New Zealand Immigration Information


The Skilled Migrant visa category

The ‘Invitation to Apply’ system:

Register Expression of Interest Potential migrants will register an expression of interest in applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Prerequisites for registration are character, good health, and English language ability.
The minimum points required to register an expression of interest is 100 although it is highly unlikely that such a low score will result in an Invitation to Apply.

Pool of Prospective Migrants The registered expressions of interest will form a pool, and be ranked according to the points scored. Starting at the top of the list, prospective migrants will be invited to apply for residence at regular intervals in numbers sufficient to meet the annual immigration programme.
Registrations will lapse after a set period if no invitation to apply has been made. There is no right of review where no invitation has been issued.

Invitation to Apply for Residence Once invited to apply, a prospective migrant may lodge an application for residence which, given the pre-selection process, should have a very high prospect of being approved.
At this point a very high level of verification will be undertaken on all documentation and information supplied to support the application.
In particular, the validity of qualifications, work experience, IELTS certificates and job offers will be closely scrutinised.

Decision Making Your application for residence will be assessed against Government policy and further verification will be undertaken.

Assessment Of Ability To Settle And Contribute Once an application for residence has been submitted there will also be an assessment of the applicant’s ability to settle and contribute.
Some applicants, such as those who have worked or studied in New Zealand, will already have demonstrated settlement potential and will be granted residence.
Others will be assessed, and a decision made on whether residence or a two-year work-to-residence permit will be granted.

The decision of the Visa Officer whether or not to invite an application for residence will be based on a number of criteria including the points claimed. Although some of the selection criteria will be identified, other criteria will be subjective and the number of points which will trigger an invitation to apply for residence will not be advised to applicants.

Intending applicants should take considerable caution to ensure that whatever is stated in their Expression of Interest does not compromise their chance of being selected from the pool. You should also be aware that the legislation specifically denies any right to a reconsideration or appeal of a decision to not invite an application for residence.

When lodging an application for residence, any variation from the Expression of Interest may be considered by the NZIS to be fraud.

Because of the highly subjective nature of the Skilled Migrants category process, professional advice should be sought to minimise the risk of inadvertently compromising the application.
Feel free to contact us any time; we can help you with names and adresses of reputable consultants.

Under the new selection process (21 December 2005), highly talented migrants who score 140 points and above on their EOI for residence will automatically be selected from the pool and invited to apply for residence.

Applicants who score between 100 and 140 points and have a New Zealand job or job offer will be ranked and selected in sufficient numbers to meet the New Zealand Immigration Programme numbers for skilled and business migrants.

If enough places are available, other EOIs may be selected on the basis of specific criteria which the Minister of Immigration will set every six months.

Full details of the Skilled Migrant category as well as all other available migrant categories can be found at the website of the NZ Immigration Service: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant.

The Skilled Migrants Points System

Skilled employment
60 points: Current employment in NZ for 12 months or more
50 points: Offer of employment in NZ or current employment for less than 12 months
Bonus points for employment or offer of employment in:
05 points: An identified future growth area; identified cluster; area of absolute skills shortage
10 points: Region outside Auckland
10 points: Spouse/partner employment/offer of employment

Relevant Work Experience
10 points: 2 years
15 points: 4 years
20 points: 6 years
25 points: 8 years
30 points: 10 years
Additional points for work experience in New Zealand
05 points: 2 years
10 points: 4 years
15 points: 6 years or more

Qualifications
50 points: Recognized basic qualification (e.g. trade qualification, diploma, bachelors' degree)
55 points: Recognized post-graduate qualification (e.g. Masters degree or higher)
Bonus points for:
10 points: Recognized NZ qualification (and at least 2 years study in NZ)
05 points: Qualification in an identified future growth area; identified cluster; area of absolute skills shortage
10 points: Spouse/partner qualifications
Additional points for work experience in an identified future growth area; identified cluster; area of absolute skills shortage:
05 points: 2-5 years
10 points: 6 years or more

Age (20 to 55 years)
30 points: 20-29
25 points: 30-39
20 points: 40-44
10 points: 45-49
05 points: 50-55

Additional points may be claimed for direct family members living in New Zealand.

If you wish to apply for permanent residence as a skilled worker, please refer to the "Eligibility Assessment" section of this website by clicking this link