Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)Resident Visa

Your Pathway to Permanent Life in New Zealand

Are you a skilled professional looking to make New Zealand your permanent home? The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa offers a direct pathway to residency for individuals whose skills and experience are highly valued and needed in New Zealand's economy. This visa allows you and your family to live, work, and study indefinitely in Aotearoa.

At ZFS NZ, our expertise lies in guiding skilled migrants through the complexities of this crucial resident visa. We are committed to helping you understand the new 6-point system and build a robust application for your future in New Zealand.

Understanding the New 6-Point Skilled Migrant Category

The SMC operates on a simplified 6-point system, introduced to streamline the process and focus on New Zealand-based skilled employment, qualifications, and occupational registration. To be eligible, you need to meet the base requirements and accumulate 6 points.

Key Requirements for SMC Resident Visa:

  1. Age: You must be 55 years of age or younger when you apply.

  2. English Language: You must meet the English language requirements (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge English, or OET). Your partner and dependent children aged 16 or older included in your application may also need to show evidence of English language ability or pre-purchase English language tuition.

  3. Good Health & Character: You and all family members included in your application must meet Immigration New Zealand's health and character requirements.

  4. Skilled Job or Job Offer: You must have a skilled job or a skilled job offer with an accredited employer in New Zealand.

    • The job must be full-time (at least 30 hours per week).

    • It must be permanent, or fixed-term for at least 12 months, or a contract for services for at least 6 months.

    • Pay Rate Requirements:

      • For ANZSCO skill levels 1-3, you must be paid at or above the median wage (currently NZD $33.56 per hour, effective from 18 August 2025, and subject to annual updates).

      • For ANZSCO skill levels 4-5, you must be paid at or above 1.5 times the median wage (currently NZD $50.34 per hour, effective from 18 August 2025, and subject to annual updates).

How to Achieve 6 Points for Your SMC Application

You can claim points from one of three primary skill categories, and then add points from your New Zealand skilled work experience if needed.

Step 1: Claiming 3 to 6 Points from One Primary Skill Category (Cannot be combined):

  • New Zealand Occupational Registration:

    • 6 points: If your registration requires at least 6 years of training.

    • 5 points: If your registration requires at least 5 years of training.

    • 4 points: If your registration requires at least 4 years of training.

    • 3 points: If your registration requires at least 2 years of training.

  • Qualifications (Bachelor's Degree or Higher):

    • 6 points: PhD or Doctorate.

    • 5 points: Master's degree.

    • 4 points: Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma.

    • 3 points: Bachelor's degree or Postgraduate Certificate.

    • Note: Overseas qualifications typically require an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA, unless they are on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment.

  • Income from your Job/Job Offer:

    • 6 points: Earning at least 3 times the median wage (currently NZD $100.68 per hour).

    • 4 points: Earning at least 2 times the median wage (currently NZD $67.12 per hour).

    • 3 points: Earning at least 1.5 times the median wage (currently NZD $50.34 per hour).

Step 2: Adding Points from Skilled Work Experience in New Zealand (if required, up to 3 points):

If you don't get all 6 points from a single skill category above, you can top up your points with skilled work experience gained in New Zealand.

  • 3 points: For 3 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand (in the last 5 years).

  • 2 points: For 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand (in the last 4 years).

  • 1 point: For 1 year of skilled work experience in New Zealand (in the last 2 years).

    • Note: Your work experience must have been in a skilled job that met the relevant pay rate requirements at the time the experience was gained.

The Skilled Migrant Category Application Process

The SMC Resident Visa pathway is generally a two-stage process:

  1. Expression of Interest (EOI):

    • You submit an online EOI to Immigration New Zealand, providing details of your skills, qualifications, work experience, and job offer.

    • If you meet the 6-point threshold and all other base requirements, your EOI will be selected from the pool.

  2. Invitation to Apply (ITA) & Application Submission:

    • Once your EOI is selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.

    • You then have a specified period (usually 4 months) to submit your comprehensive resident visa application, along with all supporting documentation (health certificates, police certificates, qualification assessments, detailed work references, employment agreements, etc.).

Benefits of the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

  • Permanent Residency: Gain the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

  • Family Inclusion: Your partner and dependent children (aged 24 or under) can be included in your residence application.

  • Access to Services: Enjoy access to New Zealand's public healthcare system and education system.

  • Pathway to Citizenship: After holding a resident visa for a certain period, you may be eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship.

How ZFS NZ Can Guide You

The SMC is a complex visa category, and changes to policies and median wages occur regularly (e.g., the median wage update in February 2025). Our expertise ensures your application is robust and compliant. We provide:

  • Personalised Eligibility Assessment: A thorough evaluation of your skills, qualifications, work experience, and job offer against the current 6-point SMC criteria.

  • Points Calculation & Strategy: We help you understand how to best meet the 6-point threshold and advise on the strongest combination of points for your situation.

  • Accredited Employer Guidance: Assistance in verifying your employer's accreditation status and ensuring your job offer meets all requirements.

  • Comprehensive Documentation Support: Detailed checklists and meticulous preparation of all supporting documents, including NZQA assessments (if needed), police certificates, and employment evidence.

  • EOI & ITA Submission: Expert preparation and submission of your Expression of Interest and, once invited, your full Resident Visa application.

  • Liaison with Immigration New Zealand: We manage all communication with INZ on your behalf, addressing any queries or requests for further information efficiently.

  • Post-Decision Guidance: Advice on next steps after your visa is granted, including understanding your resident visa conditions.

Ready to secure your future in New Zealand? Contact ZFS NZ today for a comprehensive consultation on the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. Let our Auckland-based Licensed Immigration Adviser expertise lead you home.