpfull...!

Whatever you decide to do, get started now on police certificates and anything extra like birth certificates and qualifications.

If you apply for PR it won't be that quick. You have to do the EOI first, they are selected every fortnight. Then you get your ITA once you're selected. The time between EOI selection and receiving your ITA varies. For some people it's quite quick, for me it was about a month.
Once you have the ITA, you then have to give evidence of everything you claimed in your EOI, in other words proof of qualifications, old jobs and so on. Also, the police certificates and the medicals (and chest x-ray and blood test).
Then you send it off, and if all is in order you will get PR within a few weeks hopefully.
There are many possible complications along the route though I'm afraid!

Work permits- there's various kinds. Some quicker than others. Remember that you will need some sort of medical. Depends on how long is the contract? If it's less than 1 year you may not need police certificates (check this) and you will only need a chest x-ray.
In this case, the permit would likely be pretty quick. But, you have to put up with the Wellington branch and their compulsory waiting period of several weeks before your applications is looked at.

[IanW99]

...
The company want him to start ASAP.
If we apply for PR (we have not submitted an ITA) will they process our application in a couple of weeks?

OR should he apply for a work permit in the short term, and then submit an ITA? And how quickly will they process the work permit?
...


I would go with a one year work permit so you don't need medicals, police certificates etc and it will be granted quickly, then get together your EOI application as soon as possible afterwards. Applying for a PR from within NZ and in particular Wellington can take up to 12 months so definitely not the fastest option.

You won't get medical coverage with a one year visa so if that's a concern then this may not be the best option.

Ian