Get a sense of the whole Skilled Migrant process, from start to finish. See the process laid out in a simple diagram.
1. Requirements
To apply under the Skilled Migrant Category, you must meet our requirements. You need to be aged from 20-55 (inclusive). You also have to meet our standards of health, character, and English language proficiency before you start the process.
2. The Expression of Interest
This is the first step towards making an application. If you qualify, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), in which you claim points for skills, experience, and other factors.
3. The EOI pool and the pool draw
If you have claimed 100 points or more on your EOI, it goes into the Pool. Every fortnight, all EOIs over 140 points are automatically selected for an invitation to apply. After this, lower scoring EOIs with certain factors, such as skilled employment in New Zealand, are selected.
4. Invitation to Apply
Once your EOI is drawn from the pool, we examine it and if we find it credible, we send you an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will have to show proof of the claims made on your EOI. This means medical and police certificates, proof of English language ability, and documentation regarding your skills, experience, and other factors.
The application form contains the information that you provided in your EOI. You will check the information and return it to us with your documentation.
The date that you make your SMC residence application with Immigration New Zealand determines the policy that your application will be assessed against. Therefore, the policy that was current when you submitted your EOI, or current when your EOI was selected from the pool, is not necessarily the policy that your SMC residence application will be assessed against.
5. Full assessment
Once we receive your application and documents, we start assessing you for residence. We make sure that you meet all our requirements, and that your points claims are valid.
We will also assess you on your ability to settle in New Zealand successfully. We may consider you able based on your application, or we may wish to interview you.
6. Residence and Work to Residence visas and permits
If you meet our criteria, and we believe you will settle successfully and contribute to New Zealand, we will offer you a residence visa or permit.
If we think you have potential, but want to see how you settle, we will give you a work to residence visa or permit, which you can use to help obtain an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand for up to nine months. If you obtain skilled employment in this time you will have shown your ability to settle and contribute, and your residence application will be approved.
If you do not meet our residence policy criteria we will decline your application for residence.
Further information
Learn more about the Skilled Migrant Category.
See whether you meet our requirements.