The Skilled Migrant Category is the most popular visa pathway to residence in New Zealand for migrants and their families.
A resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category will allow you to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely, and it can include your partner and your dependent children aged 24 and under.
This visa policy is based on a points system that factors in multiple elements considered to be employability and settlement indicators.
Applicants submit an online Expression of Interest to start the process of becoming a New Zealand resident.
A job offer is usually required to meet the points threshold and to proceed to the next step of the visa application process, the actual Resident Visa Application.
Our Fusion Service will provide you with the support you will need to successfully complete this process.
The resident visa application process formally consists of two main stages, the Expression of Interest and the actual Residence Visa Application.
In some cases an external assessment of the applicant's qualifications by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority will be necessary as well, and for certain professions registration with the professional body in charge might be required.
However, in practice the process of becoming a permanent resident under the SMC policy is a lot more complicated than that.
"NZIC guided me all the way through getting my first work visa to permanent residency. Their job seeking support was key when I first arrived in NZ, communication was always easy and clear. I'm very thankful for their help and definitely recommend their services."
Find out how NZIC can help you navigate the pathway to becoming a skilled migrant under the SMC policy.
Unless you can claim at least 160 points in your EOI, you will not be able to move to the next stage of your residence process, your Resident Visa Application.
Most migrants will depend on finding a job in New Zealand to reach the 160 points threshold.
A job offer will entitle you to 50-110 points for your Expression on Interest, and probably lift you over the minimum points mark.
Again you are facing the Catch 22 dilemma: you need a job to apply for a visa - a job offer is a vital component of your immigration process.
Once you have found a job, your New Zealand employer will expect you to be available to start working as soon as possible.
Your actual resident visa process will probably be in its very early stages at this point and you will therefore need to apply for a work visa to bridge the time until you will have obtained your resident visa.
A work visa will give you the legal right to start working in your new job while you are waiting for your residence process to be completed.
You must provide proof of your identity. This includes:
You must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.
You must be 55 years or under when you apply for residence.
To claim points for your qualification, it must be a recognised qualification. A qualification can be recognised if:
This visa requires an Expression of Interest
EOI's need to claim at least 100 points to enter the Expression of Interest pool. Working with both our job search team and immigration advisers will help you get the most points.
If you are 17 or over, you must provide a police certificate from:
your country of citizenship
any other country where you have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years, even if you did not spend that 12 months all in one visit.
You don’t need to provide any Police Certificates until you’re invited to apply for residence.
You must be able to speak English. Test results must be no older than 2 years.
You can show us you speak English by either providing:
Your current employment or offer of employment must be skilled.
If invited to apply for residence, you must provide evidence of your skilled employment, including having the necessary work experience, qualifications and occupational registration.
Your work experience must be skilled to meet requirements
Skilled work is recognised in two ways
If bringing family, your partner and dependant children will also need to meet requirements. You must provide evidence: