Move From New Zealand to Canada With Licensed Immigration Consultants
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Choosing to immigrate to Canada is an important and personal decision. RightWay Canada Immigration Services supports individuals and families in New Zealand who are pursuing permanent residence, study or work opportunities, family reunification or another Canadian immigration pathway. Our role is to make the process clearer, more manageable and carefully prepared from the beginning.
Our team of licensed Canadian immigration consultants is regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and works in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements. Since 2016, RightWay Canada has assisted 213 clients from New Zealand and earned multiple industry recognitions, along with a strong reputation reflected in positive client reviews.
Every immigration case is different. We take the time to understand each applicant’s circumstances and goals, assess the available options and provide clear guidance on eligibility, required documents and the steps ahead. Our support goes beyond completing forms, helping applicants approach the process with greater clarity and confidence. Book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant to discuss your individual situation. Information about our services and pricing is available on our fees page.
New Zealand to Canada Spousal Sponsorship
Applicants from New Zealand do not have additional New Zealand-specific IRCC forms or special country-specific document requirements for spousal sponsorship. Applications should therefore follow the standard IRCC spousal sponsorship instructions and document checklist, with careful attention to complete identity and civil-status documents, required translations and clear evidence supporting the relationship.
Canada’s spousal sponsorship program allows eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner for permanent residence. IRCC assesses the sponsor’s eligibility, the genuineness of the relationship and the sponsored applicant’s admissibility before making a final decision.
IRCC permanent residence statistics show that 505 New Zealand citizens were admitted to Canada as sponsored spouses or partners from 2023 through May 2026. This included 155 admissions in 2023, 175 in 2024, 125 in 2025 and 50 from January to May 2026.
New Zealand to Canada Study Permit
Applicants applying for a Canada study permit from New Zealand must follow the Sydney visa office instructions for local document requirements. These instructions are listed in the Sydney Visa Office Additional Document Checklist — IMM 5979, which is used together with the standard Canada study permit checklist.
For New Zealand applicants, IMM 5979 focuses on immigration status where applicable, a one-page study plan, recent academic records, and police certificates where required.
Required Forms
New Zealand study permit applicants must follow the Sydney Visa Office Additional Document Checklist for study permits.
Country-specific checklist:
- Sydney Visa Office Additional Document Checklist — IMM 5979
IMM 5979 is used alongside the standard study permit checklist. It does not replace the general study permit requirements. Instead, it adds local document instructions for applicants using the Sydney visa office checklist.
If the applicant does not live in their country of citizenship, IMM 5979 asks for proof of immigration status in the country where they currently live. This may include a permanent or temporary residence visa, work visa, or study visa showing the issue and expiry date.
Study Plan and Records
IMM 5979 asks New Zealand applicants to include a one-page study plan explaining the purpose of their studies in Canada.
The study plan should answer:
- why the applicant wants to study in Canada in the program where they have been accepted;
- the applicant’s overall educational goal;
- why the applicant is not pursuing a similar program in their country of residence or citizenship.
Applicants applying for post-secondary studies in Canada should also include:
- transcripts or mark sheets for the most recent secondary or post-secondary program undertaken;
- the most recent secondary or post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate.
If the applicant has not yet graduated, they should indicate the expected graduation date and whether they will receive a degree, diploma, or certificate.
Police Certificates
IMM 5979 asks applicants who are 18 years of age or older to provide police certificates where required.
Applicants may need police certificates from:
- their current country of residence, if they have lived there for six months or more;
- the country where they have spent most of their adult life since turning 18.
The police certificate from the current country of residence must be issued within six months before the application is submitted. The certificate from the country where the applicant spent most of their adult life must be issued after they last lived in that country.
