There are two steps to applying for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category:

1. You complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form, online or on paper, and tell us about yourself, your family, your skills, and your experience.  You do not provide evidence at this point.
2. We accept your EOI and send you an invitation to apply. You will have to send us documents to prove you meet the requirements at this stage.

The fee is NZ$510 for online EOIs, or NZ$650 for paper EOIs. Online EOIs cost less because they require less processing than a paper EOI.

• Will your EOI be selected?
• What happens after your EOI is selected?
• Our decision on your application
• Start your EOI
• Where to now?

Will your EOI be selected?

As you complete your EOI you will claim points. If your EOI has a score of 100 points or more, it goes into the pool of EOIs.

Every two weeks we automatically select EOIs with a points score of 140 or over from the pool. Then we select EOIs with a points score of between 100 and 139 which include points for a skilled job or job offer. If we still have spaces available, we use additional criteria to select lower-scoring EOIs.

What happens after your EOI is selected?

We will send you a form that includes all of the information you told us about yourself. You will need to give us evidence you can claim all the points you have claimed, and proof that you and everyone else on your application meet all of our health, character, and English language requirements.

You will have to pay a fee with your application. How much depends on the currency accepted in the office where we process the application: see the office and fees finder.

Our decision on your application

There are three possible outcomes:

• We grant you residence.
• We defer your application and offer you a temporary work visa so you can work while you get a skilled job offer. If you get skilled work, we will approve your residence application.
• We decline your application.

Start your EOI

It costs less and it speeds up the process if you lodge your EOI online. You do not have to complete it all at once, you can save it and come back to it. It will take about two hours to complete altogether. Start by registering for our online system.

You can also apply using the paper Expression of Interest form PDF [683KB]. The Expression of Interest Guide PDF [391KB] will help you complete it.

Where to now?

• Go to the online application system.
• See what evidence you will need to show if we select your EOI.
• Back to the Skilled Migrant Category homepage.