Working as an electrician in New Zealand
Do you dream of working as an electrician in New Zealand? Are you qualified and experienced? Are you fluent in English?
Then your dream could become reality.
There is currently a shortage of electricians in New Zealand and New Zealand Immigration is recruiting candidates who tick all the immigration boxes from abroad.
Keep on reading to find out more about:
- How ANZSCO defines an electrician for New Zealand
- Electricians’ place on the Long Term Skill Shortage List and what it means.
- The visas available to electricians.
- How to assess your immigration eligibility.
- What you can expect from working as an electrician in New Zealand.
The ANZSCO definition of an electrician
Let’s start by saying that ANZSCO stands for the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. This list has Electrician (General) as ANZSCO level 3 and defines it as someone who:
Installs, tests, connects, commissions, maintains and modifies electrical equipment, wiring and control systems. Registration or licensing is required.
Electricians on the Long Term Skill Shortage List
Electricians (General) appear on New Zealand’s Long Term Skills Shortage List (LTSSL). This means, as already mentioned, it’s an occupation where there is a sustained and on-going shortage of highly skilled workers throughout New Zealand.
This means should you get a job as an electrician, and you meet all the immigration requirements, you are eligible to live and work in New Zealand.
Visas available to electricians
Let’s assume you do have a job offer and you meet the work, qualification, age, health and character requirements. This qualifies you for a Work to Residence visa. This is a temporary visa, valid for 30 months.
That’s the first step in the process.
Should you live and work in New Zealand on your Work to Residence visa for at least 24 months, and continue to meet the requirements (including having a job with a base salary of at least NZ$45 000), you’ll be able to apply for residence status.
Qualifying under the Skilled Migrant category
Here’s something we’re willing to bet will interest you: if you have enough points, and meet the requirements, you may be eligible to apply for a Resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Yes, there is a chance that you could apply for New Zealand residency straight away.
The Skilled Migrant Category allows you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely and access most publicly funded services, such as healthcare, education and New Zealand Superannuation.
Finding out if you qualify
Finding your occupation on the Long Term Skills Shortage List is only the first step in any emigration journey.
As you can see from what we’ve said above, you also still have to meet a long list of requirements, ranging from health to qualifications requirements.
But how do you find out if you stand a chance of working as an electrician in New Zealand?
We’ll tell you… By doing a comprehensive immigration assessment, performed by a licensed immigration adviser.
Intergate Emigration can help you
Our immigration advisers are all licensed to conduct immigration assessments and registered with the New Zealand Immigration Advisor Authority. Apart from assessing your eligibility, our team also guide and support you throughout your visa application.
What you can expect from working as an electrician in New Zealand
The most important thing you should know is this – you cannot work in New Zealand without a visa!
You’ll also need to be registered and licensed with New Zealand’s Electrical Registration Board. The Board wants proof of your experience before an application for registration is accepted and requirements for full registration is shared. Don’t worry though – our advisers can talk you through this process.
Here’s what else we can tell you about working in New Zealand as an electrician:
Salary
Qualified electricians earn between NZ$23 and NZ$32 per hour. This hourly rate is influenced by a couple of factors, such as:
- The city you’re working in.
- Your experience.
- Your skills.
- The job’s responsibilities and duties.
Duties
You can expect to perform similar job functions in New Zealand as back home. New Zealand electricians are also responsible for duties such as installing electrical wiring, repairing electrical equipment and conducting safety tests.
Working conditions
Again, nothing out of the ordinary. Electricians in New Zealand work regular business hours, but may also work weekends and be on call.
Depending on your job, you can expect to work in building sites, existing buildings, power stations or substations. You might also need to travel to local work sites.
Have you booked your consultation call yet?
Take the first step in your immigration journey by booking a consultation call with our licensed advisor. You’ll discover your visa options and learn how the application process works.
- Published in Working in New Zealand
FAQs: Joining your partner who’s on a New Zealand Work visa
You have come to the right place if you have unanswered questions about how to join your partner in New Zealand if he or she has a work visa.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve done some research or none, you’ll find the answers you’re looking for right here:
- What visa do I apply for?
- How does INZ qualify a ‘partner’?
- How do we prove our partnership is ‘genuine’?
- Is there any other qualifying criteria?
- When do I make my visa application?
- Does this visa allow me to work?
- Can I add our dependent children to my visa application?
Let’s begin at the start…
1. What visa do I apply for?
If your partner has been granted a work visa or is in the process of applying for a work visa, you’ll apply for a partner visa based on their visa status.
2. How does INZ qualify a ‘partner’?
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) define a partnership as:
- Two people (either same sex or opposite sex),
- Who live together in a genuine and stable relationship in any of the following:
- Legal marriage.
- Civil union.
- De facto relationship.
Does your relationship tick the boxes? Congratulations! You’ve passed the first test.
3. How do we prove our partnership is ‘genuine’?
INZ will ask a number of questions to establish the nature of your partnership. These questions include:
- How long have you been together?
- How long have you been living together as a couple?
- Do you support each other financially?
- How do you share financial responsibilities?
- Do you share a property or own a property together?
- Do you have children?
- Do other people recognise your relationship?
The more proof you can provide in answer to these questions, the stronger your case will be.
4. Is there any other qualifying criteria?
Yes, there is. The most important is that you and your partner:
- Must be 18 years or older. If you are 16 or 17 years old, consent is required from parents or guardians.
- Must have met each other before applying for a visa based on your partnership.
- Cannot be close relatives.
You must also know that your partner won’t be eligible to support your visa, or a subsequent residence application, if they have supported:
- More than one previous residency application.
- A successful residence application for a previous partner in the last 5 years.
- A previous partner in a successful residence application in the last 5 years.
- Or have been included as a partner in a successful residence application the last 5 years.
5. When do I make my visa application?
The partner of a New Zealander work holder visa application can be made at the same time as the work visa application.
In fact, the norm is to do it this way so that both partners can travel to New Zealand together.
6. Will I be allowed to work?
Yes, you can work in New Zealand on this visa. The option to work is also an open one as your visa won’t be specific to a single employer.
7. Can I add our dependent children to my visa application?
No, dependents cannot be included. However, dependents may make an application for a visa in their own right. As an example, dependent children of school-going age can apply for a dependent child student visa.
Want to apply? Then you should contact us
Intergate Emigration has helped many couples successfully migrate to New Zealand.
Let us do the same for you. You can speak to our licensed advisor by booking a consultation call.
Our advisor will assess you against all the requirements and help with your application.
- Published in Family Immigration, FAQs - New Zealand Immigration