To apply to move to New Zealand under the Skilled Migrant Category a person from overseas needs to complete an Expression of Interest. This is usually done online through the online services section of our website or manually on the Expression of Interest form PDF. When they complete this form they’ll have the opportunity to determine the number of points they qualify for against a range of factors in our points system.
We’ve assigned points to these factors so that we can rank Expressions of Interest and invite people who have the most to offer New Zealand to apply for residence.
We’ve provided points for people who are either already in, or have an offer of, a job in New Zealand that we consider to be skilled employment.
If an employer is looking to fill a vacancy in work that requires the use of specialist, technical or management expertise we regard that work as skilled employment. It’s through this Category that we can link skilled and experienced people with employment opportunities. We also recognise that the people who feel they’re making a positive contribution to their new home find it easier to settle.
The required expertise may have been gained through:
We use the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) as the basis to determine which occupations may be considered ‘skilled employment’. The ANZSCO gives all occupations a ‘skill level’, from skill level one (highest) to skill level five (lowest).
Providing an applicant’s employment or offer of employment substantially matches the description for their occupation (including core tasks) as set out in the ANZSCO and they have the qualification or work experience (or in some cases both) required under Skilled Migrant Category policy, ANZSCO skill level one, two, or three occupations may be considered ‘skilled employment’. For ease of reference all occupations that may be considered ‘skilled’ are listed at Appendix 11of the Operational Manual.
Note: Skilled Migrant Category policy also requires applicants with employment, or an offer of employment, in some ANZSCO skill level three occupations to have a minimum base salary if the applicant does not have a relevant recognised qualification.
If the vacancy an employer is seeking to fill is not an occupation that’s listed at Appendix 11 the prospective employee’s offer of employment may still be considered ‘skilled’ if:
- employment of the applicant in the occupation will enhance the quality of New Zealand’s accomplishments and participation in that occupational area because the applicant has an international reputation and record of excellence in that field, and the required expertise for the occupation was gained through relevant recognised qualifications or work experience; or
- the occupation is included in the list of Occupations Treated as Exceptions held at Appendix 12 of the Operational Manual and the applicant can demonstrate that their offer of employment (or current employment) substantially matches the description for their occupation (including core tasks) as set out in the ANZSCO and has either the qualification or work experience required under Skilled Migrant Category policy.
More details about assessing skilled employment are available here.
Find out how many points people from overseas can qualify for.
People may also qualify for bonus points for skilled employment.