Glossary

A

Absolute skills shortage

Skilled occupations that New Zealand has not had enough people to do for a long time. These occupations are listed on the Long Term Skills Shortage List.

Academic year

A programme of study that has a course value of 120 or more credits and lasts at least 8 months or 2 semesters.

Acceptable English language test results

We accept the following tests:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
  • Occupational English Test (OET)
  • Cambridge English B2 First (FCE) or B2 First for Schools (FCE for Schools)
  • Pearson Test of English: Academic (PTE: Academic).

Acceptable Identity document

  • Original passport
  • Certificate of identity
  • Refugee travel document
  • National ID card with photo

Acceptable investment

An 'acceptable' investment is one that:

  • is able to make a commercial return
  • is not for your own personal use (such as a boat or personal residence)
  • is invested in New Zealand in New Zealand currency
  • is invested in lawful enterprises or managed funds that comply with all relevant laws in force in New Zealand
  • has the potential to contribute to New Zealand's economy

is invested in any of the following:

  • bonds issued by the New Zealand government or local authorities
  • bonds issued by New Zealand firms traded on the New Zealand Debt Securities Market (NZDX)
  • bonds issued by New Zealand organisations with a BBB- rating or better (or equivalent) from an internationally recognised credit rating agency, e.g. Standard and Poor's
  • equity in New Zealand firms (public or private including managed funds)
  • bonds issued by New Zealand registered banks
  • equities in New Zealand registered banks, as defined by the New Zealand Reserve Bank Act 1989
  • venture capital funds that are managed by a fund manager or broker and meet all the criteria for an acceptable investment
  • residential property development
  • bonds in finance companies.

Acceptable manning agent

A manning agent that:

  • is a public service, or a publicly licensed service
  • if it charges fees for placing crew, charges only the employer and not the crew
  • if it asks crew for costs, only asks crew to reimburse the reasonable costs of documents needed to be granted a visa, like medical exams, travel documents and a seafarer's book (these are not fees)
  • will not withhold any property from crew, especially if the property can prevent crew from leaving their employment, like identity documents, passports, or money
  • will only recruit crew who want to work on a fishing vessel in New Zealand, they cannot use force or threats
  • has never used the debt of a crew member to bond them into working for them against their will
  • has never been involved in human trafficking or any other kind of exploitation.

Acceptable qualification

An acceptable qualification for a Post Study Work Visa, for applicants under 2022 transitional settings is:

The 2022 transitional settings may apply to:

  • students who applied for their Student Visa on or before 11 May 2022, and
  • students who have been granted their visa as part of the border exception for 5,000 new and returning students (cohort 4).

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)

A New Zealand government-owned organisation that provides fault-free insurance cover that may pay towards the cost of medical treatment for injuries resulting from accidents in New Zealand.

See the ACC website for more information

Accredited employer

An employer approved by Immigration New Zealand to employ workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Only accredited employers can support an AEWV.

Accredited employer list

 

Accredited labour hire company

A company that has Immigration New Zealand's approval to employ people from overseas to supply labour to third-parties.

AEWV balance

The amount of time you have left before you reach your maximum continuous stay. For example, if you have a 5 year maximum continuous stay and are currently on a 3 year Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), you may be able to apply for the 2 year balance to take you up to 5 years.

How long you can stay on an AEWV

Āhurutanga

Warmth, comfort, a nurturing place.

ANZSCO

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) provides information we use to check:

  • the skill levels of jobs
  • the qualifications and experience you need to work in those jobs.

Find your ANZSCO skill level

Appeal

A legal process that is used to review a decision. Appeals are made to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, which is part of the Ministry of Justice. The result of an appeal can be for the decision to stay the same, for the decision to change or for a new decision to be made.

Immigration and Protection Tribunal website

Approved arts or music festival

An arts or music festival hosted in New Zealand that has been formally approved by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). For INZ to 'approve' a festival its organiser must submit a formal proposal, showing that both:

  • the festival has been hosted in New Zealand for 3 or more years
  • 10 or more overseas performers and/or support crew will take part in the festival.

Approved community organisation sponsor

Approved community organisations are eligible to sponsor applicants for a Community Sponsored Refugee Resident Visa. Immigration New Zealand has approved the following community organisations for the 2017/2018 pilot of this visa category:

  • Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand (Wellington)
  • Gleniti Baptist Church (Timaru)
  • Society of St Vincent de Paul (Nelson)
  • South West Baptist Church (Christchurch)

Approved community organisations may either nominate mandated refugees directly, or request that the UNHCR refer candidates to Immigration New Zealand. Approved community organisations agree to sponsor approved refugees and provide travel, housing, settlement and employment assistance for two years.

Approved education provider

A primary or secondary school, or tertiary education provider that has been approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or New Zealand's Ministry of Education to offer certain courses of study.

Approved exchange student scheme

A scheme that has been approved by Immigration New Zealand and New Zealand's Ministry of Education to allow overseas students to attend a school, or education or training institute in New Zealand.

Contact your school or exchange provider to see if they are an approved student exchange scheme for New Zealand.

Approved in principle of a visa

A visa application is approved in principle when we have recommended your application for approval, but need extra documents like a passport or receipt for tuition fees, to confirm you meet the visa requirements.

An application is not fully approved until we receive all the documents we ask for, and record in our computer system that we have granted the visa.

Approved promoter

A promoter on Immigration New Zealand's Approved Promoter List.

Visitor visas for performers and staff of festivals and entertainment acts

Aramoana

The ocean pathway.

At sa palagay mo ay pinagsasamantalahan ka

Ang pagsasamantala ng migrante ay pag-aasal na nagsasanhi, o nagpapalaki ng panganib ng pinsala sa kagalingang pangkabuhayan, panlipunan, pisikal o pandamdamin ng manggagawang migrante. Kabilang dito ang mga paglabag sa minimum na mga pamantayan sa pagtatrabaho o mga paglabag sa mga batas ng kalusugan at kaligtasan at ng imigrasyon. Hindi kabilang dito ang di-malubhang mga paglabag na hindi palagian at madaling maremedyuhan.

Atua

Spiritual beings, ancestors and forces of nature in te ao Māori, embodying the essence of guardianship.

Authority to Act

A document authorising another person or organisation (for example a friend, family member, licenced immigration adviser or lawyer) to communicate with Immigration New Zealand on your behalf. This can be in the form of either:

  • a completed INZ1160 Immigration Adviser Details form, or
  • a signed and dated statement which contains your representative's full name, contact details, and their relationship to you.

Note that if you choose to have someone act on your behalf they will have access to information about you held by Immigration New Zealand including information such as your medical records and immigration history.