New Zealand migration fast-track recommendations → short programme duration for extra points, plus 1-3 year work visas — these fields have it all!

Before we get into it, let’s quickly review the basic requirements for New Zealand migration:

–EOI score of 160 points:

This points table is mainly made up of age, qualifications, employment, and work experience. There’s also a range of extra points available for local graduates.

–Find a job with a salary of at least NZD 25.5 per hour

Unlike Australia,New Zealand’s skilled migration is essentially all employer-sponsored. You must have a matching job before you can lodge a migration application.You can also see that New Zealand’slocal employment accounts for 50 points in the EOI — without those 50 points, it’s very difficult to meet Immigration New Zealand’s 160-point requirement.

For students in Australia hoping to move to New Zealand through skilled migration,a short-term study programmeis an excellent option. This way, studying locally can help you meetthe local-graduate bonus-points criteria, while also securing yourselfa 1-3 year work visa after you finish studying, giving you time to find a job.

Looking around the world, IT is a highly sought-after industry everywhere. To keep pace with global technology development, the IT sector is constantly evolving and always needs fresh talent to join it.New Zealand is no exception — IT is an industry the government actively supports, with the aim of driving forward local electronics technology. Companies like Huawei and Bank of China have both opened branches in New Zealand, so the employment outlook is excellent.During the pandemic, most other industries were hit hard, but IT has remained a favourite of both the job market and Immigration New Zealand.

Official New Zealand data shows that IT and software development are industries with a genuinely promising outlook.Graduates can expect an annual salary in the range of NZD 72,000 to NZD 100,000, and pay continues to rise as experience builds — so for both salary and future career growth, IT is an excellent fit for new migrants.Even applicants without a relevant background needn’t worry too much about switching careers smoothly — the following programme is ideal for students with no IT background who want to finish quickly and start their migration application as soon as possible:

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Master of Computer and Information Science

Entry requirements

–Completion of a bachelor’s degree in computer science/information technology, or

–A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with an average grade of B or above

English requirement: overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band below 6

Programme duration: 1.5 years

Programme advantages:

This programme has a short duration —no bachelor’s background is required, and you can earn a master’s degree in just 1.5 years.What’s more, after graduatingyou can apply for a 3-year Graduate Work visa,sparing graduates the hassle of repeated visa applications. AUT is also located right in central Auckland,with the headquarters of major well-known companies located right around the campus,which is great for students looking for jobs and internships. You can lay solid groundwork for your future career while you’re still studying.

Construction is another highly sought-after industry in New Zealand. The 2011 Christchurch earthquake (in the Canterbury region) destroyed close to half of the local buildings and infrastructure.So, to restore Canterbury’s economy and rebuild its local environment,the New Zealand government has been actively recruiting experienced and skilled infrastructure talent,and has even created a dedicated Construction and Infrastructure skills shortage list for applicants in this field. So applicants with a construction background have real room to shine in New Zealand.

Looking at the government’s career outlook analysis,starting salaries for project management roles are NZD 65,000 — already well above the pay for an average occupation.And as experience grows,the more senior project management professionals can earn even more, with annual salaries reaching as high as NZD 170,000.So this occupation offers outstanding employment prospects and room for growth. Given how much the New Zealand government wants infrastructure talent, applicants with relevant background or experience — or anyone hoping to migrate to New Zealand through this occupation — have a truly unique opportunity. If you’re interested in applying for a construction project management programme, see the following for reference:

Massey University

Master of Construction

Entry requirements

–Completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree or graduate diploma in construction, or

–Completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree in construction plus an additional two years of relevant work experience

English: overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band below 6

Programme duration: 1 year

Career direction:

After completing this programme, students can go on to roles such as construction planning and construction project management.

Programme advantages:

This programme has a very short duration —just 1 year. It’s an excellent fit for students who already have a relevant qualification or work background.Most importantly,with just 1 year of study, you can apply for a 3-year Graduate Work visa after graduating.Massey University is one of New Zealand’s top universities, with research strength that shouldn’t be underestimated. Completing this programme also earns you the bonus points for a master’s qualification. Once you find a matching job, you can migrate via the Canterbury construction list.

We’ve talked about New Zealand’s early childhood education sector a number of times before — this occupation is highly sought-after not just in New Zealand but around the world.It also sits on New Zealand’s regional skill shortage list, and thanks to its short study duration, plentiful job opportunities and low study costs, it’s a firm favourite among prospective migrants.

According to official government data, for early childhood teachers,depending on the kindergarten they work at, annual salaries range from NZD 45,000 to NZD 74,000. As work experience grows, salaries can reach the NZD 74,000 to NZD 98,000 range. Career prospects are also rated as excellent.This occupation is also on Immigration New Zealand’s priority processing list — compared with other applicants processed at the same time, early childhood teacher applications are consistently given priority. So over the medium-to-long term, early childhood education remains the number-one choice for applicants pursuing migration.

New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC)

Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education (Teaching)

Entry requirements:

Completion of a bachelor’s degree in any discipline

Language: overall IELTS score of 7, with no band below 7

Programme duration: 1.33 years (can be completed within 10 months)

Programme advantages:

This early childhood education programme carries a lot of weight,and its short duration means it can generally be completed in around 1 year.Once you finish, you can apply for early childhood teacher registration. Even though it’s a diploma-level programme, early childhood education still carries the advantage of being a registered profession, meaningyou can apply for a 2-year Graduate Work visa after graduating.