New Zealand offers a range of Resident Visa categories, including opportunities for those that are skilled and employable, those who would like to invest here and others who may be coming to join family. Often the biggest challenge is trying to work out which pathway is the best for you. Let us navigate that choice with you.
A variety of visa options for a variety of roles
The Skilled Migrant Category or SMC for short is the mainstay of our skilled migration programme bringing in a large number of skilled, employable and valuable migrants in to New Zealand every year. The overall system is relatively simple in design but very complicated in terms of the criteria - it is easy to get lost in and even easier to get wrong.
There are two options under this pathway, the first being the points based “Skilled Migrant Category” and the second being the “Skilled Migrant Residence” option - they sound similar but are quite different.
Option 1 - Points Based
The SMC pathway has recently been changed but broadly consists of three separate steps:
Expression of Interest (EOI) - this is stage one where applicants submit an online expression of interest with a claim to a total number of points. Points are awarded for two separate categories (more below), which need to total six in order for an applicant to apply. For some applicants, they will be able to secure a job offer (which is a must) and apply directly), others may have to work in New Zealand for between one and three years in order to qualify.
Invitation to Apply (ITA) - should your EOI be selected (meaning you meet the pass-mark) and your EOI claims are accurate then you will be issued with an Invitation to Apply for a Residence Visa. You will have four months from the date of this invitation to submit your formal application.
Formal Application for Residence - once you have gathered all of the documentation to support the claims made in your EOI, you need to submit this to INZ for the application to be formally assessed. Once the application has been assessed and verification checks completed, INZ can approve and issue your Residence Visas.
The points structure has been simplified and is outlined in the image below (or you can click here for a PDF copy):
For all SMC applicants the key to success is securing the right offer of skilled employment in New Zealand, so having a well laid out plan to secure that job offer is crucial. However even with the job offer in hand, there are a lot of strings attached and so it pays to make sure that you are eligible for all the points you think you can claim.
We have a substantial amount of experience in assessing applicants under this category, determining the correct level of points and presenting fully prepared and decision-ready applications to INZ.
Option 2 - Green List
The second pathway or the “Skilled Migrant Residence” option doesn’t include a points system, but instead relies entirely on the job offer you secure in New Zealand. Specific occupations are added (or sometimes taken away) from our Green List, and depending where you are on that list, you will either be able to apply for Residence straight away (straight to residence) or work in NZ, in that occupation for two years and then apply for Residence.
Each occupation on the Green List, has specific criteria attached, which might include having certain qualifications, income, years of experience or New Zealand occupational registration. The key to this category is being able to identify whether you meet the specific criteria, being able to secure employment in New Zealand in that occupation and making sure you time the application right, if you need to work here for two years first.
All applicants must be under 56 years of age when they apply for Residence, speak English and be of good health and character.
Choosing The Right Path
Because most applicants who want to pursue the skilled pathway, need an offer of skilled employment to succeed (in order to get enough points), there is often a much bigger strategy involved, including not just one but potentially several Visa options (temporary and Residence). We often summarize this strategy as follows…
Securing employment offshore or travelling to NZ to attend interview and network (requiring a Visitor Visa)
With the job in hand, securing a Work Visa to start the job and build up NZ experience (if required).
With the Work Visa in hand, filing your EOI for Residence as soon as you qualify (either directly or after the required NZ period of work experience).
With the EOI selected and invitation to apply secured, lodging the formal Residence application as quickly as possible
Even before these four steps begin there is a significant amount of preparation required to ensure you have the right documentation, English tests secured, qualifications assessed, evidence of health, character and experience and any other paper-work that might support your various applications.
Having assisted thousands of people over many years to secure Residence through the Skilled Migrant pathway, the one message we always reinforce is to plan and prepare well. In fact the more prepared you are and the clearer your plan is, the greater your chances of securing a job and securing each of the various Visas that make up this process.
If you’re looking for professional assistance with an application under the Skilled Migrant pathway, use the contact form on this page or give our team a call to begin the application process today.
Your immigration specialists
Jackie Qi - Licensed Adviser
Sejoo Han - Support
