How to get a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa?
The skilled migrant category resident is for you if you have skills, qualifications or experiences that New Zealand need. The main purpose of this visa is to attract skilled people who have the ability to contribute to the economic growth of New Zealand. Indeed, a very smart pathway to get residency in New Zealand.
This visa will allow you to live, work and study in New Zealand. In your resident visa application, you can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under.
Essential requirements:
To initiate the process, you must submit an expression of interest (EOI) to immigration New Zealand. Please note there is a fee of $590 to submit the EOI.
Once you submit an EOI, the immigration will invite you to apply for the visa if you are successful. The Immigration use a points-based system to assess your EOI. As of 28 of October, the immigration is selecting EOIs with 160 points or above which will be increased to 180 points after 9 November 2022.
The points are allocated for age, employment in New Zealand, qualifications, work experiences, partner’s qualification, experiences and capability to communicate in English. You can also get points if your employment is outside of Auckland, paying a higher remuneration which is NZD $54 an hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary) and work in an area of absolute skills shortage.
Please note, you don’t have to provide any evidence during EOI submission process. However, you must provide sufficient evidence to get the points during the resident visa application.
You won’t get another chance! So don’t take risk if you are not competent!
EOI stage: We can assess your qualifications and experiences and advice you about your eligibility. You also submit EOI on your behalf.
Resident Visa Application: We submit the visa application on your behalf. We review all your documents and information to ensure you fulfilled all requirements successfully to secure your visa.
Follow up with Immigration after the application is submitted: We follow up with immigration on your behalf until your application is successful.
Our team is highly experienced and have 30 plus years of experience in Immigration Law.
Explanation of the points!
The below explanation is just a general guidance only. To find a personalised advice, or to know how it will apply in your circumstances, please book an appointment with our Barristers and Solicitors.
Age
| Age | Points |
| 20 – 39 | 30 |
| 40-44 | 20 |
| 45-49 | 10 |
| 50-55 | 5 |
Skilled Employment in NZ
If you have an employment offer or are working in New Zealand, you can get up to 110 points.
Please note that the employment must be a skilled employment where you need specialist, technical or management expertise and relevant qualifications and/or work experience to do, and which meets a minimum pay threshold. Please find out more about the skilled employment at Skilled Employment page of INZ website.
| Skilled Employment | 50 |
| The work in an area of absolute skills shortage | 10 |
| The work is outside of Auckland | 30 |
| Remuneration at or above NZD $54 an hour (or the equivalent annual salary) which is | 20 |
If you want to know the details of absolute skills shortage, please click the INZ page for list of absolute skills shortage.
Qualifications
The qualifications will be recognised if it is on the exempt list, or it is assessed by NZQA.
| Level | Points |
| 9-10 | 70 |
| 7-8 | 50 |
| 3-6 | 40 |
Extra Points for Qualifications if you have a NZ qualification that you have studied full-time in New Zealand
| Degree and years of study | Points |
| Post-graduate qualification – 2 years or more | 15 |
| Post-graduate qualification – 1 years or more | 10 |
| Bachelor’s degree – 2 years or more | 10 |
| Recognised level 4 qualification completed before 25 July 2011 | 05 |
| Any recognised qualification started before 25 July 2011- 2 years or more | 05 |
Skilled Work Experience
Find out full details about how INZ recognise skilled work experience for Skilled Migrant Resident Category Visas at https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/work-and-employment/skilled-work-experience)
| Years of Experience | Points |
| 2-3 | 10 |
| 4-5 | 20 |
| 6-7 | 30 |
| 8-9 | 40 |
| 10+ | 50 |
Extra points in work Experience.
| Types | Points |
| A least one-year experience in New Zealand | 10 |
| If you have 2-5 years of experience in an area of absolute skills shortage | 10 |
| If you have 6 years of experience in an area of absolute skills shortage | 15 |
Extra points
You can earn up to 40 points if your partner speaks English at the same level that you are required to (i.e., IELTS 6.5) and currently working in skilled employment or offered such. You can also earn extra points if your partner has 7-10 level qualifications.
Our Process
