The Silver Fern visa
The introduction of the Silver Fern visa was announced in November 2009 by Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman and became effective on 27 April 2010.
Each year, 300 places are to be made available to highly skilled people from overseas. 
The visa will be divided into two Silver Fern policies:
- Silver Fern Job Search Policy
- Silver Fern Practical Experience Policy
In an Immigration Policy Paper the government states, “…we will need good policies for attracting the additional skilled workers and immigrants New Zealand needs to fill skills gaps and grow our economy. This makes immigration policy and its implementation critically important to New Zealand’s future.”
What is the Silver Fern Visa?
The visa is applicable to highly skilled migrants with New Zealand-recognised qualifications, whether those qualifications were obtained in New Zealand or from a country with which New Zealand has a visa-free agreement*.
The purpose of this visa category is to broaden the options for applicants to make a long-term contribution to New Zealand and to provide a pathway to New Zealand residency.
The Silver Fern Visa allows New-Zealand qualified and visa-free country applicants to enter (or remain in) New Zealand as visitors for the short-term, while seeking permanent employment in highly skilled areas in which New Zealand is experiencing a shortage of skills. These visa holders are allowed to legally obtain temporary work while seeking highly skilled employment.
The Silver Fern Visa allows holders a 24-month work visa, through which they are eligible to apply for permanent residence through either the Skilled Migrant Category or Work to Residence Scheme.
Would I qualify for a Silver Fern Visa?
Requirements for Silver Fern visa applicants are as follows:
- Candidates must be competent in English
- Candidates must ensure they ultimately undertake highly skilled work
- Candidates must meet specified full-time wage requirements
- Candidates must have a recognised tertiary qualification, including trade qualifications, from a New Zealand institution OR from a country with which New Zealand has a visa-free agreement
The Silver Fern Job Search Policy
A maximum of 300 Silver Fern Job Search visas may be granted per year.
Proving the high demand for the new scheme, applications for the 2010 Silver Fern visa closed after only 30 minutes.
Lodging an application
Applications for the Silver Fern Visa must be lodged online using the electronic form provided on the Immigration New Zealand website.
The visa officer processing your application may require you to:
- Provide their valid passport or travel document; or
- Provide evidence that you meet the requirements of the policy; or
- Provide any travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements; or
- Appear for an interview
Please note that, in order to be eligible for a Silver Fern Job Search visa, you must:
- Be aged between 20 and 35 years old at the time the application is lodged
- Be outside of New Zealand
- Hold a qualification that meets the Silver Fern Job Search Policy qualification requirements and the requirements for recognition under the Skilled Migrant Policy
- Meet the English language requirements
- Have a minimum of NZ$4200 for your maintenance during the period of stay in New Zealand
- Be genuine in your intention to gain employment
- Meet temporary entry health and character policy requirements
- Not previously have been issued a Silver Fern Job Search visa
A work visa issued under the Silver Fern Job Search policy will allow you:
- Entry for six months from the date of issue
- The granting of a work permit for nine months upon arrival in New Zealand
- Re-entry to New Zealand on multiple occasions for the duration of the work permit
Under this policy, you can work for any employer in any occupation in New Zealand.
The Silver Fern Practical Experience Policy
In order to be eligible for a Silver Fern Practical Experience visa/permit, applicants must:
- Hold a Silver Fern Job Search permit or a Silver Fern Practical Experience permit
- Hold an offer of skilled employmentfor a term of at least 12 months
- Meet temporary entry health and character policy requirements
- Not have held previous Silver Fern Practical Experience visas/permits totalling more than two years.
Applicants who are granted a Silver Fern Practical Experience visa/permit must remain in the occupation at, location and with the employer specified on their job offer.
This visa may be granted to cover the period for which employment is offered, up to a maximum of two years. That said, any second or subsequent Silver Fern Practical Experience visas cannot be granted for longer than two years from the data the original permit was granted.
*Visa-free agreements
Not all visitors to New Zealand require a visa for entry, though all entrants are required to provide evidence of both onward travel and adequate funds for maintenance. Short-term visitors (three months or less) from the following countries do not need a visa to enter New Zealand:
| Andorra | Argentina | Austria |
| Bahrain | Belgium | Brazil |
| Brunei | Bulgaria | Canada |
| Chile | Cyprus | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Estonia1 | Finland |
| France | Germany | Greece5 |
| Hong Kong2 | Hungary | Iceland |
| Ireland | Israel | Italy |
| Japan | Korea (South) | Kuwait |
| Latvia1 | Liechtenstein | Lithuania1 |
| Luxembourg | Malaysia | Malta |
| Mexico | Monaco | Netherlands |
| Norway | Oman | Poland |
| Portugal3 | Qatar | Romania |
| San Marino | Saudi Arabia | Singapore |
| Slovak Republic | Slovenia | South Africa |
| Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| United Arab Emirates | United States of America4 | Uruguay |
| Vatican City |
1 Visa waiver does not apply to people travelling on alien's (non-citizen's) passports issued by these countries.
2 Residents of Hong Kong travelling on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or British National (Overseas) passports.
3 Portuguese passport holders must also have the right to live permanently in Portugal.
4 Including nationals of the USA.
5 Greek passport holders whose passports were issued on and after 1 January 2006. (Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 are not acceptable for travel after 1 January 2007.)
United Kingdom and Australia
British citizens and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the UK can visit for up to six months without a visa.
Australian citizens and people who hold a current Australian permanent residence visa or a current Australian resident return visa do not need a New Zealand visa to enter New Zealand.
TABLE SOURCE: IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND
If you would like more information about the Silver Fern Job Search Policy or the Silver Fern Practical Experience Policy or want to apply for a visa under this visa category, talk to the experts at Working In Visas.
