Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa Information
The Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa lets you stay in New Zealand if your current visa expires while we process your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Getting a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
If your current visa expires while you are waiting for our decision on your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application, we will normally give you a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa. This lets you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
You must have not applied for any other temporary visa.
You do not need to apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa. It will be given to you automatically and will start the day your current visa expires.
We will send you an eVisa.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Note
If you have included your partner and dependent children as secondary applicants in your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application, they can get their own Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa.
How long the visa lasts
The Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa is valid for 24 months, unless you withdraw or we decline your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application.
If you withdraw or we decline your application, your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will expire 2 months after the date of this decision.
Restrictions of the Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
Your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will normally have the same conditions as your current visa, but it has more restrictions than most temporary visas.
While you are on it you cannot:
- apply for any other temporary visa to work, study or visit
- support your partner or dependent children to get a visa
- change most of the conditions of you Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa.
Note
You should carefully consider whether the Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa is right for you. If it is not right for you, you should apply for a new temporary visa to work, study or visit. You must apply before your current temporary visa expires.
When you may want to apply for a new temporary visa
If you think your current visa might expire while we are processing your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application, you may want to apply for a new temporary visa to work, study or visit.
If you apply for a new temporary visa, we may give you an Interim Visa instead of a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa, if your current visa expires.
You may want to apply for a new temporary visa if:
- you want to have a temporary visa and apply for other visas, even if your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application is declined or withdrawn
- you want to support your partner or dependent children for temporary visas to work, study or visit — you cannot do this if you are on a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
- the conditions of the temporary visa are better for you than a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa — for example you may want to study instead of work.
You must apply for the new temporary visa before your current visa expires.
If you decide to apply for a new temporary visa
We may give you an Interim Visa instead of a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa if:
- you have applied for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- you have also applied for a new temporary visa, and
- your current temporary visa expires before you receive a decision on either application.
If you receive the Interim Visa, it will be valid for 6 months and have conditions based on your last temporary visa.
You will not receive the 24-month Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa.
Conditions on a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
The conditions of your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will normally be same as the conditions of your current visa. In some cases, they may be different depending on your situation.
If you have a work visa
If you have a work visa to work for a specified employer, you will get the same work conditions that you currently have.
If you have an open or partnership-based work visa, you will get open work conditions.
If you have a visitor visa
If you have a visitor visa you will get visitor visa conditions.
If you have a student visa
If you have a student visa you will get open student visa conditions meaning you can study any course at any educational institute at any location.
You also may be able to work up to 20 hours a week — this depends on your age and whether you currently have work conditions.
If you are 18 or younger
If you are 18 or younger, your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa may allow you to study even if your current visa does not.
The same conditions will apply to any partner or dependent child you have included in your Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application who is 18 or younger.
Travel conditions
Your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa is issued with a
Changing the conditions of a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa
You cannot change most of the conditions of your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa. You may only be able to change some conditions to study or work.
If you have work conditions
If you have employer-specific work conditions on your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa you may be able to change your employer, job or location of employment.
You can do this if your new job:
- is for an
who has an approved Job Check for the job, and - meets the requirements for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, including the wage rate for the job.
A 'wage threshold' is the minimum pay rate that you need for a visa. There are different wage thresholds for different visas. Skilled resident points are the points you need before you can apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. Check the visa for full requirements on claiming points. Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa Note The pay rates in the following tables are hourly and in New Zealand dollars. These are based on the
Our pay rate requirements for skilled work are based on: Your current job or job offer must pay at least the pay rate required at the time you submit your EOI and application. You must earn at least the current pay rate required for the points you want to claim for income. For example, if you want to claim 4 points for income, you must be earning at least NZD $63.22. If you are also claiming points for skilled work experience in New Zealand, you must meet the pay rate required for the income points you are claiming, throughout your work experience period. To claim points for skilled work experience, you must meet the hourly pay rate requirement in effect at the start of the work experience period you are claiming points for. If the median wage increases during this period your income does not need to increase, as long as you stay in the same job. If you change jobs, you must meet the new wage threshold applicable at that time.
Pay rates for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Median wage rates between 2018 and 2024 for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa expression of interests (EOI) submitted after 9 October 2023.
Wage thresholds are pay rate requirements
For the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, you will need to meet the wage thresholds:
Pay rates for skilled work in New Zealand
Date range
ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3 (the median wage)
ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5 (150% of the median wage)
Jobs not listed in ANZSCO (150% of the median wage)
From 28 February 2024
$31.61
$47.41
$47.41
27 February 2023 to 27 February 2024
$29.66
$44.49
$44.49
24 October 2022 to 26 February 2023
$27.76
$41.64
$41.64
19 July 2021 to 23 October 2022
$27.00
$40.50
$40.50
24 February 2020 to 18 July 2021
$25.50
$38.25
$38.25
26 November 2018 to 23 February 2020
$25.00
$37.50
$37.50
15 January 2018 to 25 November 2018
$24.29
$36.44
$36.44
Pay rates to claim points for income
Date range
3 points (at least 1.5 times the median wage)
4 points (2 times the median wage)
6 points (3 times the median wage)
From 28 February 2024
$47.41
$63.22
$94.83
27 February 2023 to 27 February 2024
$44.49
$59.32
$88.98
24 October 2022 to 26 February 2023
$41.64
$55.52
$83.28
19 July 2021 to 23 October 2022
$40.50
$54.00
$81.00
24 February 2020 to 18 July 2021
$38.25
$51.00
$76.50
26 November 2018 to 23 February 2020
$37.50
$50.00
$75.00
15 January 2018 to 25 November 2018
$36.44
$48.58
$72.87
Pay rates to claim skilled work experience
Note
These requirements apply even if you were not on an Accredited Employer Work Visa before.
If you have study conditions
If you have study conditions on your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa you may be able to change your conditions to allow you to work. You may be able to work for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during holiday periods.
You can do this if you meet our requirements for working on a student visa.
If you had a visitor visa before receiving your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa with study conditions, you can only change your conditions to allow you to work if you were included in a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application as a dependent child.
If your dependent child has visitor conditions and wants to study or work
If your dependent child has visitor conditions on their Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa, they may be able to change them to allow study, work or both.
They can only work for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during holiday periods.
They can apply for a variation of conditions if they:
- are 18 or older, and
- were included in a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa application as a dependent child.
How to apply for a variation of conditions
Apply online for a variation of conditions
You can apply for a variation of conditions using our online form.
Apply for a variation of conditions for a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa form
Apply on paper for a variation of conditions
You can also apply for a variation of conditions using our paper form.
- Read the form to find out about the application process and what to include.
- Download, print and complete the application form for a variation of conditions.
- Send in your application form, the fee and any supporting documents or evidence needed for your application.
Use our online tool to find out where to send your application and how much it costs.
Transferring your visa to a new passport
You can apply to transfer your visa to a new passport if your old passport expires, gets lost or is stolen.
There is no fee to transfer an eVisa.
You can apply online or complete the paper form.
Apply online to transfer a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa to a new passport form
Application for transfer or confirmation of a visa — online form for other visas.
Note
You cannot request a physical visa label for any interim visa.