As we are part of the Commonwealth, lots of Kiwi’s have taken advantage of the Ancestry visa over the years. This is a visa that allows New Zealand citizens to live and work in the UK for 5 years.
Approval for the Ancestry visa is determined by a specific set of circumstances, including whether you have or had a Grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland before the 31st of March, 1922. You must also be 17 or over, have enough money to support and house yourself and any people who are dependent on you—and you have to apply for this visa in advance. There are also other criteria you will need to meet.
To fully emigrate to the UK, you apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’- this is also called ‘settlement’. You can do this if you have been there for 5 years on the Ancestry visa and if it’s granted, you will be able to live, work and study there and apply for any benefits if you’re eligible. You can also apply if you have family in the UK who are settled, if you have been working in the UK for 3 years on an Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, or you have lived there already for 10 years.
There are other conditions for all these methods of emigrating and there are other pathways available. You must do your own research and make applications before you try to enter the country.