New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
New Zealand NZL
New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is a points-based residence pathway for skilled workers with a job offer or skilled employment in New Zealand. The system uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) process where candidates are ranked and those above a selected points threshold are invited to apply for residence. Citizenship may be applied for after five years of residence, and New Zealand permits dual citizenship.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Worker
- Processing Time
- 9 months
- Application Fee
- $400
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Partner and dependent children under 24 are included in the residence application
- Path to PR
- Yes — 0 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 5 years
- Physical Presence
- Must be present in New Zealand at the time of residence grant; must reside in NZ to maintain resident visa travel conditions
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- New Zealand residents are taxed on worldwide income; a transitional tax exemption on foreign income may apply for the first four years of residency
No minimum income threshold, but job offer and skilled employment are central to points score; minimum NZD$29.66/hour wage floor applies
Application Timeline
Apply
9mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 0 years
Citizenship
After 5 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Expression of Interest (EOI) lodged with Immigration New Zealand and selected in a ballot
- ✓Points score based on age, skilled employment, work experience, qualifications, and partner qualifications
- ✓Skilled job offer in New Zealand, or current skilled employment in New Zealand
- ✓Minimum wage of NZD$29.66 per hour (or higher for some roles) from a New Zealand employer
- ✓Meet health and character requirements
- ✓Under 56 years of age
Am I eligible for New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Check if occupation is on the Green List or meets Skilled Migrant criteria
home countryNew Zealand reformed the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) in October 2023. New system: 6 points required from a simplified criteria set. Separately, the Green List (Tier 1 — "straight to residency" and Tier 2 — "work to residence") offers faster pathways for specific shortage occupations (nurses, teachers, engineers, doctors, chefs). Check Green List at immigration.govt.nz before starting the longer SMC process.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 02
Obtain a job offer or existing skilled employment in NZ
home countryUnder the reformed Oct 2023 SMC, a skilled job offer or existing employment in NZ is required to score points. (Pre-reform EOI was skills/qualifications focused; post-reform centres on NZ employment.) Get a job offer from a NZ employer accredited with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) or already be working in NZ on a work visa.
Typical duration: 4-16 weekssource ↗
- 03
Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) via INZ SkillFinder portal
onlineLodge EOI on INZ SkillFinder. Under the 2023 reform: 6 points system. Points awarded for: (1) Employment/job offer in NZ (required base); (2) Additional points for qualification level, whether job is on shortage list, regional/rural employment, close family in NZ, and employment area. INZ selects EOIs in pools — pools drawn every 2 weeks.
Typical duration: 1-4 weeks (lodgement) + draw waitsource ↗
- 04
Receive invitation to apply (ITA) and lodge residency application
onlineSelected EOIs receive ITA. Must lodge residency application within 4 months. Pay application fee: NZD 4,830 (2024, individual) + NZD 1,350/adult dependent + NZD 830/child. Submit employment contract, qualifications, health, character.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks to preparesource ↗
- 05
Health and character checks
home countryMedical examination at INZ-approved physician. Police certificates from all countries where you have lived 5+ years since age 17. For some occupations (healthcare, teaching, childcare) additional checks required.
Typical duration: 2-6 weeks
- 06
Visa grant and travel to New Zealand
destinationINZ assesses application. Processing times: 6-12 months for most. On grant, you receive a permanent resident visa label in passport and/or e-Grant email. Travel to NZ.
Typical duration: Variable
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | en | — |
| Job offer or employment contract from NZ-accredited employer | New Zealand employer | No | — | — |
| Qualification certificates and transcripts | Educational institution | No | en | — |
| NZQA qualification assessment (if overseas qualification) | New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) | No | en | — |
| English language evidence (if applicable) | Test provider / passport | No | — | 730 |
| Medical examination via INZ eMedical | INZ-approved physician | No | — | 365 |
| Police certificates (all countries 5+ years since age 17) | National police | No | en | — |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
NZD 4,830 individual application fee (2024). Adult dependents NZD 1,350 each; children NZD 830 each. NZQA qualification assessment: NZD 380–570. Medical: NZD 250–500/person. English test: AUD 300–450 or equivalent. Immigration consultant: NZD 2,500–8,000 depending on complexity.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait4–12 weeks
- Decision → arrival4 weeks
- Residence card issuance2 weeks
- Total to residence card30–78 weeks
INZ processing of SMC post-reform (Oct 2023) target is 6-12 months. Green List Tier 1 direct residency applications faster at 3-6 months. EOI pool drawing every 2 weeks. Job search in NZ often takes 3-6 months for offshore applicants.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 60 months
- Renewal fee
- $210
- Requirements
- Skilled Migrant Category is a permanent resident visa — no annual renewal of the visa itself. The travel conditions (right to re-enter NZ as PR) require renewal after 2 years, then again after 5 years of continued NZ residence and connection. Resident Return Visa (RRV) fee ~NZD 210. Citizenship available after 5 years as permanent resident.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 0
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Language test
- No
- Civic test
- Not required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Application fee
- $400
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- NZ Transitional Resident Exemption0% on foreign-source income for up to 4 years
New residents who have not been NZ tax residents in the previous 10 years. Foreign-sourced income (dividends, interest, rent) exempt from NZ tax for first 48 months. New Zealand-source income taxed normally.
Duration: 4 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
- Public system access
- After 0 months
Examples: ACC (compulsory accident cover), Southern Cross Health Society, NIB NZ, Cigna NZ
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse included on SMC has full unrestricted work rights as permanent resident.
- Child school enrolment
- Children included on SMC access free public schooling up to age 19. International schools available in Auckland and Wellington.
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Post-October 2023 reform: a NZ job offer is now essentially mandatory for SMC — offshore applicants without a role secured cannot progress easily
- ⚠Employer accreditation with INZ must be checked before accepting a role — non-accredited employers cannot support your SMC application
- ⚠NZ taxes worldwide income (except transitional resident exemption for first 4 years) — plan for offshore income and assets
- ⚠Green List occupations can skip most of the SMC process — check the list before proceeding with generic SMC
- ⚠NZ citizenship after 5 years of PR is one of the most accessible in the developed world (no language or civic test)
- ⚠KiwiSaver contributions lock up 3% of salary until retirement (age 65) or first home purchase — plan cash flow accordingly
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Employer not accredited with INZ — check accreditation status before accepting role
- •Job not at required ANZSCO skill level 1-3 (i.e., not "skilled")
- •Insufficient points under 2023 6-point system
- •Qualification not assessed or not recognised by NZQA
- •English language requirement not met
- •Character failure (serious criminal history)
- •Medical failure (conditions creating high cost on NZ health system)
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-10-09
Skilled Migrant Category fundamentally reformed. New 6-point system replaced old 160-point system. Core change: NZ employment or accredited job offer is now the foundation of eligibility. Green List retained and expanded. EOI pools drawn every 2 weeks instead of fortnightly random draws.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NZ Green List and should I use it instead of SMC?+
The Green List is a fast-track pathway for occupations in critical shortage (e.g., nurses, doctors, midwives, teachers, ICT professionals, engineers). Tier 1 roles can apply directly for residency without EOI or points assessment. Tier 2 roles get a straight-to-residency work visa after 2 years. If your occupation is on the Green List, this is almost always faster and simpler than the regular SMC. Check at immigration.govt.nz.
Does the 4-year NZ tax exemption apply to crypto and offshore investments?+
Yes. The transitional resident exemption applies to all foreign-sourced income including dividends, interest, rent, and capital gains on foreign assets for the first 48 months of NZ tax residency. This is a significant planning opportunity for new residents with offshore investment portfolios. After 4 years, NZ's Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules apply to offshore investments over NZD 50,000.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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