Dear forum members,
I am new to the forum and a little baffled at all the information on the NZ immigration website. I am an NZ citizen and I wish to bring my Swedish girlfriend into New Zealand. Any helpful comments and answers are appreciated!
Situation: My girlfriend and I got together in New Zealand 5.5 years ago while we were both studying in Auckland. She was a Swedish international student studying for 6 months in NZ for a "gap-year". After the "gap-year" we stayed together, however she then went back to Sweden to start her studies in her home country, while I continued my studies in NZ. She visited me in NZ 18 months later, and then 6 months after that I went to Sweden to visit her. While I was there I applied for masters studies in Scandinavia. I have now been studying in Finland for the past 2.5 years (neighboring country to Sweden), and we have been regularly visiting each other in our weekends and holidays. Last year we lived together for 12 months as she came on an exchange year to Finland. She has now moved back to Sweden, and I am still living in Finland so we can finish our studies.
Half way through this year we are planning on beginning a new life together in NZ. We will both have masters degrees, with her degree being on the NZ skill shortage list. We looked up how many points she will get on the points indicator on the NZ Immigration website after we have finished our education and she scored 160 points.
What are the best visa options available to her if she doesn't have a job offer already lined up in NZ? We won't be living together again between now and when we plan on moving back to NZ in 6 months. Is it best for her to travel to NZ on a tourist visa, and then we can apply for the couples visa when she is arrives, or are there more convenient options? We simply want the cheapest, quickest and most hassle free way to get a visa sorted so she can both live and work in NZ.
Thank you all for your comments in advance!