New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category resident visa

People aged 55 or younger who meet the requirements of the Points-based, Skilled Work Experience, or Trades and Technician pathway.

• Be 55 or younger

  You must be aged 55 or younger when you apply.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Have a skilled job or offer

  You must be working in, or have an offer for, a skilled job with an accredited employer. It must be for at least 30 hours a week and be permanent, fixed-term for at least 12 months, or a contract or continuous contracts for at least 6 months. It must meet your pathway's pay requirements.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Qualify under one pathway

  You must qualify under the Points-based pathway, Skilled Work Experience pathway, or Trades and Technician pathway.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Reach 6 points if using points

  For the Points-based pathway, you need 6 skilled resident points: 3 to 6 from one of qualification, eligible New Zealand occupational registration, or income, plus up to 3 from skilled work experience in New Zealand if needed.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet qualification rules if claiming them

  Points-based applicants claiming qualification points need an eligible degree or postgraduate qualification. A New Zealand level 10 doctorate earns 6 points; an eligible New Zealand level 9 master's earns 5 or 6; an eligible New Zealand level 8 qualification or level 7 bachelor's earns 5. An eligible overseas level 10 doctorate earns 6, level 9 master's earns 5, and level 8 qualification or level 7 bachelor's earns 4. Some higher qualifications also require a bachelor's degree. Overseas qualifications generally need an International Qualification Assessment unless exempt; non-degree qualificat

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet registration rules if claiming them

  Points-based applicants claiming occupational-registration points must have an eligible New Zealand registration. Registrations requiring at least 2, 4, 5 or 6 years of training or experience earn 3, 4, 5 or 6 points respectively; work experience used for additional points must follow registration.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet pay rules if claiming income points

  Points-based applicants claiming income points need pay of at least 1.5 times the applicable SMC wage threshold for 3 points, 2 times for 4 points, or 3 times for 6 points. The published current rates are NZD $52.50, $70.00 and $105.00 an hour respectively; the applicable threshold can depend on when qualifying New Zealand work experience began.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet work rules if adding points

  Points-based applicants needing extra points can claim 1 point for 1 year, 2 points for 1.5 years, or 3 points for 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand. The work must be full-time, at least 30 hours a week, meet the applicable pay requirement and closely match the occupation's ANZSCO description.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet the experience pathway rules

  For the Skilled Work Experience pathway, your job or offer must be in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold. You need at least 3 years of relevant experience in a skill level 1 to 3 occupation, plus 2 years of skilled experience in New Zealand in such an occupation at the required pay. Relevant experience must be from the 10 years before applying; the 2 New Zealand years must be from the preceding 4 years. Self-employment cannot count as relevant experience. Red List and skill level 4 or 5 jobs are ineligible; Amber List jobs have additional req

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet extra Amber List rules if applicable

  For an Amber List job under the Skilled Work Experience pathway, pay must be at least 1.2 times the SMC wage threshold, with at least 3 years of relevant New Zealand experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation plus 2 years of skilled New Zealand experience in such an occupation at that pay.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet the trades pathway rules

  For the Trades and Technician pathway, you must work in an eligible occupation paid at least the SMC wage threshold, hold a relevant qualification at level 4 or higher or comparable to level 4, have at least 2.5 years of relevant post-qualification experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, and have another 1.5 years of post-qualification skilled experience in New Zealand at the required pay. New Zealand qualifications must meet the stated 120-credit requirement; overseas qualifications need an International Qualification Assessment.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Show English ability

  The principal applicant must speak and understand English, shown through the specified citizenship, work and study criteria or an approved in-person test. Minimum test results include overall IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 58, B2 First 176, or OET grade C+ in all four skills. Test results normally must be no more than 2 years old when applying; the visa page allows up to 5 years for someone with an eligible full occupational registration.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet health requirements

  You and anyone included must be in good health. Applicants aged 15 or older must complete a chest X-ray and medical examination; younger children's examination requirements vary by age. Medical evidence must be less than 3 months old when submitted, although previously supplied certificates issued within the last 3 years may not need to be supplied again.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Meet character requirements

  You and anyone included must be of good character. Everyone included aged 17 or older must provide police certificates less than 6 months old when applying, from countries of citizenship and countries where they spent 12 months or more in the preceding 10 years.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Prove included family relationships

  If including a partner or dependent children aged 24 or younger, you must provide evidence of a genuine relationship. An included partner and dependent children aged 16 or older must meet the English requirement or buy English lessons in New Zealand.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Apply after an invitation

  You must submit an expression of interest, receive an invitation to apply, and submit the visa application under the invited pathway within 4 months of the invitation.

  immigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource

• Skilled Residence application fee, Band A or Band C; one fee per applicationimmigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource$2,880 once
• Skilled Residence application fee, Band B Pacific citizens instead of the Band A or C fee; one fee per applicationimmigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource$1,860 once
• Skilled Residence immigration levy, unless exempt; one levy per applicationimmigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource$3,570 once
• Expression of interestimmigration.govt.nz · checked 4 minutes agoSource$0 once

1. Get ready

   • Check which pathway you meet

     Check that you meet the common requirements and at least one of the three SMC pathways before expressing interest.

   • Secure a qualifying job or offer

     Check the employer's accreditation and that the job's hours, duration, occupation and pay meet your pathway's requirements.

     You’ll need: Employment agreement or job offer, Job description

   • Arrange an assessment if needed

     If you need an International Qualification Assessment, apply for it before submitting your expression of interest and include its reference number.

     You’ll need: International Qualification Assessment reference number, if required

   • Gather your supporting documents

     Prepare identity, employment, pathway, English, medical and police evidence, plus family documents and certified translations where applicable.

     You’ll need: Passport or certificate of identity, Photo, Employment agreement, Job description, Pathway evidence, English evidence, Medical evidence, Police certificates, Family relationship evidence, if applicable, Certified translations, if applicable

2. Apply

   • Submit your expression of interest

     Give details of how you and anyone included meet the requirements; no documents or fee are required at this stage.

   • Receive your invitation to apply

     If invited, apply under the pathway named in your invitation within 4 months.

     You’ll need: Invitation to apply

   • Apply online and pay

     Use the link in your invitation to complete the residence application, upload your documents and pay the applicable fee and levy.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents, Invitation to apply

3. Visa

   • Wait for the decision

     Respond if Immigration New Zealand requests more information; if approved, it will email you an eVisa.

     You’ll need: Additional evidence, if requested

4. Travel

   • Complete your traveller declaration

     Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration for entry permission; a digital declaration can be submitted no earlier than 24 hours before starting travel.

     You’ll need: New Zealand Traveller Declaration

   • Enter New Zealand

     When you arrive

     If you applied from outside New Zealand, arrive within 12 months of your visa being issued and apply for entry permission on arrival.

     You’ll need: Passport, eVisa

After holding the resident visa for 2 years in a row, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

• Resident visa wait times :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• INZ 1028 Fees Guideimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• English language requirements for skilled residence visas :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• The SMC wage threshold :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial
• Red and Amber List occupations :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nzOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.