Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa New Zealand Guide
A residence pathway for eligible skilled people who meet Immigration New Zealand requirements.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa requirements: who can apply?
- be aged 55 or younger when you apply
- be working for, or have a job offer from, an and the job is
- meet the requirements for an SMC pathway, and
- speak and understand English.
- live, work and study in New Zealand
- include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application.
What the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa lets you do
- live, work and study in New Zealand
- include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger in your visa application.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa documents and evidence
- ’ section on this page to find out what evidence to provide with your application.
- Documents you need Note If you do not have 6 points from your qualifications, you can use your skilled work experience in New Zealand to claim more points.
- You cannot use your occupational registration or income to claim more points.
- New Zealand occupational registration You can use your occupational registration to claim points if it is on our list of eligible New Zealand occupational registrations (for example if you are a chartered accountant or a registered plumber).
- Registrations that require more training are worth more points.
- If you are planning to use skilled work experience to claim more points, you can only include skilled work experience you gained after getting your occupational registration.
- Documents you need Income You can use the income (or pay) from your current New Zealand job or job offer to claim points, if the income from the job is at least 1.5 times the SMC wage threshold.
- You can claim between 3 and 6 points from your income.
- If you earn enough to claim 6 points from your income the current SMC wage threshold will apply.
- If you need to claim additional points from skilled work experience, the SMC wage threshold that applies to you can be lower, depending on when you started gaining this work experience and if it was within the eligible timeframe.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa FAQ
What is the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa?
A residence pathway for eligible skilled people who meet Immigration New Zealand requirements.
How long can I stay in New Zealand on the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa?
The latest source snapshot lists Live, work and study indefinitely. Check the official Immigration New Zealand page because visa conditions can change.
How much does the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa cost?
The latest source snapshot lists and. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount with Immigration New Zealand before applying.
How long does the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa take to process?
Processing times can vary. Use the official Immigration New Zealand page linked on this guide for the latest published processing information.
Where can I check the latest official Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa requirements?
Use the official Immigration New Zealand source: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/skilled-migrant-category-resident-visa/. Webfit News reorganises the public information for convenience but does not replace the official source.
Other residence visa guides
Return to the main NZ Visa Guide to browse work, study, visitor, residence and family visa information or download another visa checklist.