New Zealand is a wonderful place to live in and it is considered to be a first-world country, just like Canada.
Even so, every year thousands of Kiwis migrate to Canada from New Zealand in search of something more.
Fun fact, did you know New Zealanders are called ‘Kiwis’? It’s the nickname given to Australian soldiers during World War I, and one that New Zealanders take great pride in.
How to Immigrate to Canada from New Zeeland
There are many ways to obtain Canadian PR for New Zealander citizens. It could be governed by your skill level and reason for moving.
Let’s have a look at some of the main programs for the most common goals.
Immigrate to Canada as a Worker / Express Entry
Do you have any skills and professional background?
If that is the case, you might want to have a closer look at the programs that are processed under the Express Entry system:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – if you have at least a year of full-time Canadian work experience in the last 3 years;
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) – if you are skilled in a trade listed in the NOC & have at least 2 years of recent full-time Canadian experience in the last 5 years;
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – if you want to settle in a certain province or city;
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) – if none of the above fit to your case.
Check Now If You are Eligible For One of Canada’s Working Programs or Just Book a Free Consultation Call with An Immigration Expert
As for the Express Entry system, we tell more about how it works here.
Immigrate to Canada with Your Family
Looking to immigrate to Canada with your family?
If the answer is yes, you should know that if one of the parents or one partner has received a visa, the rest of the family can come along. That’s why as partners you may want to submit 2 applications as you never know who has better chances of receiving the visa.
Also, a student visa is easier to obtain than a working visa, and if one of the family members managed to achieve one, it can help bring the whole family to Canada.
This is the kind of creative solution a Canadian immigration consultant can help you with. That’s also why the best advice we can give you is to consult with an Immigration expert!
Do you want to “try on” Canadian life before immigration?
Temporary Immigration for Young Adults (18-35yo): IEC / Student Visa
Do you want to “try on” Canadian life before immigration?
Then you might want to explore International Experience Canada (IEC Canada).
This program is ideal for New Zealander citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 who are looking to test the waters in Canada.
If approved for the program, applicants are permitted to live in Canada for up to two years to work, travel, and experience Canadian life.
This allows the individual to get a feel for what life in Canada would be like without making a full commitment from the start. If they can see themselves living here permanently, they can start the process of moving to Canada from New Zeeland.
Immigrate to Canada as a Student
Are you interested in studying in Canada?
Luckily, Canada is very welcoming for those who are looking for higher education.
In Canada, you can obtain a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) following most programs of study. Your PGWP can be valid for the same duration as your study permit, up to three years.
With its reputable educational system and high-ranking universities, Canada is one of the most attractive countries for students from around the world.
To get into a Canadian university, students need to get the student visa.
We described the process of becoming a Canadian student here.
Immigrate to Canada as an Entrepreneur or Investor
Do you want to get citizenship by investing in Canada’s economy?
If so, then you may learn more about the Investor Visa.
Do you have the skills, talent, and funds to build or establish a business in Canada?
Then Start-up visa could be an option for you. You may learn more about it here.
You may also have a look at our guide that covers business immigration.
Family Sponsorship In Canada
Immigration is faster and easier for those who have relatives in Canada. Possibly, you have someone you want to move your family after you immigrate.
If that is the case, Family Sponsorship options could be perfect for you.
This pathway works in one of two ways – inland or outland. The inland sponsorship is when the individual sponsored is already living in Canada, while the outland sponsorship is for someone currently living outside of Canada.
You may learn about Family Sponsorship here.
Why Canada?
It may seem odd that someone who already lives in a first-world nation, would jump through all kinds of hoops to move to another first-world nation. But Kiwis flock to Canada with good reason.
Some of the more popular reasons why people want to immigrate to Canada from New Zealand include:
- Better career opportunities and professional development;
Because New Zealand is a much smaller country, the opportunities for career growth and development can be limited. It is home to fewer large corporations and big companies whereas Canada has been steadily gaining a reputation as a global leader in numerous industries, including technology and science.
- Better educational opportunities;
The educational opportunities in Canada are incomparable. With dozens of world-class educational institutions and programs spread out across the ten provinces and territories, Canada has one of the best educational systems around the world. A degree from Canada is recognized worldwide and can open almost any door. And the best part? It’s cheaper than studying in New Zealand.
- A larger economy;
Canada boasts a much larger economy and salaries are much higher. The GDP per capita of New Zealand is expected to reach $38,000 by the end of 2021, while Canada’s GDP per capita is forecasted to reach $51,000. In short, Canadians make more money.
- Better quality of life for families;
One of the best things about Canada is its incredibly diverse and multicultural society. Different races, religions and cultures live side by side in perfect harmony.
Each province has something unique to offer to its residents and whether you’re looking to live a quiet life with your family in clean, safe, leafy suburbs or you want to experience a high flying, exciting, city life, Canada has it all.
With free health care, fantastic education, high income, and safe communities, it makes perfect sense why Kiwis would choose to migrate to Canada from New Zealand.
How to get a job in Canada from New Zealand
Now that you’ve made the decision to immigrate to Canada from New Zealand, the next challenge is figuring out how to get here efficiently and what you’ll do once you’re here.
When moving to Canada from New Zealand, the prospect of finding a job can be daunting. But it’s actually surprisingly easy to land a job in Canada, due to the educational and cultural similarities between the two countries.
This is especially true if you have solid education credentials or work experience in a skilled trade as there are plenty of job vacancies in in-demand industries such as nursing, technology, general labourer, driver etc.
Since everything can be done online these days, it makes the job hunt process much easier since you don’t have to physically be living in Canada in order to apply or even attend interviews.
The best place to start your job search is online. Some popular options include:
- The Government of Canada Job Bank which lists thousands of occupations at all skill and education levels. The site is free to use and opens the door to job vacancies across Canada.
- Employment websites like Workopolis or Indeed are also great options. If you have your sights set on a specific province or city, these sites will allow you to set filters to narrow your search.
- Recruitment agencies like Drake International and Excel Personnel Inc. are another great option since the agency will do the hard work for you. They will gather all your information and match you to your dream job as employers go to these agencies to fill their vacancies.
If you need additional help on getting started or have questions on how to make your application stand out, consider speaking to an RCIC.
- UIS Canada is a professional immigration consultancy that upholds a spotless and proven track record of providing the highest quality customer service. They make sure that clients have all the most up-to-date information, thus avoiding any unnecessary delays in their immigration process.
- UIS only works with RCICs and they specialize in permanent residency and temporary visas.
- Great North Visa is a top-tier, solution-driven consulting firm committed to facilitating their clients’ main objective of receiving the Canadian visa they require by providing a wide range of immigration services and settlement solutions designed to simplify your immigration process.
- Great North Visa puts an entire team of selected Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) at your disposal.
Recommended Canada Immigration Consultants for New Zeeland Residents
Don’t know where to begin?
Canada is without a doubt one of the best countries in the world to live in. It’s so great in fact that residents of other first world countries want to live here.
The immigration process for Kiwis does not have to be difficult and with the right program and pathway, it is absolutely possible to immigrate to Canada from New Zealand in a few short months. The trick is finding the right RCIC or agency for New Zeeland residents. Canada2036 has put together a top Recommended Canadian Immigration Consultants list based on extensive research, customer testimonials, and other vetting methods.
Canada is hungry for new immigrants. The country’s economic and social growth is heavily dependent on a steady flow of immigrants.
This means your chances of finding a job in Canada and being able to immigrate to the country are excellent!
Don’t waste another moment and start your journey to Canada now.