Applying For Visa For Teachers In New Zealand?

Planning to take your career in teaching to the next level? But not sure about its procedure. Let Zealand Immigration expert team help you to embark on your journey in your dream country. Getting a New Zealand Teacher Visa is a great choice and a destination for teachers because of its high demand for teachers and with the right qualifications you can easily find work. But to work as a teacher in NZ, you will require more than subject matter skills. In addition to, teaching skills you must have excellent command of communication skills and the English language.

Even if you are at the beginning of your career or want to flourish further Zealand Immigration would love to help you take your journey to the next level. Currently an ample of registered and certified teachers are there in New Zealand, but still, the country faces a shortage of teachers. Not having enough local professionals therefore NZ often relies on overseas-trained teachers to fill this shortage.

Besides moving to New Zealand, one needs to understand the visa process, teacher registration requirements, and job opportunities as well. 

Understanding New Zealand Teacher Visa

New Zealand always values a skilled teacher. Be it a primary, secondary, or early childhood teacher, there are different pathways available to work and live in the country. To be concise, NZ requires two kinds of teachers:-

Early Childhood (pre-primary school) Teachers
Secondary School Teachers, especially in:
Science - such as chemistry, biology, physics, agricultural, and horticultural science, and earth and space science
Mathematics - covering topics such as calculus and statistics
Technology - including digital technologies, computer science, construction and mechanical technologies, materials technologies, and processing technologies
Pacific languages featuring languages of Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands, Sāmoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Rotuma, and Kiribati

Types of Visas for Teachers

There are various types of visas a teacher can apply. Some of them are listed below:-

• Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) - One can easily apply for this visa if they have a job offer from an accredited employer.
• Straight to Residence Visa - Qualifying for residency could be done easily if a teacher is on the Green List.
• Post-Study Work Visa - This visa is only for those who have completed a relevant teaching qualification in New Zealand.

Benefits of Teaching in New Zealand

Teaching in New Zealand comes with a lot of benefits. Some of them are listed below:-

• Work-Life Balance - Balancing work-life in New Zealand is easy as it offers a great quality of life. 
• Pathway To Residency - Another benefit of teaching in New Zealand as it acts as a pathway to get permanent residence there. 
• High Demand for Educators - New Zealand highly demand to fill the shortage for primary and secondary teachers.  

Primary Teacher Visa New Zealand: Eligibility Requirements

If you want to qualify for a Primary Teacher Visa in New Zealand, then you must meet one of the specifications:-

• Bachelor of Education (Teaching)
• Bachelor of Teaching (Primary or Māori Medium)
• Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary)

Besides this, another alternative is to do a four-year combined degree. This comes with benefits as it lets you study teaching and other subjects at the same time, helping you to teach both primary and secondary students.

Personal requirements

Primary school teachers must be:-

• Well-organised and good at solving problems quickly, effectively and easily.
• Able to work in a team and as an individual too.
• Able to motivate children, open-minded and also enthusiastic.
• Creative and adaptable and also able to work well under pressure.
• Great at communicating clearly with children and adults both coming from different backgrounds and cultures.

How to Apply for a New Zealand Teacher Visa

Teaching is the most valuable and admirable professional of all and without a good education system, which is mostly done by teachers, a country’s growth is not possible. That is why the government of New Zealand have recognised this need by putting teaching occupations on the Green List, this list of professionals that works as a pathway to not only working but also living permanently in New Zealand. 

Being on Tier 1 of the Green List, secondary teachers can easily access the Straight to New Zealand Residence Visa, as long as they have a full-time teaching job offer in New Zealand, above medium wage.

Primary and early childhood education (ECE) teaching professions come on Tier 2 of the Green List, this basically means that, after completing two years of full-time employment in a teaching occupation in New Zealand, you may meet the criteria to apply under the Green List Work to New Zealand Residency. Applicants need to make sure that they meet the requirements specified on the Green List for their teaching occupation. 

Accredited Employer Work Visa

A temporary work visa is required to start teaching in New Zealand unless you are a secondary school teacher applying under the Straight to Residence category. The most relevant work visa in most situations will be an Accredited Employer Work Visa. Furthermore, applicants must hold registration and a practising certificate from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand before applying for this work visa. 

Primary and Early Childhood Education Teachers: Work to Residence Requirements

If a primary or ECE teacher wants to apply for a resident visa then they must fulfil their role as a teacher for at least 24 months on a valid work visa. 

To make yourself eligible as a teacher under the Green List, then meeting each of the following requirements is essential - 
Having a registration with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Another thing is a provisional practising certificate which must be issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The salary for the position should be no less than the median wage or higher.

Secondary Teachers: Straight to Residence Requirements

Starting 1 May 2024, the NZ government has upgraded secondary teachers from Tier 2 to Tier 1 of the Green List, which makes it easy for them to apply for the Straight to Residence visa if they have a full-time New Zealand secondary teaching offer, regardless of applying domestically or internationally. 

However, registration and a practising certificate are still required and issued by the Teaching Council Aotearoa New Zealand. 

If one wants to qualify, then they (applicants) must be paid at or above a minimum wage of $31.61 per hour. To meet this requirement applicants should have their EdPay salary assessment approved. Salary assessment takes time (probably months) therefore it is best to start as soon as possible. Furthermore, if an applicant wishes to begin work in New Zealand early can apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) temporary work visa, which currently requires a wage of $29.66 per hour. 

Zealand Immigration is not just a service provider but we work with you as a partner to help you to reach your dream country without any troubles.  If you have any more queries then please feel free to contact Zealand Immigration, we would love to guide you to reach your dream country. Ready to take your teaching career to new heights with Zealand Immigration as we are known as the Best Immigration Consultant in New Zealand.