New Zealand Migrant Categories

Skilled Migration Category

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is the main route to residence in New Zealand. It has been designed to ensure that people moving permanently to New Zealand have the skills the country needs. This category works on a points based system. The main points scoring areas are based on your qualifications, work experience and job, or job offer, in New Zealand.

Family Categories 

The purpose of New Zealand's Family Migrant Category Policy is to reunite families. The New Zealand unmarried partner, fiancé(e) and marriage visas have been designed to help applicants move to New Zealand to join their spouse, fiancé or unmarried partner including same sex relationships. Other family members such as parents may also apply if they meet certain criteria.

Work to Residence

The Work to Residence category allows you to get a temporary work visa and/or permit. This is an initial step towards gaining permanent residence in New Zealand. Applicants may be qualified in occupations that are currently in demand in New Zealand.

Temporary work 

Temporary work visas and permits are issued to applicant’s who have a job offer from a New Zealand employer. They are also issued to people skilled in occupations that are in demand in New Zealand.

Working holiday

If you’re aged between 18 and 30 years you may travel to New Zealand on an extended holiday and take employment to subsidise your travel.

Business and Investment Category

If considering investing or establishing a business in New Zealand, there are business advantages offered by Immigration New Zealand

Criteria

Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy

Should you have an offer of employment from an accredited employer in New Zealand, you can make an application for a work visa or permit for up to 30 months under this work policy. Once you have worked in New Zealand for an accredited employer for a minimum of two years you may apply for residence.

Health and Character 

Applicants for entry to New Zealand must have an acceptable standard of health. An acceptable standard of health includes people who:

English language proficiency  

Applicants for entry to New Zealand must meet the English language requirements. If you our any dependants included in your application aged 16 years or over do not meet the minimum standard or are unable to provide an IELTS certificate, you will need to pre-purchase English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition which is English language study for completion on arrival in New Zealand.

Factors Definition 

The following factors are considered:

Points System 

The New Zealand Skilled Migrant Points system is designed to allow Expressions of Interest to be ranked in order so that the New Zealand Immigration authorities can invite applicants who will benefit New Zealand the most to apply for residence.

NZ Long Term Skills Shortage List (NZ ltssl)

There are occupations listed by the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations as been in long term demand in New Zealand

Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy

If you are a person talented in arts, culture and sports, you can make an application for a work visa or permit as a step towards residence under the Work to Residence, Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) Work Policy

Hot Migration Opportunities to New Zealand