Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
From 9 October 2023 there will be changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Overview
Upcoming changes include:
- a new points system
- skilled job or job offer requirements
- the number of applications that will be accepted and processing times, and
- a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa.
Some visa criteria and conditions are not changing. These are summarised in the section ‘Some requirements are not changing’.
New points system
From 9 October 2023 you will need 6 points to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
You can claim 3 to 6 points from your:
- New Zealand occupational registration
- qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher), or
- income from your job or job offer (earning at least 1.5 times the median wage in New Zealand).
You can only claim points from 1 of the above skill indicators. You cannot combine points from multiple skill indicators. For example you cannot combine points from your qualification with points from your New Zealand occupational registration.
You can also claim 1 point for each year of skilled work in New Zealand, up to a maximum of 3 points.
The points you claim from skilled work in New Zealand can be combined with points from your New Zealand occupational registration, qualification or income.
Wage rate requirements for visas
New Zealand occupational registration points
You will be able to use your occupational registration to claim points if it is on our list of eligible New Zealand occupational registrations. Registrations that require more training are worth more points.
Points available for occupational registration
| Points | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | A minimum of 6 years of training is required to gain registration. |
| 5 | A minimum of 5 years of training is required to gain registration. |
| 4 | A minimum of 4 years of training is required to gain registration. |
| 3 | A minimum of 2 years of training is required to gain registration. |
List of eligible occupational registrations
Find out what New Zealand occupational registrations are eligible, and the points awarded for each registration.
Claiming skilled resident points from occupational registration
Claiming points for skilled work in New Zealand
If you are planning to use skilled work experience in New Zealand to claim further points, you can only use skilled work experience that you gained after getting your occupational registration.
Qualification points
You will be able to claim between 3 to 6 points depending on the highest level of qualification you have and its New Zealand Qualification Framework level (NZQF).
Points available for qualifications
| Points | Qualification (Equivalent under the NZQF) |
|---|---|
| 6 | Level 10 Doctoral Degree |
| 5 | Level 9 Master’s Degree |
| 4 | Level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree or Postgraduate Diploma |
| 3 |
Level 8 Postgraduate Certificate Level 7 Bachelor’s degree |
Overseas qualifications
If you have a qualification from outside of New Zealand, you may need to get an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). NZQA will assess the qualification for the following:
- equivalent qualification type, and
- NZQF level.
You must have your IQA when you submit your expression of interest (EOI) for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Find out if you need an IQA - NZQA
Apply for an International Qualification Assessment - NZQA
Overseas qualifications that do not need to be assessed
We will be updating our list of overseas qualifications that do not need to be assessed by NZQA. The updated list will be available from 29 September 2023.
Non-degree qualifications
If you have a non-degree qualification at NZQF Level 7 or below, you will not be able to claim points under the new points system.
Income points
You will be able to use your income from your job to claim points. This skill indicator will replace the Highly Paid Residence Visa that was announced in 2022 and allow highly paid migrants to apply for the new Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa instead.
Applications for the Highly Paid Residence Visa were planned to open on 29 September 2023. If you intended to apply for the Highly Paid Residence Visa, you can now apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa instead from 9 October 2023.
Points available for income
| Points | Wage threshold |
|---|---|
| 6 | Job or job offer in New Zealand at 3 times the median wage (currently NZD $88.98 an hour) or more. |
| 4 | Job or job offer in New Zealand at 2 times the median wage (currently NZD $59.32 an hour) or more. |
| 3 | Job or job offer in New Zealand at 1.5 times the median wage (currently NZD $44.49 an hour) or more. |
The job or job offer must be:
- from an accredited employer
- at least 30 hours a week, and
- on a permanent contract or fixed-term contract for at least 12 months.
The median wage is updated every year.
Wage rate requirements for visas
Claiming points for working in New Zealand
If you are planning to use skilled work experience in New Zealand to claim further points, you must meet the wage threshold throughout the skilled work experience period.
For example, if you are claiming 4 points for being paid 2 times the median wage, you must earn this wage during your 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand.
You will need to provide evidence of meeting the wage threshold at both the beginning and end of your skilled work experience period.
Skilled work experience in New Zealand points
You will be able to claim 1 point for each year of skilled work experience you have in New Zealand, up to a maximum of 3 points.
Check the skilled work requirements
The skilled work experience must be in a full-time job (minimum of 30 hours a week). There is also a wage threshold depending on the ANZSCO level of the job:
- People in ANZSCO level 1 to 3 roles must earn the median wage or above.
- People in ANZSCO level 4 to 5 roles must earn 1.5 times the median wage or above.
You can claim points for skilled work experience in New Zealand from:
- 36 months during the 60 months before you apply if you are claiming 3 points.
- 24 months during the 48 months before you apply if you are claiming 2 points.
- 12 months during the 24 months before you apply if you are claiming 1 point.
Skilled job offer
You must have a skilled job or job offer with an accredited employer in New Zealand to apply. This requirement applies even if you are claiming the maximum amount of points available. To be considered a skilled job, the job or job offer must be:
- at least 30 hours a week.
- either in an ANZSCO Level 1 to 3 occupation and paid at or above the median wage, or in an ANZSCO Level 4 to 5 occupation and paid at or above 1.5 times the median wage.
- on a permanent contract or fixed-term contract for at least 12 months.
Wage rate requirements for visas
Some requirements are not changing
Some of the current requirements for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa are staying the same. These include:
- character requirements
- health requirements
- English language requirements
- age requirements (you must be 55 years old or under to apply).
You can find out more about these requirements on our website.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
You can include your partner and any dependent children up to the age of 24 in your application. They also must meet our English language requirements.
English language test results for residence visas
Number of applications accepted and processing times
There is no limit on the number of people who can get residence through the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. As long as you meet visa eligibility criteria, you will be able to get New Zealand residence if your visa application is accepted.
Straight-forward applications that have all the required information will be decided within 6 to 8 weeks.
Why some applications are processed faster than others
Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
If you apply for the new Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and your current temporary visa expires while your application is being processed, you will be granted a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa. Your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will come into effect the day after your current visa expires. We will send you an eVisa with the appropriate duration and conditions.
This will allow you to stay in New Zealand while your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa is processed. You will also be able to travel in and out of New Zealand on your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa.
Restrictions of the Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
The Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa is more restrictive than most temporary visas. While you are on it you:
- cannot apply for another type of temporary visa
- cannot support your partner or dependent children to get a visa, and
- will not be able to vary all of the conditions of your visa.
Visa conditions
The conditions of your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will be the same as the conditions of your current visa. However they may be different in some cases, depending on your situation. More information about the conditions of the Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will be available from 9 October 2023.
Varying the conditions of your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
You will be able to vary some conditions of your interim visa during the 24-month period that you have it, but not all. You should carefully consider whether the Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa is right for you. If you decide it is not right for you, make sure that you apply for a different type of temporary visa before your current temporary visa expires.
Dependent partners and children
If you include your dependent partner and children as secondary applicants in your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application, they can also get a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa. However, once you have your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa you will not be able to support temporary visas for any additional dependents.
When the interim visa expires
The Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will expire the soonest of:
- 24 months after its start date
- the date your residence visa is approved, or
- if your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application is declined or withdrawn, 2 months after this decision is made.
Other options to stay in New Zealand
You can also apply for another temporary visa, such as an Accredited Employer Work Visa before your current visa expires. This may provide more certainty on how long you can stay in New Zealand, while you wait for a decision on your resident visa.