Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: Apply
Use this form to apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. We must have approved your expression of interest (EOI) and invited you to apply.
Apply before your ITA expires
You must complete your application within 4 months of your invitation to apply (ITA). After 4 months the ITA expires and you cannot access your application.
If your ITA has expired
If you still want to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa, you need to submit a new EOI and receive a new ITA.
How to complete the form
You can use Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Edge to complete this form. You cannot use Internet Explorer.
You do not have to complete this form all at once. You can save what you have done at any time and come back later.
To print a copy of your application, right-click and select print. To save a copy to your device, select 'save as PDF' as the destination.
Include all the documents we ask for
You, or someone is applying on your behalf, must provide accurate and complete information in your application.
Giving false or misleading information in your visa application
If the information you provided in your EOI has changed
You can update the information in your EOI if it is incorrect or your situation has changed.
Save documents in the correct format
All documents you upload must be in a PDF format. You can combine similar types of documents into 1 file. Photographs must be in JPG or JPEG format.
File formats for uploading documents and photographs
Gather your evidence
Organise and upload the following documents for your situation, where required.
Identity
Include:
- a photo of yourself and of each person included in your application
- a copy of your passport or certificate of identity and a copy for each person included in this application.
Health
Provide:
- medical certificates for everyone included in your application
- X-ray certificates for everyone included in your application who is 11 years old or older, unless they are pregnant.
Your doctor can submit certificates on you or a family member's behalf. If a doctor has submitted certificates since you submitted your EOI, update the relevant health section. Otherwise, upload the certificates with your application.
Certificates must be less than:
- 3 years old if you have used it in a previous application
- 3 months old if you have not used it in a previous application.
You must provide a new X-ray if you or a person included in your application has spent more than 6 months in a row in a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB).
Countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis
If you are including a partner or dependent children
Upload a Resident Visa Declaration form (INZ 1242) if they are 18 years or older.
For partners, upload:
- evidence you are in a genuine and stable relationship
- evidence that you are living together and have been living together for at least 12 months.
Check how we define partnership.
Partnership and how to prove it
For dependent children, upload proof of your relationship. Examples of evidence include a birth certificate or proof of adoption.
If they were not included in your EOI
Complete and upload a Skilled Residence Supplementary form for secondary applicants (INZ 1380).
Resident Visa Declaration Form (INZ 1242)
Skilled Residence Supplementary form for secondary applications (INZ 1380)
Character
Upload police certificates for you and for each person included in your application who is aged 17 years or older. You need police certificates from any country you or your family members are a citizen of and any other country where you or they have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years.
English language ability
Upload evidence showing how you and the people included in your application meet the minimum standard of English.
You do not need to provide evidence for any family members aged 15 years old or younger.
If you are uploading English test results, they must be no more than 2 years old, or no more than 5 years old if you have acceptable occupational registration.
English language requirements for skilled residence visas
Skilled employment
For your current job or job offer, provide an employment agreement and job description. These documents must show your name, occupation, hours and pay rate. The employment agreement must also contain all mandatory clauses required by employment law.
Points-based pathway
Claiming points for a qualification or registration
If you are claiming points for your qualification, you must provide evidence.
Upload a copy of your qualification. If your qualification is from outside New Zealand and is not on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment, upload your International Qualifications Assessment.
If you are claiming points for a level 8 or 9 New Zealand qualification, you may also need to provide evidence of your undergraduate bachelor’s degree.
If you are claiming points for your New Zealand registration, provide evidence. The evidence must:
- show the licensing body and the registration, certificate or licence name
- list the scope of practice and any requirements for the registration.
Claiming points for skilled work experience in New Zealand
If you are claiming points for skilled work experience in New Zealand, provide an employment agreement and job description for each past job you want to claim as skilled work experience. These documents must show your name, occupation, hours and pay rate.
You must also provide a summary of earnings or tax statement from Inland Revenue. It must confirm your income over the period of skilled work experience.
Skilled work experience pathway
Claiming your relevant work experience in any country, including New Zealand
Provide an employment agreement and job description for each past job you want to claim as relevant experience. These documents must show your name, occupation, hours and pay rate.
You must also provide a summary of earnings or tax statement that confirms your income over the period of relevant work experience. Failure to provide independently verifiable evidence of work experience may result in your application being declined.
Claiming your skilled work experience in New Zealand
Provide an employment agreement and job description for each past job you want to claim as skilled work experience. These documents must show your name, occupation, hours and pay rate.
You must also provide a summary of earnings or tax statement from Inland Revenue. It must confirm your income over the period of skilled work experience.
Trades and Technician pathway
Claiming your qualification
Provide a copy of your qualification and if your qualification is from outside New Zealand, upload your International Qualification Assessment.
Claiming your relevant work experience
Provide an employment agreement and job description for each job you want to claim as relevant work experience. This must show your name, occupation, hours and pay rate.
You must provide a summary of earnings or tax statement that confirms your income over the period of relevant work experience. Failure to provide independently verifiable evidence of work experience may result in your application being declined.
Claiming your skilled work experience in New Zealand
Provide an employment agreement and job description for each past job you want to claim as skilled work experience. This must show your name, occupation, hours and pay rate.
Also provide a summary of earnings or tax statement from Inland Revenue. It must confirm your income over the period of skilled work experience.
If you had help with your application
Complete and upload a Resident Visa Declaration form (INZ 1242).
Resident Visa Declaration Form (INZ 1242)
Submit your application
Check the fee for you to apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. You can pay with a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.
After you submit your application, we email you to confirm your application and payment.
If you do not pay the fee when you apply
After you submit your application, we send you an email with instructions for how to pay later.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
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