THE BIG OE
Heading to the U.K. is rite of passage for young kiwis… But don’t think it’s only the young ones who get to enjoy good old Britain - oh no - it is also a great place for taking the next step in your career, gaining new experiences, and starting a family! If you’re not quite convinced just picture this: you, sitting at your local British pub, pint of beer in hand, watching the All Black’s on the pub telly … ready to move yet?! If you’re thinking HELL YEAH, hold your horses as there’s a little bit of red tape to go through first. Yes, this is the dreaded visa talk. Don’t panic though, as it’s not too hard to wrap your head around.
What Visa? New Zealanders on the Big OE are probably going to want to apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme visa. This allows NZ citizens aged 18-30 to live and work in the U.K. for up to 24 months. You must have at least £2,530 in savings and you can’t have had a working holiday or youth mobility visa in the past. If you have had a criminal record, give us a call and we will be able to advise you whether this is likely to impact your application. This visa is GREAT because you’ll be eligible for most types of employment and you can leave and enter as many times as you want over the two year period (anyone fancy a quick ride on the Eurostar to explore mainland Europe?).
If 24 months of rainy sunny Britain just isn’t enough for you, or you’re not eligible for the Youth Mobility visa, don’t fret as skilled workers entering on a Skilled Worker visa can stay in the U.K. for up to 5 years. You will need to check if your area of expertise enables you to apply, and alternatively, if you are in the fields of academia and research, arts and culture, or digital technology, you might want to think about a Global Talent visa.
If you’re a kiwi whose grandparent was born in the UK you could be eligible for an Ancestry visa. This is a five year work visa which you can extend into permanent residency if you stay long enough.
Whichever visa you choose, living in the U.K. is an amazing adventure, and despite the infamous rainy weather, you’ll think nothing of it when you’re rocking out at Glastonbury, or catching some waves on the Cornish Coast!
Some other visa types you might want to look into are Family/Partnership visas for those with British spouses/partners, or if you have access rights to a child resident in the UK. We can assist you with a visa to the UK. These type of visa can be complicated , but we do specialise.
Whichever visa you choose, living in the U.K. is an amazing adventure, and despite the infamous rainy weather, you’ll think nothing of it when you’re rocking out at Glastonbury, or catching some waves on the Cornish Coast, or simply enjoying a lovely meal in a riverside cafe.
Photo by Sandro Cenni on Unsplash