New Zealand Skilled Migrant

Summary

New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa is a residence route for skilled workers who have a qualifying New Zealand job or job offer from an accredited employer. It uses a 6-point system based on occupational registration, qualifications, income, and skilled work experience in New Zealand.

This route is broader than the Green List routes, but it still requires a real skilled job connection to New Zealand.

Eligibility

You may be a fit if:

• You are 55 or younger when you apply.
• You are working for, or have a job offer from, an accredited New Zealand employer.
• The job meets Immigration New Zealand's skilled-job and pay requirements.
• You can claim at least 6 skilled resident points.
• You meet the English-language requirement.
• You meet New Zealand's health, character, identity, and document requirements.

You can claim points from one main skill category, such as eligible New Zealand occupational registration, a recognised qualification, or high income. If needed, you can add points from skilled work experience in New Zealand.

The points system is meant to answer one practical question: does your New Zealand job sit on top of enough skill, training, registration, or pay to justify residence? You need 6 points in total. You can get those points in one of two ways:

• Claim 6 points from one strong skill factor, such as a high-level qualification, eligible occupational registration, or high income.
• Claim 3 to 5 points from one skill factor, then add 1 to 3 points from skilled work experience in New Zealand.

You generally cannot combine several different skill factors to reach 6 points. For example, you do not add qualification points and income points together; you choose the one that gives the strongest claim, then add New Zealand skilled work experience if needed.

New Zealand has also announced additional SMC pathways taking effect in late August 2026 for some skilled experience, trades, and technician roles. Those future settings should be checked separately if they are relevant to the user.

Duration, Renewal, and Long-Term Path

• Duration: Resident visa from approval.
• Renewal: Can support permanent resident status and later citizenship if New Zealand rules are met.

What This Route Allows

If approved, this visa lets you live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. You can include a partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger if they meet the family, health, character, and identity rules.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a points route based only on education or foreign work experience. A qualifying New Zealand job or job offer is central to the current SMC.

It is also not the same as an AEWV. The AEWV is a temporary work visa; the SMC is a resident visa.

Next Steps

1. Confirm the New Zealand employer is accredited.
2. Confirm the job is skilled and meets the current pay rules.
3. Check which one skill factor gives you the strongest points claim: registration, qualification, or income.
4. Add skilled New Zealand work-experience points only if your main skill factor gives fewer than 6 points.
5. Confirm you meet English, health, and character requirements.
6. Submit an Expression of Interest if you appear to reach 6 points.
7. If invited, prepare the full residence application and supporting evidence.

Sources

• Immigration New Zealand - Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
• Immigration New Zealand - Skilled Migrant Category pathway to residence
• Immigration New Zealand - Pay rates for the Skilled Migrant Category
• Immigration New Zealand - SMC changes announced
• NZQA - International Qualification Assessment