If you think anything else needs to be added to this page just email us the link or the updated information.
If you think anything else needs to be added to this page just email us the link or the updated information.
Hi Guys this page is to help you marry a female from the Philippines as when I did it there was not much information on the net & what there was turned out to be fairly useless. This page is part helpful information & part my own personal experience.
Bringing your Pinoy girlfriend/ wife to NZ takes time & cannot be done all at once. So be patient.
One of the most important things you need to know is unless you have lived together in the same house for 1 year ( Residence requirement ), you can only get her a visitors visa or work visa or ( Limited Purpose Visa - to attend her own wedding ) to come to New Zealand. This visitors visa is only good for 3 months to 12 months ( 11 months in NZ ) & you have to keep renewing it when she is in New Zealand. The 3 month visitors visa can only be renewed for a maximum 9 months in NZ. So it pays to fill out a work visa application as soon as she arrives in NZ
You can try & get a work permit for her but I have no first hand information just hearsay from guys who have tried it. I keep on hearing how long it takes & how much harder it was to get so I did not try to get my wife a work permit in Manila.
I have never been married before so I was able to get my wife an 11 month visa. I also meet the embassy staff when I visited manila to marry my wife. Most of the other men I have talked to here in NZ only get three to seven month visa's. ( The NZ Embassy no longer issues visitor's visa's. It is now done by PIASI more information on this down the page ).
You can get her a Work visa in New Zealand which will help her stay in New Zealand for the year you need to live together. She does not need to work.
Then when you have been together for 1 year in the same house you can start the partnership residence visa or permit in NZ.
First of all you have to decide do you want to marry in the Philippines?
I decided to marry my wife in Manila out of respect for her & her family.
It was easy to get my, 'Certificate That There is No Impediment to Marriage'. It only took two weeks to get it. I did think it was funny that at age 45 I still needed a letter from my parents to say there was no reason they knew why I could not marry.
To get a Certificate of No Impediment you will need to fill out the form Notice Of Intended Marriage Of New Zealand Citizen In Another Country (BDM 189).
It was a lot cheaper to marry in Manila than in New Zealand if you want a great wedding. I paid $80,000 PHP ( Philippines money ) for the Wedding & I have to say it was a great day. If you are a Christian but not a Catholic you can still have a church wedding. I had a priest marry us & my wife's family seems to really appreciate this.
Your marriage should be registered in the country where it took place. Most marriages that take place overseas in accordance with the laws of that country are recognized by New Zealand law.
"There is no legal obligation to register your overseas marriage in
New Zealand, however you may do this if your marriage ceremony is witnessed
by an authorised official from a New Zealand post. You should contact the
nearest New Zealand overseas post in the country where you plan to marry
to determine whether they are able to provide this service."
The only advantage of registering your marriage in New Zealand is that
a marriage certificate can be issued to you from New Zealand. This certificate
does not replace the marriage certificate supplied in the country where
you plan to marry.
The cost for doing this in Manila was too great. We were quoted a price of over a $1000 NZ for this service .The cost for doing it outside Manila would be in the thousands of NZ dollars.
But the first part is over she is in New Zealand.
The next part is getting her a work permit. This took about 15 minutes in the Immigration dept in Christchurch.( You can no longer do this as the service is no longer given over the counter in Christchurch.You must post it to them or put it in box of the Immigration dept.)
If you live together for 6 months or more the immigration officer can give you a 1 year work permit from the time you apply but it is a big may be. We did not want to chance it. It depends on the mood of the immigration officer at the time you apply.
They delete the visitors visa & give you a work permit starting from the time you arrive in NZ. You only need a work visa if you want to travel out of NZ & come back.
Residence
One of the most important things you need to know is unless you have
lived together in the same house for over a year you cannot get her Residence
in New Zealand.
So this step waits till you have lived together in the same house for a year.
You can extend the work permit when it is about to expire so you you can live together for 12 months so you can start your residence application.
We have now submitted our next work permit form for an extension so we have lived together in the same house for 12 months plus our residence form on March 29 2007. It took about a month to get a new work permit. My wife now has another 11 month work permit. We were told her residence form would be given to a case worker within 12 months. It only took a month or so to get her residence permit after we got her second work permit.
Well my wife now has her first residence permit & visa. The returning
Residents visa is valid for two years. The Residence Permit is Indefinite.
Then 5 years after this she can start her citizenship.
Any way my wife & I are very happy. I am very lucky to have found such a great woman to be my wife. My love for her is growing with each month. My Pinoy wife has the traditional values that are missing from today's NZ females that I have meet.
My wife Elizabeth & I ( Neal ) live in Christchurch, New Zealand.
My wife has turned out to be better than I could of hoped for. We have lived together for 3 years & I must say I am very happy. My wife is now working so we are saving money .
Christchurch has a fairly active filipino community with dances, sports, every month or so.
our email is nealchch@clear.net.nz
We live in Randolph Street, Christchurch which has several filipino
families.
So you need to decide if you want to marry in the Philippines or marry in New Zealand.
Getting her a visitors visa is easier if you have married her in the Philippines but I have meet guys who have just sponsored their girlfriends.
Step 1 for NZ Male
Get your girlfriend to get her birth certificate to check the spelling on it. Many birth certificates in the Philippines have incorrect spelling or names on them.
You need her correct full name & spelling for the "Certificate of
No Impediment for the Philippines" which you get from birth, deaths, marriage
govt. dept in NZ.
Your Birth Certificate: Certified True Copy. Get several true copies
of your birth certificate. (You can only do this in NZ )
This is all the NZ guy needs to do to get married in the Philippines. The rest has to be done in the Philippines by your girlfriend.
TIP: Stop off in Manila for a couple of days before you
meet your girlfriend if she lives elsewhere in the Philippines to get this
"Certificate of No Impediment for the Philippines", checked & replaced
by the form the NZ embassy issues in Manila for your marriage to take place
there. It takes about 30 minutes in the Embassy if you go in yourself.
Email them when you are arriving & what day you will be going to the
Embassy so they know you will be coming.
You can also fill out the "Sponsorship form for visiting New Zealand",
before you leave to marry her in the Philippines.
Letter of Support for your wife
If you mail it elsewhere in the Philippines it takes longer as everything must be processed in Manila.
A NZ'er who wishes to travel to the Philippines needs a visa after 21 days.
You will need copies of your bank accounts to prove you have money &
can support your wife.( You can do this yourself )
Proof of home ownership.
You will need certified true copies of your passport. (You can do this
in the Philippines )
Bring copies of utility bills to prove where you live in New Zealand.
Proof of support for your girlfriend ( money transfers )
Copies of emails or chat
Make photocopies of all the important documents you are asked for.
Work on Step 2 before you leave for the philippines.
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/nzis/operations_manual/5068.htm
Step 1 for Pinoy female
http://www.gov.ph/faqs/marriage.asp
This is the most important requirement to marry your girlfriend "Philippine law prescribes a ten-day waiting period from the filing of the Application to the issuance of the marriage license". So you must stay in the Philippines for at least 3 weeks to marry there. NOTE:You both have to sign the Application so you have to be in the Philippines to do this.
Get her Certified NSO Certificates delivered to her doorstep now available on myAyala.com NOTE: myAyala is a major online shopping site for Pinoy products.
Certificate Options
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate
CENOMAR Certificate (Certificate of No Marriage)
https://www.myayala.com/nso/
You cannot just marry her one day there & then expect to fill out the visitors visa the next day.
Both of you need to contact the Visa Information & Application (VIA) center in Manila for help.
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Immigration New Zealand is pleased to announce that the lodgment of
all visa applications in the Philippines will be managed
LODGING YOUR APPLICATION
NOTE: Please prepare separate payment for courier/postage fee in the form of either cash or cheque payable to PIASI for those applications with Direct Lodgments thru the VIA Center. PROCESSING TIME
IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND MANILA BRANCH STAFF
Branch Manager – Mr. David Mills
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I have brought from this site & the service was good. |
If you have never been to the Philippines before.
This movie story line is bad but it shows you real
life in the background scenes.
It gives you a view of street life in & around
Manila & Cavite.
I enjoyed it for this reason.
Step 2 Getting the visitors visa to come to New Zealand was the hard part.
Getting married was the easy part.
In NZ. Ring or go to the immigration dept in your town & get a couple of copies of the visitor application to New Zealand.
You cannot just marry her one day there & then expect to fill out the visitors visa the next day.
All Filipino emigrants leaving the country to settle abroad permanently
are required by law to register with
CFO to get her Certificate of Attendance before she leaves the Philippines.
To make it easier for your wife to move to New Zealand you should of
visited her in the Philippines at least twice
as the, 'Commission on Filipinos Overseas', is a pain in the ass to
deal with.
But you can get some papers ready for her.
VISITOR / WORK VISA APPLICATION CHECKLIST
A General Guide for Applicants applying under Relationship categories
(Last updated on 30 March 2007) Please check with Immigration dept for any changes to this list.
Important
It is important that you provide all the relevant information requested
below so the Visa Information & Application (VIA) center in Manila
can accept and process your application promptly.
If any of the following are not received, the application will be rejected
and returned to you unprocessed.
You should note that if you provide false, misleading or inaccurate
information, this may result in your application being declined.
2007 Application Fee 4,700 Pesos Courier Fee 100 Pesos Check
current prices
Please note that this fee is a processing fee and is NON-REFUNDABLE
regardless of the outcome of your visa application.
Acceptable modes of payment include Managers Cheque , bank draft (
made payable to "New Zealand Immigration Service” ) as the Visa Information
& Application (VIA) center in Manila has taken over the visa applications
)
Documents Required
1. Fully completed “Application for Visiting New Zealand” (NZIS
Form 1017) or “Application to Work in New Zealand” (NZIS Form 1015).
2. A recent passport sized photograph attached to the application
form.
3. Original passport.
4. Evidence of your immigration status in the country where you are
currently residing, if it is not your country of citizenship (e.g. work
permit, student permit, permanent residence, etc.).
5. Your travel itinerary and flight bookings
TIP: ( NZ Immigration requires a visitor to have a return
ticket to be brought before she can enter the country so make sure she
can buy a refundable ticket for a year's travel to NZ. Then when she is
in NZ send the return ticket back to the Philippines for her family to
cash in. )
6. Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during
your stay. The minimum funds required is NZ $1,000 per person
per month of stay in New Zealand. This may be submitted in the form of
bank statements in your own name. OR… (see 7.)
TIP: ( Give your wife a couple of thousand NZ dollars
to fly here with as it makes getting through customs here easier if she
has cash on her. )
7. If your visit is being sponsored by a New Zealand citizen/resident,
a fully completed “Sponsorship Form for Visiting New Zealand” (NZIS
Form 1025) signed and endorsed by your New Zealand sponsor.
8. Evidence of any previous travel.
For Partners of New Zealand Residents / New Zealand Citizens / Holders
of Long Term Work Visa or Permit
1. Certified true copy of marriage certificate (if applicable)
and birth certificates of any children included in the application.
TIP: ( Certified Local Marriage certificates are ok.
The Philippines NSO Marriage certificate takes at least 6 months to get.
)
2. Certified true copy of your partner's New Zealand residence,
citizenship or work visa / permit status.
3. A written letter of support for your
partner.
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Dear Sir or Madam I ( Your Name ) do hereby promise to provide support for my wife ( Full Name ). I am a NZ born citizen who lives here permanently. I want to support my wife to gain full residence here. I confirm that I undertake to provide accommodation, full financial support including health care plus the cost of return airfares for my wife. I confirm I will pay all costs & expenses due that the Crown feels I need to pay. Yours faithfully
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4. Evidence that you and your partner intend living in New Zealand for
the same period.
5. A written statement outlining the history of your relationship
and the reason why you and your partner choose to live in New Zealand.
6. Evidence of your relationship, such as photographs of you
and your partner together, documents indicating public recognition of the
marriage, or partnership and/or wedding photos/video (where available),
evidence of joint financial commitments and joint ownership of assets,
and evidence of communication between you and your partner if you have
been living apart.
7. Any other evidence to support that the relationship is genuine
and stable and will be maintained on a long term and exclusive basis.
For visitors intending to stay longer than 6 months but less than 12
months, the following additional documents are required:
A Full Medical Certificates and X-ray
Certificate (NZIS Form 1096) if you hold a passport from a country
not listed below as a low TB country and/or you have spent a combined total
of three or more months in any one or more countries not listed below in
the past five years prior to the application being made. The certificate
must be less than 3 months old when the application is lodged.
The certificate needs to be completed by an Immigration New Zealand
Panel Doctor if being completed in a country where we have nominated panel
doctors. Countries where we have nominated panel doctors include
Brunei and Malaysia, but not Singapore or Maldives. For a list of
our panel doctors, please visit our web site at www.immigration.govt.nz.
Note: Pregnant women and children under the age of 11 are not required
to have an X-ray examination.
List of Low TB Incidence Countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta,
Monaco, Netherlands, (New Zealand), Norway, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican City.
TIP: ( The Philippines is not on this list. You need
to know this for the medical form )
Police clearance certificate(s) from your country of citizenship
and any other countries where you have resided for 5 years and more since
you turned 17 years of age. These certificates must not be more than 6
months old and are only required from applicants aged 17 and above.
Notes
1. Immigration New Zealand reserves the right to request for additional
information in the course of assessing an application.
2. If original documents are in a language other than English, you
should provide official English translations of these documents.
3. Certified copies must be stamped or endorsed as being true copies
of the originals by a person authorised by law to take statutory declarations.
Tip:You should leave an original copy with fingerprints of her Nbi certificate in the Philippines for when you need to get her next work permit extension.
You need to get the following files NEW VERSIONS from the Immigration web site or
Rainier Sales
Technical Adviser - Immigration
Unit 1003, 10/F One Corporate Plaza
845 Antonio Arnaiz Ave (Pasay Rd)
Makati City
Email: rainier.sales@dol.govt.nz
New copies 2007 thanks to Graeme for looking for them.
http://webmail.clear.net.nz/webmail.cgi?cmd=url&url=http!3A!2F!2Fwww.immigration.govt.nz!2
immigration New Zealand Health Forms & Guides
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/healthcharacter.htm
Medical and Chest X-ray Certificate Form PDF [404KB] NZIS 1007
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/DE431E92-0ADE-4B5F-81F9-18DF08E5B2EA/0/1007.pdf
Medical & Chest X-ray Certificate - Applicant's Notes, PDF [122KB]
NZIS 1133
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/782F07E0-4CB2-4F58-9166-F0A9D63C4D68/0/1133.pdf
Temporary Entry X-ray Certificate PDF [91KB] NZIS 1096
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/4F0B1B69-EDAF-4BF5-B973-566D39BF52D3/0/1096.pdf
Immigration New Zealand Residence Forms & Guides
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/residence.htm
Application for Residence PDF [407KB] NZIS 1000
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/D10B5CEA-318C-4E3F-88BF-FE8FDCFC7170/0/1000.pdf
List of Recognised Qualifications
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/lorq/
Guide for Applying for Residence in New Zealand PDF [825KB] NZIS 1002
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/EFA678B7-EDE5-49CA-A8FE-74BD75CA30DE/0/1002.pdf
Sponsorship Form for Residence in New Zealand PDF [210B] NZIS 1024
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/2B3838A5-B664-44F9-BF75-633951D111DB/0/1024.pdf
Additional Dependants for Residence in New Zealand PDF [141KB] NZIS
1001
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/1DFAF662-1CF8-4231-A394-DBE98A625AA6/0/1001.pdf
Immigration New Zealand Visit Forms & Guides
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/visit.htm
Application for Visiting New Zealand PDF [136KB] NZIS 1017
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/3CEE1C20-BA66-45ED-ABE7-7697DDC12F73/0/1017.pdf
Guide for Visiting New Zealand PDF [255KB] NZIS 1018
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/AC468617-95B4-48ED-9CBA-586A97836AFE/0/1018.pdf
Sponsorship Form for Visiting New Zealand PDF [42KB] NZIS 1025
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/31F1BFFC-2BB2-442D-981A-30FB01F4C18E/0/1025.pdf
Letter of Undertaking PDF [34KB] NZIS 1029
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/8C091F9E-FE78-48EA-8482-0FBA88AFACA7/0/1029.pdf
Immigration New Zealand Work forms and guides
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/work.htm
Application to Work in New Zealand PDF [135KB] NZIS 1015
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/EC9A6BEF-1152-482F-B39F-B782EE7688FA/0/1015.pdf
Guide for Working in New Zealand PDF [323KB] NZIS 1016
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/371C5E08-3AAE-4F62-A283-8430B1716E70/0/1016.pdf
Immigration New Zealand Other Forms and Leaflets
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/other.htm
New Zealand Immigration Guide to Fees [145KB] NZIS 1028
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/00B58004-04AB-46C6-B32B-5CE91FBA979A/0/1028.pdf
I would like to share with others this brief outline of the path that I took to marry a Filipino ...
' I met my Filipino wife-to-be at a website in 2007, and I visited her
in the Philippines in 2007.
Then back in New Zealand, we applied for a Visitor Visa for her which
was declined. Why?
I had "polite but frank dialogue" with the N.Z. Embassy about this
- as my fiancee and I
wanted to marry in New Zealand before the end of 2007. And this
goal was achieved by
my wife then applying for a Limited Purpose Visa - to attend her own
wedding. There was
no fee for this visa application because her visit would not exceed
59 days. We provided
evidence to the N.Z. Embassy of her upcoming wedding, and I also booked
myself on her
return flight from N.Z. to the Philippines - as an assurance to the
N.Z. Embassy that she
would not overstay. In consultation with the N.Z. Embassy, this
arrangement was later
cancelled - my wife left N.Z. alone. Since then, I have returned
to the Philippines again,
and my wife is now here with me in New Zealand. She has a Work
Visa under the
"Family Work Policy". Our path continues ... "
If anyone else has taken a different path to get their wife here please
share with us.
http://www.chanrobles.com/executiveorderno209.htm#EXECUTIVE%20ORDER%20NO.%20209
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/
There is not a page on the philippines you just have to follow the
general guidelines.
http://www.nzembassy.com/home.cfm?c=33
NZ Embassy in Manila
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/nzis/operations_manual/5068.htm
http://www.visayas.wowphilippines.com/bisaya/
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph/
I use Singapore Airlines fly's to Manila. I enjoy shopping in Singapore.
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/index.jsp
Air New Zealand fly's to Sydney or Melbourne then you can fly Philippine Airlines or Qantas to Manila.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ELy0VCd9Ao
Free Online Tagalog language lessons on You Tube.
http://www.bigjimsphilippinesexperience.com/
Great tourist videos on the Philippines.
Filipino dating sites
By word of mouth we can recommend these two web sites if you are still looking for a wife. There are others but we have no feedback on them.
NZ Filipino web sites
http://www.filipino.co.nz/cpg/index.php
http://www.tindahanpnoy.co.nz/
http://diariofilipino.50webs.com/
http://www.wcl.govt.nz/languages/tagalog.html
Tips
If you have a Vodafone New Zealand phone you can text straight to the philippines.
I have used the following philippine web sites to buy from with great results.
http://www.wowphilippines.com/catalog/
Law firms in New Zealand
Most major law firms in New Zealand have a person who deals with immigration cases.
Alisbayan Boxes in New Zealand
Flying V International
Alice or Victor Alegado
Tel 09 833 5265
Cell 021 880246
email: Flyingv55@hotmail.com
On Job applications in New Zealand.
When applying for a low level job in New Zealand. It sometimes does not help to put all your qualifications on your application as employers have told me they do not want to employ University graduates as they assume they will leave once they are settled in New Zealand for a better job once they have time to find one.
But put your English language skills ( level ) as these are the most important.
Questions we have been asked
Can you use or exchange NZ money in the Philippines. Answer Depends on where you go. In Manila in the banks & major money exchanges NZ money cannot be exchanged but we have been told if you are in Manila or Cebu you can change NZ money in the black market exchanges. You should get USA cash to exchange for Philippine Peso's. In the ANZ bank in NZ if you have a Gold credit card it does not cost you to exchange NZ money into USA money. I just transfer some money from my bank account & ask for it in USA dollars. So I assume the other major banks in NZ also provide this service free.
Can you use a NZ credit card in the Philippines. Answer Yes you can use a NZ Visa or Mastercard issued in NZ
What is the average cost of marrying a girl from the Philippines. Answer
I cannot say for other guys as most guys are very shy about money spent
but a airfare trip just to Manila will cost about $2,500. So 2 trips is
$5,000. Then for me my first trip I stayed 7 days then my second trip to
Manila I stayed 28 days. So I would of spent about $4,000 on hotels in
Manila. Your spending cash depends on how long you want to stay in Manila.
I took in total $11,000 cash ( changed into USA money ) with me for both
trips. What I did not spend I left behind with my girlfriend in Manila
to help her pay for all the papers & forms she needed to fill out.
In total I would of spend around $20,000 NZ dollars but you can do it cheaper.
Bin Inn in New Brighton has a the best selection of Pinoy food in Christchurch.
We try to shop here once a month to stock up on Philippine food.
Surfside Mall, 68 Hawke Street
Tel: (03) 388-7214
Fax: (03) 382-9268
Email: newbrighton@bininn.co.nz
Julian Smith
Helpful Links for Pinoys in New Zealand
Try & get a Testra broad band connection or at the least a broad
band connection & subscribe to this service. We are members of the
premium service here.
It really helps with the home sickness for your pinoy wife.
We watch this service everyday. It is updated everyday & has a
USA filipino Tv channel live.
ABS-CBNnow! is an internet based video on demand and live broadcast
service that provides communities anywhere in the world with access
to the latest news and entertainment programs and movies from ABS-CBN,
the Philippines' largest media network.
The Pinoy Country & Western dance video at the bottom was taken
by me at one of the Filipino dance evenings.
The second video is at the same venue but on a different night.
Pinoy
Country & Western dance in Christchurch NZ
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Independence Day Disco 2007
Christchurch
