New Zealand Skilled Migrant Resident Visa

The Skilled Migrant Category aims to attract skilled migrants who have a proven capacity to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth. Skilled Migrant Visas lead to a New Zealand resident visa for candidates who have the skills New Zealand wants and who will settle and contribute to the country through the use of those skills.

This category is how most individuals and families gain New Zealand residency.

Immigration Points

A Skilled Migrant Visa is awarded on a points-based system: points are scored under criteria such as age, qualifications, work experience.

To apply under the Skilled Migrant Category, you go through a two-step process.

This starts with the submission of an Expression Of Interest – EOI: a questionnaire aimed at assessing your suitability to meet the requirements. In the EOI you claim points for skills, experience, and other factors.

You must be aged 55 or under, meet standards of health, character, and English language ability before you start the process.

If you amass 160 points or more on your EOI, you can submit it to the pool. Every fortnight, all EOIs over 160 points are automatically selected and the validity of the information is assessed. If the submitted information is deemed credible, the applicant is issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will then have to show proof of the claims made on your EOI. This means medical and police certificates, proof of English language ability, and documentation regarding your wages, skills, experience, and other factors. The information on the EOI is checked one more time and returned to Immigration New Zealand along with the applicant’s documentation.

New Zealand Resident Visa

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) makes sure that you meet all requirements, and that your points claims are valid. It then assesses you on your ability to settle in New Zealand successfully, which may include an interview. If Immigration New Zealand believes you will settle successfully and contribute to New Zealand, it will offer you a resident visa.