Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Helping skilled professionals make New Zealand home.
The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa is one of New Zealand's main pathways to residence for skilled workers. If you have the right qualifications, experience and employment, we can help you navigate the process with confidence.
✔ No Visa, No Fee Guarantee*
Do You Qualify?
The Skilled Migrant Category operates on a 6-point system. Before you can apply, you must meet the following basic requirements:
Be 55 years of age or younger.
Hold a job offer from, or be employed by, an accredited New Zealand employer.
Meet the English language requirements.
Meet Immigration New Zealand’s health and character requirements.
How the Points System Works
To be eligible for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you must claim at least 6 points.
Points are awarded based on your qualifications, occupational registration, income, and skilled work experience in New Zealand.
Claiming 3 to 6 Points
You can claim between 3 and 6 points from one of the following categories:
New Zealand occupational registration.
A recognised qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher).
Income from your skilled employment or job offer, where you earn at least 1.5 times New Zealand’s median wage.
Important: You can only claim points from one of these categories. Points cannot be combined across categories. For example, qualification points cannot be combined with occupational registration points.
Additional Points for Skilled Work Experience
You may also claim:
1 point for each year of skilled work experience in New Zealand.
Up to a maximum of 3 additional points.
These points can be combined with points claimed through occupational registration, qualifications, or income.
Your Path to Residence
The application process begins with submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Immigration New Zealand will assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria. If your EOI is successful, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence.
You must lodge your residence application within four months of receiving your ITA.
Including Your Family
You may include the following family members in your application:
Your partner.
Dependent children aged 24 years or younger.
Partners and dependent children aged 16 years or older must also meet the applicable English language requirements.
Partner Requirements
To include your partner, you must provide evidence that you have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months.
Dependent Children
Depending on the child's age, evidence of financial dependency may be required.
If a child under 16 years of age is included in the application and their parents are separated or divorced, additional evidence may be required to demonstrate legal authority to remove the child from their country of residence.
How NZ Visa Group Can Help
The Skilled Migrant Category can be complex, particularly when assessing eligibility, calculating points, and preparing supporting evidence.
NZ Visa Group provides professional immigration advice and support throughout the entire process, from assessing your eligibility and preparing your Expression of Interest through to lodging your residence application.
With our No Visa, No Fee Guarantee, you can move forward with confidence knowing that if your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application is unsuccessful, you won't pay our professional fee.*
Contact NZ Visa Group today for a personalised assessment and expert guidance on your pathway to New Zealand residence.
*Terms and conditions apply. We will explain the details of our No Visa, No Fee Guarantee during your consultation.
No Visa, No Fee
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