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Slowly getting itchy feet.
Have had a good Google, but just seem to keep tripping up on sites that offer to do the process for you.
Any sites that will give me a good idea as to whether I am eligible re. the points systems?
Have gone through the official NZ site, but am hesitant to click on EoI as it only lasts six months. What happens if I don't make a move in the next six months?
Have various family members in Australia.
Am a self-employed chippy. Not sure if that works in my favour or not.
No school qualifications to speak of.
The GF has a proper education, albeit quite niche. Can't see her job on their lists....
Family members in Aus probably won't do you any good I'm afraid.
I think the easiest route is to get local jobs and get sponsored (or one of you do that, and bring the other in on a spousal visa).
You can go out to both on a tourist visa for a good stretch (6 months for NZ), so plenty of time to suss things out if you have some savings to last you.
Possibly still a fair bit of work going in construction in Christchurch. There were loads of folk there on 2 year visas from all over the place when I was out there a couple of years ago. My wife's visa got us there for a year (doctor) but would have been easy to extend if we needed to. I was piggy backed on her visa.
My wife has a blog about how we emigrated to NZ. We're in Wellington and I had a job offer before applying for the visa. Mine is a work to residence one which is a bit harder to get but much easier to get residency with.
Feel free to email me with any questions...
https://sazmoblog.wordpress.com/
Under 30.come on a working holiday visa to oz. You get a year cheap.
Otherwise immigration website has a click through visa guide for skilled migration (your skills may be on the list but it might mean fifo mine work plus side is a lot of cash) not at my computer at the minute but I'll post some links. Mail me if you want some more info on general Oz stuff
From an Aus perspective - there are broadly two routes:
You apply in the "slow lane" - that's when you are applying strictly on your own merits, as measured by the points system. Certain professions will deliver the required number of points pretty immediately (doctor etc) - but things like age, savings, education etc also have a bearing.
Overwise you can get fast tracked, buy somebody offering you or your other half a job with sponsorship. The sponsor has to show some due diligence that the job couldn't have gone to an Australian - but I don't see that they are too strict on this.
My Wife got offered a job at Sydney Uni - they sponsored us and it took about 6 weeks to get our 4 year visa through.
We have been here 4.5 years - are now permanent residents and are applying for our citizenship in August.
My first line of inquiry would be to get your other half to look to see if there is a job for her over here - and if they will sponsor overseas applicants. www.seek.com.au is a popular jobs website.
Oh - from what I have heard, emigration agents are a complete waste of money. Unless somebody is paying your expenses, don't bother.
Possibly still a fair bit of work going in construction in Christchurch.
I reckon Christchurch might be your best bet. From what I've seen of your postings on here you'd almost certainly be a better fit in NZ than Oz.
There's years worth of construction ahead in Christchurch.
It's a nicer country, Christchurch has lots of riding on the hills, you're only a couple of hours drive from the Alps. Housing in short supply in Christchurch.
If you go in as a skilled migrant (i.e. in building/construction) your g/f (assuming it's a de facto relationship, not someone you met lat night) should be eligible for a work visa as well.
I have heard mixed things about Christchurch, its still really suffering from the eathquake and seems like a depressed place.
NZ is of course miles and miles from "anywhere". There comes a point when 24 hour flights are beyond physical capacity of relatives. I have a couple of NZ friends, both very comfortably off but they only go home once every 2 years. Now Britsh passport holders and won't leave UK. Stunning country visually of course and I imagine you'll have a list of friends who'll want to visit
Two friends went o NZ about 7 years ago, moved to Christchurch 1 year ago and love it.
He is in Telecoms and she is a project manager.
When I was in New Zealand they were actively looking for people to move to South Island.
I have family in ChCh, and I hear that there is still loads of work on construction.
However, do some research first. The south island is beautiful, but ChCh is a bit of a hole, a very conservative small town place, and the EQ didn't improve it.
Everything on the South Island is small town 😆
The phrase 'more English than England' damns with faint praise- I left pretty much soon as I could, for even smaller places.
Could be worse though- at least it's not Tawa.
A friend of my wife emigrated some years ago, she was a teacher and hence was an immediate "in" on the points scheme. Her husband was a chemical engineer and it took a long time to find him a relevant job. He did a few years of labouring etc. to make ends meet.
We went out to visit them and we loved it. North Island, near Napier. We looked through the points system but couldn't make it add up, and my wife was not completely sure about being so far away from her Mum so we let it drop.
Kiwis we've met over here generally say they left because it's so quiet & boring there. That is [b]exactly[/b] what we liked about it 🙂
The Aussies have a list of in-demand occupations and if your's is on the list it's a big step forward. They update the list from time to time but generally if you're in medicine or engineering you're a shoe-in. [url= https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/SOL ]https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/Work/Skills-assessment-and-assessing-authorities/skilled-occupations-lists/SOL[/url]
IIRC there's an online points quiz where you can put in your age, qualifications and see how you go. Worth noting that individual states have their own requirements and may offer easier entry if you're prepared to live in specific locations.
If you don't hit the points target, you're looking at needing sponsorship from an employer (unlikely - it costs the employer money and they have to prove no Aussies can do the job). Or marrying one of them.
Tawa has its plus points. A train to Wgtn every 30 mins, for a start...
If you haven't already looked at it then i suggest you look at [url= http://move2nz.com ]Website[/url] it is a great website and is run by an English couple who have done the move. They dont really sell any services so no hassle from them and not full of adverts.