How To Travel Legally To Fiji?

Fiji is one of the world's most attractive tourism destinations. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it consists of 33e islands, from which there are about 110 inhabited islands. The major Islands are: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Fiji is a wonderland and it boast many amazing natural wonders such as: 

- Kula Eco Park.

- Sabeto Hot Springs.

- Great Astrolabe Reef.

- Fiji Museum. 

- Garden of the Sleeping Giant.

- Mount Tomanivi.

- Zipline Fiji.

- Kava Ceremony.

- Navua Village & Waterfall Visit. 

- Mamanuca Islands Sailing Adventure.

The formalities of entry to Fiji are very simple. On presentation of a return ticket and a valid passport (at least six months after the planned return date,) a valid tourist visa of 4 months is issued for free to the nationals of more than 100 countries upon their arrival on the Fiji territory. Below is the complete list of countries, whse nationals benefit from a four-month tourist visa upon arrival in Fiji.

List of countries which do not need a visa to travel to Fiji:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Brunei, Cameron, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, CzechRepublic, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nevis, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Republic of MarshallIslands, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Solomon Islands, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Netherlands, The Federatd States of Micronesia, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,  United States of America, Uruguya, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Antigua and Barbuda.

The nationals of countries not appearing on the list mentioned above, will have to present a visa application in an embassy of the Fiji Islands before their departure to Fiji.

Obtaining a tourist visa does not authorize the travelers to participate in political activities or to study in Fiji. A work permit is necessary to live and work in Fiji during more than six months. Foreign journalists have to apply for a working visa for any stay exceeding 14 days.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

The English Language Programs Available In New Zealand!

The country of Kiwis, or New Zealand is a country literally situated at the other end of the world ready to provide a unique experience to all the students wishing to go to study the English language there.

1- General English courses: 

It is a program of general education of English with a more or less intensive rhythm according to your expectation, your objectives, and your projects in the place.

2- Preparation for the different examinations of English: 

If you wish to study a program in English at a foreign university, or simply to obtain a certificate of your language level, the examinations of TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC are inescapable and necessary. Specific programs will allow you to prepare for these examinations in a optimal way.

3- Business English courses: 

This type of courses is aimed at the professionals and young people, who want to improve their English and make it usefull in the work world. It's an excellent base to learn to interact with your colleagues and partners in English.

4- University preparation programs: 

These programs aimed at the young people wishing to study in an Anglo-Saxon country, and more particularly New Zealand or Australia. These programs familiarize you with the education in English, improve your global level, support you in your application to join universities, and often guarantee you an admission in an excellent international university.

5- One year of courses abroad: 

It is a complet academic year often takes 9 months within one or several schools of language in New Zealand. For a gap year, or an intensive learning of English, it is one of the best solutions you can have.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Make An Application For A New Zealand Working Holiday Visa?

Like many other countries, New Zealand offers a working holiday visa program to allow people from different countries to go to New Zealand to work while enjoying their holiday. This article will be about how French young people can apply for a working holiday visa to New Zealand. The WHV program allow French young people to travel and explore New Zealand during a maximum duration of 12 months. During their stay they can work and study for up to six months while enjoying their holiday. The applicants who received a WHV do not have to find an employer before travelling to New Zealand.

The conditions to apply for a WHV to New Zealand:

The conditions set for the application to obtaining a working hoiliday visa to New Zealand are almost the same for all countries. If you are a French citizen, then you should fulfill the following conditions:

//- You should have a valid French passport which will still be valid, at least, 3 months after your planned date to return in France.

//- Your age should be between 18 and 30 years.

//- You can not take children with you and if you have a partner that wants to accompany, they will have to apply for their own visa.

//- You should have a round-trip ticket or sufficient money to buy one on your way back.

//- You should have a minimum of NZ$4,200 (approximately €2797,) at the time of departure to New Zealand.^

//- You should have a health insurance.

//- You should pay NZ$80 as a visa fee.

The tips to obtain a WHV to New Zealand:

The government of New Zealand didn't decide a quota to the number of working holiday visas to be delivered each year. This means that you can apply for a visa at any time of the year. You can make your visa application by mail or online. And if you want your visa application to be processed fast, then it is recommended to make an application online. 

However, you should know that there is no precise processing time ofworking holiday visa application, but according  the official website of New Zealand government, it takes few days for the processing of your visa application.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Apply For A Job At Thredbo Ski Resort In Australia?

One way to be able to travel to Australia is through a job. A good place where you may find a job is at Thredbo ski resort.

Thredbo is a ski resort situated in the Kosciuszko National Park, in New South Wales in the South of Australia. To tell the truth, Thredbo, it is more than a simple ski resort. You also find there a golf, a runway of family bobsleigh, a center of leisure (swimming pool, squash, fitness, tennis). 

The employees of the resort benefit from a free access or from reductions on all the proposed activities, including the ski runs.

Work at Thredbo during your  working holiday permit in Australia is possible, and the resort clearly lets you know by dedicating a page on its website to the people who hold working holiday permits. The resort proposes contracts from 3 to 4 months, between the end of June and mid-September.

Job offers are published every year at the end of January. It is necessary to be already in Australia as you apply, and probably even in the neighborhood of the resort (as in Albury, 40 000 inhabitants is the biggest citt in the surroundings, otherwise Canberra, which is 212 kilometers far from the resort). It is strongly recommended to have a car because the employees are generally staying in Jindabyne, a village that is 30 kilometers of Thredbo resort.

The job positions available are usually in the reception, administration, animation or catering.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Do A Master's Degree In New Zealand?

Many people from all of the world wish to study in New Zealand after they obtain a Bachelor's degree, because New Zealand is a great place and it offers students and visitors great things to do and see. If you are a French student or a student from any other country and you wish to follow a Master's degree program in New Zealand, it is possible especially if you have a Bachelor's degree, which may make you qualifiy for a scholarship in New Zealand. 

Every student want to apply for a Master's Degree in New Zealand is one of two cases:

1- You got good grades during your last year of graduation for a Bachelor's Degree, and you have, then,a big chance to join directly a Master's degree program. 

2- You got pretty poor marks during your last year of graduation for a Bachelor's Degree, and you could be, then, obliged to turn to Bachelor with Honours or to Post-Graduate Diploma, that is an additional year between the Bachelor's Degree and the Master's Degree. After you had the additional year, you can, then, join a Master's degree, either in first year, or directly in the second year.

To study in New Zealand after you got a Bachelor's degree, you have to find at first a program which interests you through the official website of education in New Zealand here. Once you have found your program of interest, check out the website of the university that provides that program, to get information about admissions. Generally, it is not exactly noted if your Bachelor's degree will be enough for applying to the program. You have, as a result, to contact the university to obtain additional information, but it will be necessary to begin directly the process of application.

To be able to decide whether it is possible or not to follow a Master's degree program with a French Bachelor's Degree, for example, the New Zealand university will need that you provide them with your translated and certified school reports as well as a translated and certified copy of your diploma. The certification can be made by a person in charge of the French university in which you followed your studies.

Before you register, you need to know that you should take a test of English such as "TOEFL" or "IELTS". The required scores differ from one university to another and from one program to the other, but, generally, are at least 90-100 for TOEFL and 6.5 for IELTS.

One final point mention about studying in New Zealand after a Bachelor's degree, is that it is essential to conform to the New Zealand calendar. The study entry term is, generally, at the end of February-beginning of March, and the periods of registration, generally, stop at the beginning of October (for certain programs, it may stay open for longer time). A entry term in July-August is sometimes possible.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Apply For A Student Visa To Australia?

A lot of people, from all over the world, immigrate to Australia every year. And a lot of students choose Australia as there next destination to pursue their higher education studies. French students, like many other students from different countries, like to go to Australia to study. 

French students can apply for the "Temperary Student Visa 537-1, Subclass 573 -Assessment Level 1". If they wish to study in Australia to obtain:

1- Bachelor's degree.

2- Associate's degree.

3- Graduate certificate.

4- Graduate diploma. to Master's degree by coursework 

5- Higher Education diploma.

6- Master's degree by coursework.

7- Higher Education advanced diploma. 

The advantages of this student visa:

Having this student visa, you can benefit from a lot of things: 

1- You can study in Australia.

2- You work up to 20 hours a week during the periods of cources and as much as you want during the holidays, but you have to start your cources before starting a job.

3- You can stay in Australia during your study period and until:

* March, 15th, of the year following the end of your study cources, if the end of your cources coincides with the end of the cources in Australia, in November or December, and if your study cources lasted more than 10 months. 

* Two months after the end of your study cources, if these end between January and October and when your program of study lasted more than 10 months. 

* One month after the end of your study cources, if these lasted 10 months or less.

How to obtain this type of Student Visa:

There some conditions that the student should fulfill:

1- You should have been accepted to study full-time, by an Australian institution of higher education.

2- You should have sufficient financial resources to pay your trip, your tuition fees, and your expenses of stay. 

3- You should have a health insurance. 

French students have the possibility of making a visa application personally, by mail or online. As for the online procedure of the student visa application for Australia, the student should gather all the documents mentioned on the Australian Immigration website before starting the online application and also the student needs to read carefully the information provided on the website of the Australian embassy in France.

This type of study visa in Australia costs AUS$550 (about 400 euros).

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Get A Partner Of A New Zealander Resident Visa

After having talked about how you can get a residence in New Zealand through the "residence from Work category" and the "skilled migrant category (CMC)" in this article, I am going to talk about another category, which will allow you to get a residence in New Zealand. This category suits you if you have a partner or a spouse in New Zealand.

Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa:

The cost of this visa is NZ$ 1250, and it concerns you if your spouse or partner has a resident's visa in New Zealand or  if he/she is a New Zealand citizen, then he/she can sponsor you to come to New Zealand if you are capable of proving that you live together for at least 12 months, with supporting evidence. But if you this, it is possible that you apply for an open work visa, which will allow you to stay in New Zealand for a long enough time to gather the proofs of a common life of at least 12 months.

Note:

* If you want to know more about this type of visa, consult the website of the New Zealand immigration.

Advantages and disadvantages of the open work visa:

A- Advantages:

1- You have all the advantages of a visa of open work, because you can work for any employer and occupy any post, even it is permanent.

2- It is a first step towards the double citizenship because you can acquire the New Zealand nationality after 5 years.

B- Disadvantages:

You are subjected to conditions of journey outside New Zealand: generally, you can enter New Zealand and go out again without too much problem in the 2 years which follow the obtaining of your resident's visa. But, beyond this period, you will have to ask for a modification of the conditions of journey (variation of travel conditions) or a visa of permanent resident (PRV)

Note:

* You can find more about travel conditions here.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Get A Skilled Migrant Resident Visa For New Zealand

In the previous article, I talked about how you can get a "Work to Residence" visa in New Zealand, and in this article, I'm going to talk about another category of immigration to New Zealand, which will allow you to work and live in a stable way in the country. This category will suit you if you are a person that acquires high skills if a given field of work.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

This category bases itself on a system of points to choose the qualified immigrants. A minimum level of English is required and a set of elements (your age, your diplomas, your work experiences) can help to determine (thanks to a system of points) if you are capable of immigrating in New Zealand. The minimum of required points is 100 to enter the pool of applicants for immigration. If you are a member of this candidates' pool, it does not mean you will be chosen, but you asserted an interest for New Zealand (via an Expression of Interest.)

Notes:

1- The more points you have, the more your chances to be selected by the New Zealand authorities be.

2- Every two weeks approximately, the New Zealand authorities pull of the candidates' pool a number of people, who are then invited to present a resident's visa application.

How New Zealand authorities give you points?

1- Your age (between 5 and 30 points, and you will get the biggest part of these points if your age is between 20 and 29 years).

2- If you have relations in New Zealand (10 points).

3- If you have a job offer of a New Zealand employer (50 points).

4- Your past experiences in a qualified employment (up to 30 points). There is then a set of bonus points if the work experience took place in New Zealand and if the experience obtained was in an expanding sector (future growth area such as: Biotechnology, technologies of information or communication, creative industry) or in a domain being a part of the "Long Term Skill Shortage List ( LTSSL)",  which is available on the New Zealand immigration website.

5- Your qualifications: after New Zealand evaluate your qualifications obtained abroad, you will gain a number of points more or less raised (up to 60 points). It is also possible to gain bonus points if you obtained these qualifications in New Zealand or if these qualifications related to expanding domains or to domains where there is a lack of workforce in New Zealand.

6- Finally, If you leave with your spouse, it is possible to obtain additional points if he has experience in a qualified employment or has an important degree or diploma.

Notes:

* On the website of the New Zealand immigration you can find the list of points, which can be given to you.

* The cost of Expression of Interest is NZ$ 530

* The cost of the Resident visa is: NZ$ 2470

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific

How To Get A Residence From Work In New Zealand

In this article, I am going to take you to the south-west Pacific. Our destination is to the peacefull country known as, New Zealand. It is a small country consisting of two main islands and a number of smaller outlying islands so scattered, that they range from the tropical to the antarctic. The population is only 4.5 million people. The economy in New Zealand is based on: agriculture, horticulture, fishing, forestry and tourism. The country is considered one of the best countries in the world and it offers its citizens a prosperous life. In recent years, it has attracted many people from arround the world, who immigrate to the country and settled down. Below, I am going to tell you how you can get a residence in New Zealand based on work.

Work residence category:

This category addresses people having obtained a visa "Work to residence" under one of the following categories:

1- Length term skill shortage list - Work Category Visa: 

If you actually worked full-time (at least 30 hours per week) during 24 months, gained at least NZ$ 45 000 a year in a job being in the list of the skills in demand and if you always have a salary at least equivalent, then you could apply for a resident visa. To know more about it, consult the conditions of eligibility and the procedure of application through the official website of New Zealand.

2- Talent (accredited employers): 

If you actually worked full-time (at least 30 hours per week) during 24 months for the employer, who allowed you to come in New Zealand (or another employer, having obtained a " variation of condition " on behalf of the New Zealand authorities), and from which you still gain at least NZ$ 45 000 a year, then you could apply for a resident visa. And to know more about it, consult the conditions of eligibility and the procedure of application through the official website of New Zealand.

3- Talent (art, sport, culture): 

If you stayed at least 24 months in New Zealand with this visa, if you always excel at your domain (art, culture, sport), if you benefited from no financial support of the New Zealand State and if you benefit from the support of an organization, which has a national reputation in New Zealand, you could apply for a resident visa. And to know more about it, consult the conditions of eligibility and the procedure of application through the official website of New Zealand.

Note:

These people so have an access to the residence in New Zealand without passing by the classic way of the SCM, because of their work experience acquired in New Zealand. And the cost of the visa is NZ$ 1 550.

Categories: Oceania & The Pacific