The Skilled Migrant Category Visa in New Zealand is a type of visa that allows individuals with skills and qualifications in demand to live, work, and study in New Zealand. It is a pathway to residency for skilled migrants and their families. The visa is points-based, and applicants must meet certain criteria to be eligible. They need to demonstrate their skills, work experience, qualifications, and ability to contribute to the New Zealand economy. Applicants can also include their partner and dependent children in their residence application. The Skilled Migrant Category Visa is subject to specific requirements and guidelines set by Immigration New Zealand.

You can apply for this visa if you currently work or you have a job offer from an accredited employer, and qualify for 6 points for your skills and work in New Zealand.
 
You will need to submit an expression of interest (EOI). If it is accepted, INZ will invite you to apply. The criteria to be eligible are as follows:

What you need to apply:

  • You, and anyone else included in your application, must provide proof of identity. You may include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your residence application.
  • You must be aged 55 or younger at the time you apply
  • You, and anyone else included in your application, must be in good health
  • You, and anyone else included in your application, must be of good character
  • You must speak and understand English
  • You must have a skilled job or job offer with an accredited employer in New Zealand to apply

Other requirements:
​
  • Your New Zealand occupational registration must be eligible to qualify for points
  • Your qualification must be recognised to qualify for points
  • Your income you earn from your job must be at least 1.5 times the median wage to qualify for points
  • You can claim points for skilled work experience in New Zealand
  • If you include your partner and children in your application, you must have a genuine relationship with them
  • Your partner and children 16 and over must speak English or pay for classes to learn English in New Zealand
If you confirm you meet the base eligibility criteria to be granted a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you can be invited to apply. 
Points to note:
​Claim 3 to 6 points for your qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher), New Zealand occupational registration or income. However, you cannot combine points from any of these skill categories. For example you cannot combine points from your qualification with points from your income.

Claim 1 point for each year of skilled work in New Zealand, up to a maximum of 3 points. These points can be combined with the points from your qualification, New Zealand occupational registration or income.

SMC Points System

The SMC complements the Green List and Sector Agreement residence pathways, providing clear residence options for people depending on their job, qualification or wage.

All SMC applicants must have a job offer for, or current employment in, a role paid at least:
  • the median wage for occupations classified at ANZSCO skill level 1-3, or 
  • 1.5 times the median wage for occupations classified at ANZSCO skill level 4-5.

In addition, they need six points to apply. This can be made up from:
  • three to six points based on New Zealand occupational registration, or a recognised qualification or income; and
  • one point per year of work in a New Zealand skilled job, up to a maximum of three points. 

Timeline of Application

After submitting your EOI, it will then be lined up along with other applications for processing. The assessment time varies and it depends on INZ’s caseload but it can roughly be between 8 weeks to 16 weeks.

​Then, should your EOI be chosen, INZ will complete a preliminary assessment of your provided information and you may be given a chance to apply for residence.

About 4 months will be given to you to submit the residency application from the date of receipt of your Invitation to Apply (ITA). You must send your application to INZ, along with other supporting documents and the required application fee.

After paying, the application process will commence and the process time it will take will be an average of 6 to 18 months.

Generally, if an application is complete, has no error in information, and provides all documentation in accordance to the INZ requirements, then the application process is more likely to be faster and successful.
Immigration Trust has been very successful in helping our clients with their immigration matters.

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