Frequently Asked Questions: INVITATION TO APPLY (ITA)

Q: Where can I find immigration instructions?

A: Immigration instructions set out the rules and criteria that people who want to come to New
Zealand must meet to be granted a visa or entry permission. When completing your EOI you may
have noticed links to relevant immigration instructions within the EOI form. Our Operational Manual
sets out our immigration instructions in full, and can be accessed via the INZ website:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/.

Q: Will I need to provide full medical and x-ray certificates to INZ? What if I’ve already provided
these in a previous application?
A: If your previous medical and x-ray certificates are less than 36 months old, you may not need to
submit new ones. Please refer to the following page on our website, for guidance on when you need
to provide medical and x-ray certificates: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-
visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/medical-info .

If you’ve provided medical and x-ray certificates less than 36 months ago and are therefore not
providing new ones, please confirm this in a cover letter with your application.

Q: What police certificates do I need to provide? What if I’ve already provided these in a previous
application?
Note: You should apply for your police certificate(s) as soon as you receive your ITA.

A: If your previous police certificate is less than 6 months old on the date you submit your new
application, you do not need to provide a new one.

You must provide certificates from:

 any country for which you hold citizenship, even if you have never lived there; and
 any country in which you have lived for 12 months or more (whether on one visit or
intermittently) in the last 10 years.

Please see our website to find out how to obtain a police certificate from a specific country:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-
information/tools/police-certificates

Q: What should I do if I can’t get my police certificate(s) before my ITA expires?

If you have applied for all required police certificates, but are unsure whether you’ll receive them
from the relevant authorities before your ITA expires (i.e. within four months), please submit your
application before your ITA expires.

Please confirm in your application covering letter that you have not yet received the certificates but
have applied for them, and provide evidence to show this, such as: copies of receipts, fingerprint
cards, courier consignment slips and any correspondence you have had with the relevant authorities.
You will also need to follow up with the authorities regularly and keep INZ updated.

Q: I have already provided a lot of documentation with previous applications. Do I have to provide
this information again?
A: We require the following documents, even if they were submitted in a previous application:
 Application form, with Declaration and Payment Details sections completed and passport size
photos of all applicants attached
 Police certificate(s)
 Birth certificate(s)
 Passport(s)
 Medical certificate(s) - if you have provided paper certificates with a previous application please
confirm the application number(s) in your application cover letter (if known), or if you used the
eMedical system confirm your NZER number (emedical reference number) (if known).

For all other documents, if you’ve already provided the original documents, please provide a cover
letter with your application, confirming which documents you previously provided, and which
application they were provided with (please confirm the application number(s) if known).

If you previously provided photocopies or certified copies of any documents, you will need to re-
submit either the originals or certified copies of the documents with your new residence application.

Q: Where can I get copies certified?

Note: except for police certificates which must be originals (and will not be returned), we prefer to
receive certified copies of all other documentation, especially passports.

A: A certified copy is a photocopy that has been stamped or endorsed by a person who is authorised
to take statutory declarations in the applicant’s country or in New Zealand. They will confirm that
the copy is a true copy of the original document, upon sighting original documents. In New Zealand,
Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and lawyers can certify copies of documents. You can find
Justices of Peace, Notaries Public and lawyers in your area in the Yellow Pages.

Q: I am thinking of accepting another job offer. Will this impact my application?

Note:
 You must ensure you have the appropriate visa before you start working for your new
employer.
 We are unable to provide detailed advice as to the effect this may have on your application
until we receive your application, and it has been assessed by an Immigration Officer.

A: We recommend that you check whether the new job will affect the total number of points you
can claim, and whether your EOI would still be selected from the Pool with your new points total
(currently, EOIs with a points total of 160 or more will be selected from the Pool).

You can check the points you can claim here:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-
information/tools/points-indicator-smc-28aug

You can check the fortnightly EOI selection criteria here:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/formshelp/eoi-pool-updates/history-of-selection-points

If you accept the new job offer after submitting your application, you must provide your new
employment agreement and job description. If you accept the job offer prior to submitting your
application, as well as providing your new employment documents, please also make note of the
change in the ‘Amendments or New Information’ page of your residence application.
Q: How do I add a family member to my application?
A: An application for a residence class visa must include the partner and all dependent children of
the principal applicant, where they hold or have applied for a temporary entry class visa based on
their relationship to the principal applicant.

If you wish to add your partner and/or a dependent child to your residence application, you must
provide the following documents for each applicant:

 completed Partner and/or Child sections of the application form;

 the Declaration section of the application form signed by your partner and any dependent
children over 17 years of age; and
 a certified copy of their original passport; and
 two original passport sized photos; and
 original birth certificate or a certified copy; and
 valid medical and x-ray certificates; and
 valid police certificate(s) (where applicable).

In addition to the above requirements, to include your partner in your residence application, you will
also need to provide:

 your original marriage certificate or a certified copy (if you are married); and
 original or certified copies of any documents you have to demonstrate:
o your partnership is genuine and stable; and
o you have lived together for at least twelve months.

It is important to note your partner and dependent children are unable to be removed from your
residence application once they are included.

Q: Do I need to submit my original passport with my application?

A: No. To meet lodgement requirements, you need to submit a certified copy of the biographical
page of each applicant’s passport. Original passports may be requested later, subject to an
Immigration Officer’s assessment.

Q: What can I submit as evidence of English language ability?

A: Full details of acceptable evidence for the principal applicant, as well as for your partner and any
dependent children aged 16 and over, are set out under the ‘Skilled Migrant Category English
requirements’ on our website:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-
information/english-language/skilled-migrant-category-english-requirements

Q: What if I am claiming points for my partners’ skilled employment or recognised qualifications?

A: Points for your partners’ skilled employment or recognised qualifications can only be awarded if
they meet the same English language requirements as the principal applicant.

This means that if they claim to meet the English language requirements through English language
test results, they must have achieved results that are acceptable for principal applicants - see
‘Acceptable English language test results’ under the ‘Skilled Migrant Category English requirements’
on our website (link above).

Q: What if non-principal applicants do not meet the English language requirements?

A: If they do not meet any of the requirements, you also have the option to pre-purchase ESOL
tuition for your partner and dependent children aged 16 and over – see ‘Requirements your family
must meet’ under the ‘Skilled Migrant Category English requirements’ on our website (link above).

When submitting your application, if you intend to pre-purchase ESOL please let us know. You can
do this by stating this in your application form (on the ‘Amendments or New Information’ page)
and/or providing a cover letter. The ESOL tuition fee will only become payable if your residence
application is approved in principle, and you will receive a further letter confirming this.

Q: Is the Employer Supplementary Form (INZ1235) a mandatory requirement for lodging my

residence application under the Skilled Migrant Category?
A: No. However, INZ highly recommends you provide a completed INZ1235 form with your
application. This will assist us when assessing your employment, and determining whether further
information is required from your employer.

Q: What documents should I provide for my skilled employment in New Zealand?

A: Please refer to the “Employment Agreement” section of the “Personalised Document Checklist” in
your ITA letter. An employment agreement in New Zealand should contain all mandatory clauses as
specified in Employment New Zealand’s “Things an agreement must contain”
(https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/employment-agreements/things-an-
agreement-must-contain/).
We also recommend you provide the following additional documents:

IRD Summary of Earnings

Please provide monthly IRD income detail statements, covering the period from: the month you
commenced your current employment in New Zealand, until the most recent statement you have.
These can be obtained by logging into your profile on the IRD website ( www.ird.govt.nz). Please
ensure you click the '+' sign next to each employer's name to reveal the monthly payment amounts.
If there is no information recorded for a particular year - please provide a copy of the pages from the
IRD website confirming this.

Payslips & bank statements

Please provide your payslips for the period from: the date you commenced your current
employment in New Zealand, until present - OR your payslips for the past three months. Please also
provide full detailed bank statements which show the corresponding net salary payments for that
period.

Q: What documents should I provide when claiming points for other factors, e.g. qualifications,
and skilled work experience?
A: We recommend you submit all evidence outlined in the “Personalised Document Checklist” in
your ITA letter. Evidence that supports a claim of points for qualifications and/or skilled work
experience, may include, but is not limited to, original or certified copies of the following:
 an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) from NZQA for your overseas
qualification(s), if you are relying on this to have your qualification(s) recognised (this should
include the cover letter from NZQA that you received with your IQA);
 award certificate for each qualification and its English translation;
 academic transcript for each qualification and its English translation;
 employment agreement for each claimed period of work experience;
  job description for each claimed period of work experience;
 certificate or letter from your employer confirming your employment, for each claimed
period of work experience;
 taxation statements to support each claimed period of work experience; and
 payslips covering the period you have claimed for work experience.
Q. How much will I pay for my skilled migrant application?
A. The application fee, including immigration levy rates, should be stated in your ITA letter. You can
also refer to the Fees Guide (INZ1028) which is available on INZ’s website. Please note there are
different fees for onshore and offshore residence applications.

Q: I don’t have a credit card. What other methods of payment are available to pay the application
fee?
A: You can also pay by bank draft. You need to make your bank draft out to Immigration New
Zealand.

Q: How long will it take until a decision is made on my application?

A: While we endeavour to process your application in a timely manner, it may take between three
and nine months to process your application. This timeframe starts when your application is
assigned to an Immigration Officer for assessment.

Q: My letter says I have four months to submit my application with all required documents. Can I
get an extension?
A: No. Immigration instructions stipulate that a person may only apply for a resident visa under the
Skilled Migrant Category if the application is made within four months of the date of the invitation
letter. We are unable to make exceptions to this instruction.

For any other queries regarding your residence application please call our Contact Centre – full
details can be found on our website:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact