New Zealand Permanent Residence Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

• Your job experience, qualifications, and expertise must be assessed as skilled.
• You must obtain a skilled job or be employed in a currently skilled job in New Zealand.
• You must meet the requirements for good character in New Zealand.
• You and everyone associated with you must comply with certain health requirements.
• Your age must be within 55 years
• You must meet the basic requirements of English proficiency.

1. Self-assessment

Check you meet the requirements and calculate your points

2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Before you submit an expression of interest (EOI), you can use the points indicator to get an idea how many points you can claim for your EOI. You will need at least 100 to be accepted into their selection pool. Currently, NZ Immigration is only selecting EOIs with 160 points or above.

• Note the fees and officesinformation
• Submit an EOI online

3. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If you have 160 points or more you might be selected from the EOI pool and may be sent an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Read one of these guides to understand the process

• Application for Residence Guide – Skilled Migrant Category (INZ 1105)PDF 290KB
• Employer Supplementary Form — Skilled Migrant Category (INZ 1235)PDF 264KB

4. Submit a resident application

Note the fees and offices information

Submit your resident application on the form we provide you with

5. Receive your visa

If successful, you’ll be issued a resident visa

1. Identity:

• Valid Passport
• Recent photographs (As per Immigration New Zealand requirements)

2. Character:

• Police Clarences from countries you lived longer in the past 10 years
• Cover letter

3. Health:

• Chest X-ray*
• Medical certificate*
• Other medical tests as per immigration or panel physician’s recommendation

4. English Language::

• Recognised Qualification comparable to New Zealand’s Bachelor degree (Level 7)
• IELTS English language Test results (Minimum band – 6 each in module)
• PTE English Language test (Minimum 58)

5. Age:

• The documents submitted for identity are used as evidence

6. Skilled Employment:

• Employment Contract of Skilled Occupation
• Work Experience
• Qualification
• Occupational Registration (If Required)

7. Skilled Work Experience:

• ANZCO level 1,2 and 3 occupation (Work should match ANZCO description)
• If the work is not in ANZCO level 1,2 and 3 occupation (Further documentation is needed and the remuneration offered should be at or above $ 35.24 per hour)

8. Expression of Interest:

• The point total claimed should be at or above the threshold of 160 points

9. Invitation to apply for Residence:

• Agreement from Employer
• Job Description of current employment
• Occupational Registration (If Applicable)
• Qualification and Academic Transcripts (Original or Certified)
• Work Experience – references, payslips, tax records or contracts
• Proof of Partner if you have claimed points

Application cost: $ 530

Second Installment: $ 3,310. This is the charge for Immigration New Zealand to process your application. We do not refund application costs if we decline your application.

A non-refundable immigration levy is charged and is included in the cost.

Things to note

• We use a points-based system to assess expressions of interest.
• Currently, we are only selecting EOIs with 160 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.