Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa – New Zealand
New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa provides residence pathways for skilled migrants who have the skills, qualifications and work experience needed by New Zealand. If you have a skilled job or job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer, you may be eligible to apply through one of the three Skilled Migrant Category pathways.
The Three Skilled Migrant Category Pathways
Points-Based Pathway
The Points-Based Pathway is designed for skilled migrants who can demonstrate their skills through their qualifications, New Zealand occupational registration or income.
To qualify, you need 6 skilled resident points. You can claim between 3 and 6 points from one skill category:
- Your recognised qualification
- New Zealand occupational registration
- Your income
Skilled Work Experience Pathway
The Skilled Work Experience Pathway provides a residence option for people who have developed their skills primarily through work experience rather than through a formal higher-level qualification.
To be eligible, you generally need:
- A skilled job or job offer in an eligible ANZSCO skill level 1–3 occupation with an accredited employer
- At least 5 years of directly relevant work experience
- At least 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand
- To meet the applicable Skilled Migrant Category wage threshold
Trades and Technician Pathway
The Trades and Technician Pathway is designed for skilled tradespeople and technicians who have developed their skills through a combination of relevant qualifications and practical work experience.
To qualify, you generally need:
- A relevant Level 4 or higher qualification
- At least 4 years of directly relevant work experience gained after obtaining the qualification
- At least 18 months of skilled work experience in New Zealand
- Employment in an occupation included on the eligible Trades and Technician occupation list
- To meet the applicable Skilled Migrant Category wage requirements
Qualification
| New Zealand Qualification | Points | Bachelor's Degree required? |
|---|---|---|
| Level 10 Doctoral Degree | 6 | No |
| Level 9 Master's Degree (30 weeks of full-time study) | 6 | Yes |
| Level 9 Master's Degree (not full-time study) | 5 | No |
| Level 8 Honour's Degree, Postgraduate Diploma or Post-graduate Certificate | 5 | Yes |
| Level 7 Bachelor's Degree | 5 | Not applicable |
Have an international qualification?
| International qualification | points | Bachelor's Degree Required |
|---|---|---|
| Level 10 Doctoral Degree | 6 | No |
| Level 9 Master's Degree | 5 | Yes |
| Level 7 Bachelor's Degree | 4 | Yes |
| Level 7 Bachelor's Degree | 4 | Not applicable |
NZ Occupational Registration
| Minimum years of experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 6 years | 6 |
| 5 years | 5 |
| 4 years | 4 |
| 2 years | 3 |
Income
| Pay Rate Requirement | Points |
|---|---|
| 3X median wage threshold | 6 |
| 2X median wage threshold | 4 |
| 1.5X median wage threshold | 3 |
Additional Points
NZ Skilled Work Experience
| Skilled work experience in NZ | Points |
|---|---|
| 2 years | 3 |
| 1.5 years | 2 |
| 1 year | 1 |
If you cannot obtain all 6 points from one category, you may be able to claim additional points for skilled work experience in New Zealand, with up to 3 additional points available.
The qualification, registration or income requirements vary depending on your circumstances. Our immigration advisers can assess your qualifications, employment and experience to determine whether you meet the points requirement.
Your relevant work experience must relate to your current job or job offer. Self-employment cannot be counted as relevant work experience for this pathway.
Additional requirements may apply if your occupation is included on Immigration New Zealand’s Amber List. Occupations on the Red List, as well as ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 occupations, are not eligible for this pathway.
The eligible occupation list and qualification requirements are specific to this pathway, so it is important to check whether your occupation and qualifications meet the current Immigration New Zealand requirements.
Requirements for All Skilled Migrant Category Pathways
Regardless of which pathway you use, you must meet the general requirements for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. These include:
- Being 55 years of age or younger when you apply
- Working in, or having a job offer for, a skilled position with an accredited New Zealand employer
- Meeting the employment, occupation and wage requirements for your chosen pathway
- Meeting New Zealand’s health requirements
- Meeting character requirements
- Meeting the English language requirements
A skilled job must generally be at least 30 hours per week and meet the relevant employment duration and remuneration requirements.
Your Pathway to New Zealand Residence
Choosing the right Skilled Migrant Category pathway can be complex, particularly when assessing qualifications, occupational registration, work experience, occupation skill levels and wage requirements.
At Kwik Kiwi Immigration, we can assess your circumstances and help determine which Skilled Migrant Category pathway may be suitable for you. We can assist you throughout the process, from assessing your eligibility and preparing your Expression of Interest (EOI) to preparing and submitting your residence application.
With the right advice and preparation, you can take a confident step towards building your future in New Zealand.