Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Visa details

This visa is for people who have skills that will contribute to New Zealand's economic growth. Before you can apply, you will need to send us an expression of interest (EOI), that details your work experience and qualifications.

Length of stay

Indefinitely

Age Range

55 years or under

Cost
From
NZD $4880
EOI selection
The third Wednesday
of each month
With this visa you can
  • Live, work and study in New Zealand.
  • Include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your residence application.
Things to note
  • We use a points-based system to assess expressions of interest.
    Find out how many points you can claim
  • We are selecting EOIs with 180 points or above.
  • This visa isn’t designed for people who are self-employed. If you want to work in your own business, you may wish to apply for an Entrepreneur Resident Visa instead.
    Entrepreneur Resident Visa

Who can apply

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements of this visa.

View All Evidence

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

  • acceptable photo of your head and shoulders
  • a copy of your passport or certificate of identity.

Acceptable photos

Tips

  1. If you’re unable to provide a copy of your birth certificate, we’ll accept your identity card as proof of your identity.

    We don’t accept delays or expense as reasons for not providing a birth certificate.

  2. You don’t need to provide proof of your identity until you’re invited to apply for residence.

  3. If you do not have a full birth certificate, you must provide all of the following:

    • a ‘No record of birth registration’
    • a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card or Voters Card or Indian driver’s license
    • a school leaving certificate or class 10th or 12th passing certificate which includes your name, date of birth and your father’s name
    • a statutory declaration or an affidavit sworn before a Magistrate/Notary Public which states your full name, date and place of birth and both your parent’s full names.

  4. Also provide a copy of your Identity card.

Character

You must be of good character

If you are 17 or over, you must provide a police certificate from:

  • your country of citizenship
  • any other country where you have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years, even if you did not spend that 12 months all in one visit.

Good character

How to get a police certificate

Tips

  1. You don’t need to provide any Police Certificates until you’re invited to apply for residence.

  2. If you provide a police certificate that is not in English, you must provide an English translation.

    This includes police certificates that record no convictions.

Health

You must be in good health

You must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.

Getting an x-ray or medical examination

Tips

  1. You don’t need to have an x-ray or medical examination until you’re invited to apply for residence.

English language

You must be able to speak English

You will need to provide one of these with your application:

  • An acceptable English language test result.
  • Evidence you are a citizen of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA), and you have spent at least five years working or studying in those countries, or in Australia or New Zealand.
  • Evidence you have a recognised qualification that’s comparable to a New Zealand level 7 bachelor’s degree, which you gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK or the USA. You must have also studied for at least two years in any of those countries to get that qualification.
  • Evidence you have a recognised qualification that’s comparable to a postgraduate New Zealand qualification, which you gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK or the USA. You must have also studied for at least one year in any of those countries to get that qualification. 

 English language test results for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Tips

  1. English language test results must be no more than 2 years old.

  2. Regardless of the other evidence you provide, if you don’t provide an acceptable English language test result, we may ask for one as evidence you meet the English language requirements.

Age

You must be 55 years or under when you apply for residence

If you’re invited to apply for residence, we’ll use the documents you provide as proof of your identity to confirm your age.

Skilled employment

Your current employment or offer of employment must be skilled

If invited to apply for residence, you must provide evidence of your skilled employment, including having the necessary:

  • work experience
  • qualifications
  • occupational registration.

Occupational registration

Tips

  1. If you are invited to apply you will be sent an Employer Supplementary Form that you will need to ask your prospective employer to complete.

  2. Job offer scams are common in India and South Asia, ensure your job offer is genuine.

    How to determine how realistic the job offer is

Qualifications

Your qualification must be recognised to qualify for points.

If you claim points for your qualification, you must show it is a recognised qualification. A qualification can be recognised if:

  • It is on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment; or
  • It has been assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA); or
  • It has been assessed by a New Zealand registration authority at the same level as a qualification on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment as part of an application for New Zealand occupational registration; or
  • It is a Washington Accord or Sydney Accord accredited undergraduate degree.
Tips

  1. If you need an NZQA assessment, you’ll need to include an IQA reference number with your Expression of Interest.

    Visit the NZQA website for more information about how to:

    • Get international qualifications recognised for immigration
    • Apply for an International Qualifications Assessment.

    NZQA website

Expression of interest

You must send us an Expression of Interest (EOI)

For us to enter your EOI into our Pool, you must be able to claim at least 100 points under our points system.

Find out how many points you can claim

 

Tips

  1. EOIs are valid for 6 months.

Invitation to apply for residence

You must be invited to apply for residence

If invited to apply for residence, you must apply within 4 months of receiving your invitation.

Your invitation to apply will advise of the specific evidence you need to provide to support the claims you made in your EOI, which may include:

  • an employment agreement
  • a job description
  • your full or provisional occupational registration, if New Zealand law requires you to have it to do your job
  • copies of your qualifications and your course transcripts
  • a report from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) confirming any qualification that isn’t on our list of recognised or exempt qualifications
  • references, payslips, tax records or contracts that confirm your work experience
  • evidence of your relationship to any close family you have included in your application
  • proof that any close family you have claimed points for live in New Zealand.

If you’re unable to provide evidence to support the claims you made in your EOI, we may not be able to grant you a visa.

Occupational registration

Tips

  1. You must check if you have a recognised qualification. You may need to obtain a report from the NZQA assessing the level of your qualification compared to qualifications on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.

    A Pre-assessment result will give you an idea of whether  you can claim points for your qualification, but you can’t use it as evidence if you’re later invited to apply for residence.

    If you’re invited to apply, you will need to provide an International Qualifications Assessment.

    More information is available on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority website.

    www.nzqa.govt.nz

Partner and dependent children

You can include your partner and any dependent children up to the age of 24 in your application

For your family to be included in a residence application, you must have included them in your Expression of Interest.

If invited to apply, you must provide evidence:

  • of your relationship with your partner and dependent children
  • that your partner and dependent children meet the identity, character, health, and English language requirements for this visa.

Partnership
Dependent children

Tips

  1. If your partner or dependent children have, or applied for, a New Zealand temporary entry visa based on their relationship with you, you must include them in your residence application.

English language for family

Your partner and children 16 and over must speak English or pay for classes to learn English in New Zealand

If you are invited to apply for residence, you will be asked to provide evidence your partner and children speak English or to pay for them to have English language classes in New Zealand.

Evidence can include proof that one of the following apply, they:

  • have an acceptable English language test result
  • are a citizen of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA), and have spent at least five years working or studying in those countries, or in Australia or New Zealand
  • have a recognised qualification that’s comparable to a New Zealand bachelor’s degree, which they gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK or the USA. They must also have studied for at least two years in any of those countries to get that qualification
  • have a recognised qualification that is comparable to a postgraduate New Zealand qualification, which they gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK or the USA. They must also have studied for at least one year in any of those countries to get that qualification.

If your partner and dependent children 16 and over do not meet these requirements, they can learn English in New Zealand. You’ll have to pay us for English language classes before we can grant you a visa.

Learning English after you come to New Zealand

English language test results for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

English Language Information (INZ1060) PDF 254KB

Tips

  1. Regardless of the other evidence you provide, if you don’t provide an acceptable English language test result, we may ask for one as evidence you meet the English language requirements.

Check your points

Check how many points you may be able to claim in your visa application. Only an immigration officer can confirm your points when they assess your application. Minimum of 100 points is needed.

Age

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll use the documents you provide as proof of your identity to confirm your age.

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)
Skilled employment

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll ask you to provide a copy of your written employment agreement or contract for services that includes:

  • a detailed description of your job
  • your hours of work
  • the length of your employment
  • your pay (per year and/or per hour)
  • the date you started work.

We'll also ask you for evidence you have the necessary work experience, qualifications, and occupational registration to carry out the work you're doing.

You'll also need to provide an 'Employer Supplementary Form - Skilled Migrant Category', completed by your employer.

Employer Supplementary Form — Skilled Migrant Category (INZ 1235) PDF 446KB

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll use the documents you provide as proof of your identity to confirm your age.

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll ask you to provide a copy of your written employment agreement, which will need to include:

  • a detailed job description
  • the hours of work
  • the length of the employment
  • the pay (per year and/or per hour)
  • the date you'll be starting work.

We'll also ask you for evidence you have the necessary work experience, qualifications, and occupational registration to carry out the work you'll be doing.

You'll also need to provide an 'Employer Supplementary Form - Skilled Migrant Category', completed by your employer.

Employer Supplementary Form — Skilled Migrant Category (INZ 1235) PDF 446KB

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll ask you to provide evidence that:

  • your work is in an occupation that's on our Long Term Skill Shortage List (this should be covered in your employment agreement)
  • you have the qualifications, work experience and/or occupational registration to work in your occupation detailed in the Long Term Skill Shortage List.

Long Term Skill Shortage List (INZ 1093) PDF 322KB

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll need your employment agreement to include the location of your job (as well as evidence that your job is in skilled employment).

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

If you're invited to apply for residence, we may ask for evidence your employment can be sustained by your employer at that level of pay.

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest
Qualifications

Your qualification will be recognised if it’s:

  • on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment
  • assessed by a New Zealand registration authority at the same level as a qualification on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment as part of an application for New Zealand occupational registration.

List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

Or, you can ask the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to assess the level of your qualification.

If you’re invited to apply for residence, we’ll ask you to provide:

We may also ask for copies of your course transcripts.

Tips

If you need an NZQA assessment, you’ll need to include IQA reference number with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

Visit the NZQA website for more information about how to:
Get international qualifications recognised for immigration
Apply for an International Qualifications Assessment.

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll ask you to provide:

We may also ask for your course transcripts.

Visit the following websites for more information about confirming qualifications:
www.nzqf.govt.nz
www.nzqa.govt.nz

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

If you're invited to apply for residence:

We may also ask for your course transcripts.

Visit the following websites for more information about confirming qualifications:
www.nzqf.govt.nz
www.nzqa.govt.nz

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)
Work experience

If you're invited to apply for residence, you'll need to show you have skilled work experience. You can do this by providing documents that show:

  • the work that you did
  • the dates you did the work
  • how many hours a week you worked (on average)
  • the contact details for your employer or employers
Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

If you're invited to apply for residence, you'll need to provide evidence:

  • that you've worked in New Zealand
  • of the location of your job in New Zealand.
Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest

If you're invited to apply for residence, you'll need to provide evidence that:

  • you have work experience in an occupation that's included in the Long Term Skill Shortage List
  • your work experience meets the requirements listed for that occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List.

Long Term Skill Shortage List (INZ 1093) PDF 322KB

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)
Partner

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll ask for evidence that one of the following applies to your partner:

  • they have achieved the required English language test score (IELTS overall score of 6.5 or more, TOEFL iBT overall score of 79 or more, PTE Academic overall score of 58 or more, Cambridge English B2 First (FCE) or B2 First for Schools (FCE for Schools) overall score of 176 or more, OET Grade B or higher in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)); or
  • they are a citizen of Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America, and have spent at least five years in work or education in one or more of those countries or Australia or New Zealand; or
  • they have a recognised qualification comparable to a New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree, gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America. It'll need to have involved at least 2 years of study in one or more of those countries; or
  • they have a recognised qualification comparable to New Zealand level 8 or above, gained in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America. It'll need to have involved at least 1 year of study in one or more of those countries.
Tips
  1. You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)
  2. English language test results must be less than 2 years old when you apply for residence.

If you're invited to apply for residence, we'll ask your partner to provide a copy of their written employment agreement or contract for services that includes:

  • a detailed description of their job
  • their hours of work
  • the length of their employment
  • their salary
  • the date they started (or will be starting) work

We'll also ask for evidence they have the necessary work experience, qualifications, and occupational registration to carry out the work they're doing (or will be doing).

Tips
You don't need to provide any evidence with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

Your partner’s qualification will be recognised if it's:

  • on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment
  • assessed by a New Zealand registration authority at the same level as a qualification on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment as part of an application for New Zealand occupational registration.

List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

Or, your partner can ask the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to assess the level of your qualification. The NZQA offer two kinds of assessments:

The Pre-assessment Result will give you an idea if you can claim points for your partner’s recognised qualification, but you can’t use it as evidence if you’re later invited to apply for residence.

If you’re invited to apply for residence, we’ll ask you to provide:

We may also ask for copies of your partner’s course transcripts.

Tips

If your partner needs an NZQA assessment, you’ll need to include a PAR or IQA reference number with your Expression of Interest. (EOI)

Visit the NZQA website for more information about how to:
Get international qualifications recognised for immigration
Apply for a Pre-assessment Result
Apply for an International Qualifications Assessment.

You Total Points (Minimum of 100):
0 points

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

Notes

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How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Notes

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Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.

Arriving in New Zealand

Notes

  • You can be refused entry permission if:

    • you don’t meet our character requirements
    • your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
    • you refuse to let us to take your photo, or provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if we ask you for them.

Work (if you have an offer of skilled employment in Auckland)

If you were awarded points for an offer of skilled employment in Auckland, you must:

  • take up that job within 3 months of coming to New Zealand
  • stay in that job for at least 3 months.
  • continue to be paid at or above the level of remuneration for which skilled employment points were awarded to you, for at least 3 months.
Notes

  • You must provide evidence within 5 years of your first day in New Zealand as a resident that you stayed in your skilled employment for at least 3 months.

    So we can get in touch with you to check your evidence, you’ll need to let us know if your address changes during this time.

Work (if you have an offer of skilled employment outside of Auckland)

If you were awarded points for an offer of skilled employment outside of Auckland, you must:

  • take up that job within 3 months of coming to New Zealand
  • stay in that job for at least 12 months
  • continue to be paid at or above the level of remuneration for which skilled employment points were awarded to you, for at least 12 months.
Notes

  • You must provide evidence within 5 years of your first day in New Zealand as a resident that you stayed in your skilled employment for at least 12 months.

    So we can get in touch with you to check your evidence, you’ll need to let us know if your address changes during this time.

Work (if you have current skilled employment in Auckland)

If you were awarded points for your current skilled employment in Auckland, and you’ve been working in that job for less than 3 months, you must:

  • stay in the job for at least 3 months
  • continue to be paid at or above the level of remuneration for which skilled employment points were awarded to you, for at least 3 months.
Notes

  • You must provide evidence within 5 years of your first day in New Zealand as a resident that you stayed in your skilled employment for at least 3 months.

    So we can get in touch with you to check your evidence, you’ll need to let us know if your address changes during this time.

Work (if you have current skilled employment outside of Auckland)

If you were awarded points for your current skilled employment outside of Auckland, and you’ve been working in that job for less than 3 months, you must:

  • stay in the job for at least 12 months
  • continue to be paid at or above the level of remuneration for which skilled employment points were awarded to you, for at least 12 months.
Notes

  • You must provide evidence within 5 years of your first day in New Zealand as a resident that you stayed in your skilled employment for at least 12 months.

    So we can get in touch with you to check your evidence, you’ll need to let us know if your address changes during this time.

Keep your visa in a valid passport

If you want to travel, your visa must be in a valid passport.

If your passport expires, you must apply to transfer your visa to a new passport before you can travel.

Transferring my visa to a new passport

Notes

Travel

You can travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you like until your travel conditions expire.

To travel after that, you will need to apply for and be granted either:

  • a Permanent Resident Visa
  • a variation of your travel conditions, which would allow you to return to New Zealand at a later date. 
Notes

  • Your travel conditions will expire 2 years from the date you first arrive in New Zealand as a resident.

    If you’re outside of New Zealand when your travel conditions expire, your visa will expire as well.