New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Visa

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) visas typically grant you the opportunity to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely, as they are designed as a pathway to permanent residency. After you obtain an SMC visa, you can apply for a Resident Visa, which allows you to live in New Zealand for an indefinite period.

Yes, applicants for a skilled migrant category visa must be 55 years of age or younger to apply for this type of visa.

The cost of an SMC visa can vary based on several factors, including your location, the type of visa you’re applying for, and whether you are applying online or through a paper application. For accurate fee information, click here (link to immigration NZ site)

Yes, if you hold a Skilled Migrant Category visa and are granted residency, you can include your eligible family members (spouse, partner, and dependent children) in your application. They will receive the same resident status and can live and work in New Zealand with you.

Not usually, however, for self-employed people who are looking to immigrate to New Zealand, they may be eligible to apply for an Entrepreneur Work Visa – which is something we can also help you with.

The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa offers several benefits, including the right to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely, access to New Zealand’s healthcare and education systems, and the ability to apply for New Zealand citizenship after meeting residency requirements. It also provides a pathway to enjoying the quality of life and natural beauty that New Zealand offers.

The points system used in the Skilled Migrant Category Visa process has been developed to make it easier to determine the people who are eligible for this type of visa, which is to ensure that New Zealand’s economic growth can continue to be stimulated.
Points are awarded based on factors like age, work experience, qualifications, job offer, and other factors. To be eligible, you must score a minimum number of points, which can vary depending on the current immigration policies and the specific requirements for the visa.

As of October 9th, 2023, the number of points required to be eligible for this type of visa is 6. Prior to this, applicants needed 180 points, however, the points system has since been updated, and 180 points is no longer required.

Points are awarded based on factors like age, work experience, qualifications, job offer, and other factors. To be eligible, you must score a minimum number of points, which can vary depending on the current immigration policies and the specific requirements for the visa.

The points system helps to determine a person’s employability, and takes lots of factors into consideration, including:
– Age: Applicants are scored according to which age group they fall into at the time of their application, with those aged from 20 to 39 gaining the most points.
– Skilled employment: Eligibility is dependent on obtaining an offer of skilled employment from a New Zealand employer. A qualifying offer of skilled employment must be for a minimum of 30 hours per week, for a wage or salary that is at least the NZ median wage and matches the market rate for the occupation. The employment must be either a normal ongoing employment contract or for a fixed term of at least 12 months.
To be treated as skilled employment, you must obtain a job offer that is considered by INZ to be a substantial match for occupations listed in the Australia New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) at Levels 1-3. You must also be able to demonstrate that you hold the requisite qualifications and/or work experience for this occupation.
– Educational qualification: If you claim points for your qualification, you must show it is a recognised qualification. It can be a New Zealand qualification or your overseas qualification. In case that you’re claiming points for your overseas qualifications they need to either be on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment or have been assessed by the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA).
– Work Experience: If you claim points for work experience, you must show it is skilled and it must be in the same field as your qualification and job/job offer. If you don’t have a job or job offer then this experience also needs to be in a comparable labour market, in an occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List or for a multinational company.
– English language ability: Principal applicants under the SMC category must be able to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standard of English. The minimum standard of English is met if an acceptable English language test result is provided.
– Health requirements: applicants must be of good health; and
– Character requirements: applicants must have good character.

It is not mandatory to work with an immigration specialist, like a lawyer or adviser, when submitting an expression of interest for a skilled migrant category visa but there are loads of benefits in doing so.

Firstly, immigration laws and policies for New Zealand are regularly reviewed and subject to change, so it’s important to ensure that you have the latest and most up to date information.

Secondly, it doesn’t get much more stressful than when you’re planning for something as serious as your future living arrangements. Immigration law isn’t always easy to understand and when you’re about to potentially undergo many changes, it’s very common to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Our role is help reduce this stress and remove confusion by providing you with accurate information and support every step of the process.

Thirdly, when you are making an application that could affect the rest of your life, why would you want to chance it? You can avoid making costly mistakes and be comforted by the fact that you’re working with an expert in the field.

The time it takes to get a skilled migrant category visa for New Zealand will vary depending on a wide range of factors. The changes to the Skilled Migrant Category visa in October 2023 is aimed to help reduce processing time, with the aim to review and approve or disapprove applications within 6-8 weeks of them being submitted.

If a skilled migrant category visa is not the right option for your situation, you may be eligible for another type of employment visa in New Zealand. Get in touch with us today to discuss your situation and ensure you’re applying for the right visa type.

It’s easy to make mistakes when submitting and expression of interest application or an application for a skilled migrant category visa. From inaccurate information to ineligibility, that’s why it is a good idea to work with immigration advisors like our team here at IC legal. We can ensure that you’re making the correct visa application for your situation.