Skilled Migrant Category (Residence)

The Skilled Migrant Category operates as a points-based immigration system designed to attract skilled workers who can contribute to New Zealand's economy. Applicants must score at least 160 points across various criteria including age, qualifications, work experience, and employment factors to be eligible to submit an Expression of Interest.

The system prioritises younger applicants with relevant qualifications and work experience, particularly those with job offers in New Zealand. Points are awarded on a sliding scale, with maximum points typically going to applicants aged 20-39 with postgraduate qualifications and skilled employment offers from accredited employers.

Immigration New Zealand regularly reviews and adjusts the points system and selection criteria based on economic needs and immigration targets. Recent changes have emphasised the importance of having skilled employment in New Zealand, making job offers increasingly valuable for successful applications.

Points are awarded across several categories, with age being a significant factor. Applicants aged 20-39 receive maximum age points (30 points), with points decreasing for older applicants. No age points are awarded to applicants over 55, making the SMC unsuitable for older migrants.

Qualifications play a crucial role, with points ranging from 40 points for a basic qualification to 70 points for a doctorate. The qualification must be recognised in New Zealand and relevant to skilled employment. Work experience points are awarded for skilled work experience, with additional points for New Zealand work experience.

Skilled employment factors can significantly boost your score. A job offer for skilled employment with an accredited employer can add 50 points, while current skilled employment in New Zealand can add up to 70 points. Partner qualifications and work experience can also contribute additional points to your application.

Other factors include bonus points for qualifications in areas of absolute skills shortage, work experience in identified future growth areas, and close family connections in New Zealand. Understanding how to maximise points across all categories is essential for competitive applications.

The EOI is your initial application to enter the SMC selection pool. You must accurately calculate and claim points for all relevant factors, providing basic information about your qualifications, work experience, and circumstances. The EOI remains in the pool for up to six months, during which Immigration New Zealand may select it for further processing.

Selection from the pool depends on your point score and Immigration New Zealand's current selection criteria. Higher-scoring EOIs are typically selected first, and selection can be influenced by factors such as skilled employment offers and qualifications in shortage areas. If selected, you'll receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence.

If your EOI isn't selected within six months, it expires and you'll need to submit a new one. You can update your EOI while it's in the pool if your circumstances change, such as gaining additional qualifications or securing employment in New Zealand.

Once you receive an ITA, you have four months to submit your complete residence application with supporting documentation. This stage requires comprehensive evidence to support all points claimed in your EOI, including qualification assessments, employment verification, and character documentation.

Health requirements include medical examinations and chest X-rays for all applicants and family members over certain ages. Character requirements involve police certificates from all countries where you've lived for 12 months or more since age 17, and disclosure of any criminal history or immigration issues.

Employment documentation must verify your work experience and any current job offers. This includes employment contracts, job descriptions, employer verification letters, and evidence that employers are accredited where required. Qualification documentation requires official transcripts and may need assessment by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Financial requirements include evidence that you can support yourself and any family members included in the application. While there's no specific financial threshold, you must demonstrate you won't become a burden on New Zealand's social services.

Skilled employment for SMC purposes must be at skill levels 1, 2, or 3 on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The employment must be genuine, sustainable, and with an employer who can demonstrate they have a legitimate need for your skills.

Employers offering jobs to SMC applicants must be accredited with Immigration New Zealand unless the role is exempt from accreditation requirements. Accreditation involves the employer demonstrating they're a legitimate business with good employment practices and a genuine need for migrant workers.

Job offers must be for at least 30 hours per week and meet minimum wage requirements. The role must match your qualifications and experience, and the employer must provide evidence they've attempted to recruit New Zealand workers first, unless exempt from this requirement.

Self-employment and contractor arrangements generally don't qualify as skilled employment for SMC purposes, though there are limited exceptions for certain types of business ownership arrangements.

You can include your partner and dependent children in your SMC application as secondary applicants. Your partner must be in a genuine and stable relationship with you, evidenced through joint financial commitments, shared living arrangements, and relationship history documentation.

Dependent children can be included if they're under 24 years old and financially dependent on you, or older if they have a substantial disability. Children must be unmarried and not in a de facto relationship. Step-children and adopted children can be included if you have legal responsibility for them.

All family members must meet health and character requirements, regardless of age. This includes medical examinations and police certificates where applicable. Including family members increases application costs but doesn't require additional points.

Your partner's qualifications and work experience can contribute points to your application, potentially making the difference between selection and non-selection. Partner points are particularly valuable if your partner has New Zealand qualifications or work experience.

SMC processing occurs in two main stages: EOI selection and residence application processing. EOI selection typically occurs every two weeks, but the time to selection depends on your point score and Immigration New Zealand's selection priorities. Higher-scoring EOIs are generally selected faster.

Residence application processing currently takes 12-18 months on average, though this can vary based on application complexity and whether additional information is required. Applications requiring verification of overseas qualifications or employment may take longer to process.

You can continue working in New Zealand on your current visa while your residence application is processed, provided your visa remains valid. If your current visa expires during processing, you may be eligible for an interim visa to remain in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand may request additional information during processing, and responding promptly and comprehensively helps avoid further delays. Regular communication with your immigration adviser can help ensure your application progresses smoothly.

Many SMC applications face delays or decline due to insufficient or inadequate supporting documentation. Common issues include qualification assessments that don't meet requirements, employment verification that doesn't clearly demonstrate skilled work, and character documentation that's incomplete or expired.

Points calculation errors are another frequent problem, where applicants claim points they can't support with evidence. This can result in application decline and may affect future applications. Careful verification of all claimed points before submitting your EOI is essential.

Health and character issues can cause significant delays or decline. Pre-existing medical conditions may require additional assessments, while undisclosed criminal history or immigration violations can result in automatic decline. Full disclosure and early preparation help avoid these issues.

Changes in circumstances during the application process, such as job loss or relationship breakdown, can affect your application. Understanding how to manage these changes and when to notify Immigration New Zealand is crucial for maintaining application validity.

Successful SMC applicants receive resident visas allowing them to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Residents have access to most social services and can sponsor family members for residence under certain categories. After holding residence for two years, you may be eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship.

New residents must meet residence obligations to maintain their status. This includes spending sufficient time in New Zealand and not being absent for extended periods without good reason. Residents who spend too much time overseas may have their residence status reviewed.

Residents can travel freely in and out of New Zealand, though you'll need a current passport and may need to apply for a resident return visa if your resident visa expires while overseas. Maintaining your residence status requires ongoing compliance with New Zealand law and immigration requirements.

SMC residents can apply to include additional family members through other residence categories, though each category has specific requirements and processing times. Understanding your options for family reunification can help you plan for bringing other family members to New Zealand.