FAQ: Skilled Migrant Visa of New Zealand

Do you want to learn more about the Skilled Migrant Visa of New Zealand? Then you’ve come to the right place!

We’re answering all of your burning questions about this visa in this article. If you’re eager to find out if you can apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa by the end of the article, you should book a consultation call with our licensed advisor.

Now on to those frequently asked questions:

1. What is the Skilled Migrant Visa?

The Skilled Migrant Visa is a work visa. This visa enables you to live and work in New Zealand permanently.

You may also study if you wish, but you may not be self-employed. If you want to run your own business, you’ll have to look into the Entrepreneur Visa.

2. What are the Skilled Migrant Visa requirements?

Immigration New Zealand seeks skilled migrants to fill labour gaps in the country’s workforce. For this reason, you’ll have to meet strict requirements to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.

You must:

• Be under the age of 55
• Score 6 points
• Have a skilled job or job offer with an accredited New Zealand employer
• Have an acceptable level of English
• Meet the health and character criteria

3. For how long is a Skilled Migrant Visa valid?

The Skilled Migrant Visa is a residency visa and is thus valid indefinitely. You can work, live and study in New Zealand, and include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your visa application.

4. What is classed as skilled work in New Zealand?

Immigration New Zealand uses the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO) to classify ‘skilled work’.

ANZSCO is used within the skilled migration programs to set guidelines for the skills and work experience visa applicants must meet to work in specific occupations in Australia or New Zealand.

When applying for a Skilled Migrant Visa, you must find the closest matching ANZSCO occupation for your current job or job offer. You must also be suitably qualified to do the job, which means your training and experience should match your occupation’s ANZSCO skill level.

INZ will assess your occupation as skilled if it:

• is described in the ANZSCO as a skill level 1, 2 or 3 occupation, and it
  • mostly matches the ANZSCO description of that occupation
  • meets the pay rate threshold of NZD $29.66 an hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more, or
• is described in the ANZSCO as a skill level 4 or 5 occupation, and it
  • mostly matches the ANZSCO description of that occupation
  • meets the pay rate threshold of NZD $44.49 an hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more, or
• has no matching description in the ANZSCO and meets the pay rate threshold of NZD $44.49 an hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more.

5. What jobs are in demand in New Zealand?

Jobs that are in high demand in New Zealand are in a few key industries:

• Healthcare: Nurses, General Practitioners, Specialist Physicians, etc
• Education: Early Childhood Teachers, Academic Advisers, University Lecturers, etc
• IT: Developers, ICT Project Managers, ICT Security Specialists, etc
• Construction: Construction Project Manager, Civil Engineer, Quantity Surveyors, etc

As New Zealand’s needs change, those industries change. For example, New Zealand focused heavily on healthcare at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. How do I get a skilled migrant visa for New Zealand?

The first step to getting a Skilled Migrant Visa for New Zealand is meeting the basic criteria, which includes scoring 6 points.

Once you’ve been assessed as skilled and you scored at least 6 points, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

If Immigration New Zealand selects your EOI, you’ll get an invitation to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.

At this stage, you’ll get to lodge your visa application – and if it’s successful, you’ll get a Skilled Migrant Visa.

8. How many points do I need to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa?

You’ll need at least 6 points to submit an Expression of Interest. INZ automatically selects EOI with 6 points for verification and qualifying candidates may get an invitation to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.

What if I can’t score 160 points?

You might have to consider another work visa if you cannot score enough points. You could also explore other visas that allow you to live in New Zealand, such as the Entrepreneur or Investor visas.

9. What is an Expression of Interest?

Your Expression of Interest (EOI) is how you notify Immigration New Zealand of your desire to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.

Your EOI will contain information related to the criteria of the Skilled Migrant Visa, which means your:

• Age
• Occupation
• Skills
• Experience
• Qualifications
• Health
• English language ability
• Character

INZ automatically selects EOI with 6 points for verification and qualifying candidates may get an invitation to apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.

10. How long does it take to get a Skilled Migrant Visa for New Zealand?

Currently (March 2024), INZ completes 80% of applications within 3 months, but some applications may take longer.

Your immigration advisor should also be able to give you a timeframe for the entire process.