Skilled Migrant Category — Resident Visa

You must be 55 or younger when applying.

Principal applicant: IELTS General or Academic overall 6.5, or an accepted equivalent; not 6.5 in every band. Qualifying citizenship/work/study evidence may meet the requirement instead. Apply the test-validity rule, including any eligible full occupational-registration exception.

Provide evidence of the work experience required by your chosen SMC pathway, with its occupation, pay and timing rules. Experience is not universal when six points already come from one eligible skill category; Green List membership is not a universal SMC condition.

Current skilled employment or a genuine skilled job offer from an accredited employer, at least 30 hours weekly, with the eligible contract duration and the wage threshold for your chosen SMC pathway and occupation.

Meet health and character criteria; provide medical, chest X-ray and police evidence when your visa’s age, stay and history rules require it, including applicable previous-evidence exceptions.

Choose one SMC pathway. Points-based: six points from one eligible qualification, registration or income category, topped up if needed by NZ skilled work: one year within two years gives one point;18 months within three years gives two; two years within four gives three. Skilled Work Experience: three years directly relevant experience plus two additional NZ skilled years. Trades and Technician: eligible occupation and relevant level 4+ qualification,2.5 years relevant post-qualification work plus 18 additional skilled NZ months. Apply the branch’s occupation lists, pay and evidence rules. Other eligibility conditions still apply.