Persons who plan to immigrate to New Zealand from Mexico are required to comply with various immigration procedures, in accordance with the purpose of the arrival and the duration.
These 2 factors are the most important when determining the visa formalities for immigration to New Zealand, while a 3rd factor that can influence the first 2 are the nationality of the applicant.
Our immigration lawyer in New Zealand can assist foreigners from Mexico with in-depth legal assistance on the visa formalities that they have to complete. They can also obtain legal advice on residency in New Zealand.
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What are the main visa routes for young Mexicans arriving in New Zealand?
Young persons are considered, as per the immigration laws across the world, persons who have an age of maximum 30 years old (or maximum 35, depending on the country).
Young persons usually immigrate for short-term stays related to travel, short-term employment, participating in various trainings or enrolling in university classes.
Therefore, the immigration authorities of each country have created visas suitable for the activities of a young person. The same applies to New Zealand, which offers study visas for foreigners, as well as an immigration program that combines work and study.
For the latter, Mexicans who immigrate to New Zealand from Mexico can apply for the Work Holiday program, which is available only for certain nationalities and which can have various eligibility criteria from one country to another.
The Work Holiday program for Mexican nationals has the following characteristics:
- it is available only for Mexicans with an age of 18-30 years old;
- it grants residency in New Zealand on a temporary basis (only 12 months);
- for Mexicans, the yearly quota is limited to only 200 visas (for other nationalities, different policies apply);
- there is a visa fee, which is of NZD $455;
- the applicant is required to make the proof of having at least NZD$4,200 upon the arrival in the country.
Similar conditions can apply for foreigners arriving from other states, such as in the case of those moving from USA to New Zealand, but different quotas will be available.
It is also mandatory to have a valid medical insurance that is recognized in New Zealand, which must be valid for the entire duration of the person’s residency in New Zealand.
Unlike other types of work visas, the law on immigration in New Zealand states that the visa applicant is not required to have a job offer at the moment when the visa application is made.
The rules are more relaxed given the fact that this is an immigration document that grants temporary residency and which is addressed to young persons who simply want to experience living in this country and then return back home.
Do Mexicans need visas for visiting New Zealand?
Yes, it is necessary to apply for a visa even in the case when the foreigner simply arrives here as a tourist. According to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs &Trade, any foreigner must apply for one of the 2 categories of visitor visas, unless exempt.
The exemption currently applies to foreigners from Australia. Therefore, if you immigrate from USA to New Zealand or you arrive from Mexico or other countries located in South or North America, a visa will be required.
The 2 main options in this sense are:
- the New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA);
- the visitor visa.
There are different procedures to follow for the 2 types of documents, which can be detailed by our immigration lawyer in New Zealand. While the 1st is a simple electronic document, the 2nd actually refers to a visa, that must be issued as per the general rules imposed for visa applicants.
You can contact our immigration lawyer in New Zealand for further assistance on how to apply for any of the above. Our team can also represent you in the process of obtaining permanent residency.
Many foreigners arrive here for permanent residency, which can be obtained after 2 years of living here (unless otherwise stated by your particular visa/situation). The Permanent Resident Visa grants foreigners with the right of working, living, studying here and freely travel to and from New Zealand.
