The Skilled Migrant Category is designed to minimize the risk of a mismatch between the skills that migrants bring and the skills New Zealand needs.  

Successful applicants will be qualified skilled migrants, including those who are already working in skilled employment in New Zealand.  We know from research that such migrants settle more quickly and are able to match their New Zealand counterparts in salary levels and standards of living. 

Who is a skilled migrant?

We consider a skilled migrant to be a person who wants to live and work in New Zealand, and who has the skills that New Zealand needs to help it prosper nationally and internationally.

How the Skilled Migrant Category works

Applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category involves two stages.  Briefly, stage one involves you submitting an Expression Of Interest in applying for residence.  In this Expression of Interest you determine the points you qualify for against a set of factors that define a skilled migrant.  In the second stage we decide whether we will invite you to apply for residence in New Zealand based on the points you qualified for.  

The points system
The points system is designed to allow Expressions of Interest to be ranked so that we can extend invitations to apply for residence to people who have the most to offer New Zealand.  Points are available for skilled employment in New Zealand, work experience, qualification and age. Bonus points are available for employment in areas of identified future growth or absolute skills shortage. 
 

From time to time,  selections from the Pool would be made and, following some checking, those with the top points will be invited to lodge an Application for Residence in New Zealand.  It is not a case of first in, first served. 

If your Expression of Interest is not selected from the Pool the first time, it will remain in the Pool for three months.  If it is still unsuccessful, we will tell you that your Expression of Interest has been withdrawn from the Pool.  You can lodge another Expression of Interest if you wish to.

If we have not selected any Expressions of Interest over a three-month period, all Expressions of Interest will remain in the Pool until we make the next selection.

Depending on how you are able to demonstrate your ability or potential to successfully settle in New Zealand:

• your application may be approved and you will be granted a Residence Visa or Permit or 
• you may instead be granted a Work Visa or Permit, which will enable you to establish yourself in skilled employment in New Zealand and help you gain residence
  or
• your application may be declined.

 

Although a skilled job offer is not a prerequisite, you can see how important it is to consider ensuring that your skills are needed in New Zealand before you sell your home, leave your job and move to New Zealand. 

When completing your Expression of Interest, you need to be honest in answering the questions.  We may decline your application if, at any time, you:

• provide false or misleading information
• withhold any information that may influence our decision
• fail to let us know of a change in your circumstances that could influence our decision.