Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa provides a pathway to New Zealand residence for eligible people with skilled employment, recognised qualifications, occupational registration, relevant experience or qualifying remuneration.
From 24 August 2026, there are three Skilled Migrant Category pathways. Determining the appropriate pathway involves more than identifying your occupation or calculating points. Your employment, duties, remuneration, qualifications and work history must meet the requirements applying to the pathway you intend to use.
Trusthaven Immigration can assess your circumstances and advise you on a suitable residence strategy.
What Does the Skilled Migrant Category Visa Allow?
If your application is approved, you can:
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Live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely
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Work for any employer, subject to any conditions imposed on your visa
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Include your eligible partner and dependent children
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Travel in and out of New Zealand while your travel conditions remain valid
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Potentially apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after meeting the applicable requirements
The Skilled Migrant Category is not limited to one type of worker. The three pathways recognise different combinations of qualifications, registration, income and work experience.
General SMC Requirements
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Whichever pathway is used, the principal applicant must generally:
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Be 55 years old or younger
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Be working in, or hold an acceptable offer of, skilled employment
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Work for an accredited New Zealand employer
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Meet the employment and remuneration requirements for the selected pathway
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Meet the required standard of English
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Be in acceptable health
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Be of good character
The employment must ordinarily be full-time and meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirements concerning duration, genuineness and sustainability.
An eligible partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger may be included, provided they meet the applicable relationship, dependency, health, character and English-language requirements.
SMC Points Based Pathway
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Under the Skilled Migrant Category Points-Based Pathway, an applicant must obtain six skilled resident points.
Points may be claimed from one principal skill category:
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A recognised qualification
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Eligible New Zealand occupational registration
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Income from qualifying New Zealand employment
If the principal skill category does not provide all six points, eligible New Zealand skilled work experience may sometimes be used to reach the required total.
Points from different principal skill categories cannot ordinarily be combined. For example, qualification points cannot simply be added to income or occupational-registration points.
Whether a qualification, registration or period of employment qualifies must be assessed against the applicable immigration instructions.
SMC Skilled Work Experience Pathway
This pathway is intended for people who have developed their skills through substantial work experience rather than relying on a formal qualification or occupational registration.
Applicants need:
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Skilled employment or an acceptable job offer in an eligible ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation
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Remuneration meeting the applicable requirement
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At least five years of directly relevant work experience
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At least two years of qualifying skilled work experience in New Zealand
The relevant overseas and New Zealand experience must relate sufficiently to the applicant’s current employment or job offer.
Additional requirements apply to occupations on the Amber List. Occupations on the Red List and ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 roles are not eligible for this pathway.
SMC Trades and Technician Pathway
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The Trades and Technician Pathway is designed for people working in specified trade and technician occupations.
Eligible occupations include:
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Carpenter and Joiner
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Automotive Electrician
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Motor Mechanic
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Fitter-Welder
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Metal Fabricator
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Telecommunications Field Engineer
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And many more
Applicants need:
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Employment or an acceptable job offer in an eligible occupation
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A relevant qualification meeting the applicable requirements
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At least 2.5 years of relevant post-qualification work experience
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An additional 18 months of qualifying post-qualification skilled work experience in New Zealand
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Remuneration meeting the applicable SMC wage threshold
Only occupations included on Immigration New Zealand’s eligible Trades and Technician list can qualify. A job title alone is not sufficient. The applicant’s qualification, employment duties, remuneration and post-qualification work experience must all meet the applicable requirements.
Expression of Interest and Residence Application
The Skilled Migrant Category process begins with an online Expression of Interest—or EOI.
An EOI is a preliminary declaration of your circumstances. It identifies the SMC pathway under which you intend to apply and records information about your employment, occupation, remuneration, qualifications, occupational registration, work experience and accompanying family members.
Supporting documents are not generally uploaded with the EOI. However, the information entered must be accurate and must be capable of being supported by acceptable evidence if you are invited to apply. If an International Qualification Assessment is required, this should ordinarily be obtained before submitting the EOI.
If the EOI indicates that you meet the requirements of your selected pathway, Immigration New Zealand may issue an Invitation to Apply for residence. You must then submit the residence application within the specified timeframe and provide evidence supporting every material claim.
Evidence may include:
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Employment agreements and job descriptions
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Pay and tax records
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Qualification certificates and academic transcripts
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An International Qualification Assessment, where required
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Occupational-registration evidence
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Evidence of relevant overseas and New Zealand work experience
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English-language evidence
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Health and character documents
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Evidence relating to any partner or dependent children included in the application
An Invitation to Apply does not guarantee residence approval. Immigration New Zealand will examine whether the applicant genuinely meets the requirements and whether the evidence supports the information declared in the EOI.
Selecting the wrong pathway, claiming ineligible points or miscalculating qualifying work experience can delay the application or result in it being declined. It is therefore important to assess eligibility and supporting evidence before submitting the EOI.
Why an SMC Assessment Matters
SMC eligibility cannot always be determined from a job title, salary or qualification alone.
An assessment may need to consider:
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Whether your actual duties correspond with the claimed occupation
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The ANZSCO skill level applying to your position
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Whether your remuneration meets the correct threshold
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When your qualifying New Zealand work experience began
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Whether your overseas experience is directly relevant
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Whether your qualification is recognised for immigration purposes
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Whether an International Qualification Assessment is required
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Whether your occupational registration is eligible for points
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Whether your occupation appears on the Amber or Red List
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Whether your employment documentation adequately supports the application
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Whether another residence pathway may be more suitable
For example, a person may have worked in New Zealand for two years without all of that employment qualifying as skilled work experience. A qualification may also be assessed differently depending on where it was obtained, its level and whether NZQA recognition is required.
An assessment identifies these issues before an Expression of Interest or residence application is submitted.
How We Can Help
Our Licensed Immigration Advisers can assist with:
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Comparing the three Skilled Migrant Category pathways
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Assessing your occupation and employment
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Reviewing your remuneration and work history
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Assessing qualification and occupational-registration eligibility
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Identifying potential IQA requirements
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Reviewing the effect of the Amber and Red Lists
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Identifying the period of employment that may qualify
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Preparing your Expression of Interest
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Preparing and submitting your residence application
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Organising supporting employment and qualification evidence
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Advising on partner and dependent-child eligibility
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Responding to Immigration New Zealand concerns
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Addressing complex matters or previous visa issues
Our role is not simply to calculate points. We examine whether the points and eligibility claims can be supported under the immigration instructions and by the available evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I automatically qualify if I have six points?
No. You must also have acceptable skilled employment or a qualifying job offer and meet the age, English, health, character and other applicable requirements. Every point claimed must be supported by acceptable evidence.
Do I need a job or job offer to apply under the Skilled Migrant Category?
Yes. You must be working in, or have an acceptable offer of, skilled employment with an accredited New Zealand employer. The employment must also meet the requirements of the SMC pathway under which you apply.
Does my employer need to be accredited?
Yes. Your skilled employment or job offer must be with an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand. Employer accreditation alone is not enough—the position and employment arrangements must also be acceptable.
Can I combine qualification, income and occupational-registration points?
No. Points must be claimed from one principal skill category: your qualification, income or eligible occupational registration. If that category provides fewer than six points, you may be able to add points from qualifying skilled work experience in New Zealand.
Does all New Zealand work experience count?
Not necessarily. The employment must meet the requirements of the relevant pathway, including those relating to occupation, duties, hours, remuneration and timing. Time spent working in New Zealand does not automatically qualify as skilled work experience.
Can my overseas work experience be used?
Overseas experience may contribute to the Skilled Work Experience or Trades and Technician Pathway. It must be directly relevant to your current employment or job offer, fall within the applicable timeframe and be supported by satisfactory evidence.
Do I need an International Qualification Assessment?
That depends on the qualification, the country and institution where it was obtained, and how it is being used in the application. Some overseas qualifications require an International Qualification Assessment before an Expression of Interest can be submitted.
Can I apply with an overseas qualification?
Potentially. The qualification must meet the requirements of the pathway under which you are applying. Its recognised New Zealand level, subject matter and relationship to your employment may be relevant.
What happens if my occupation is on the Amber List?
Applicants in Amber List occupations face additional requirements under the Skilled Work Experience Pathway, including enhanced remuneration and work-experience requirements. An individual assessment is important before relying on this pathway.
What if my occupation is on the Red List?
An occupation on the Red List cannot qualify under the Skilled Work Experience or Trades and Technician Pathway. However, the applicant may still have a potential pathway under the Points-Based Pathway or another residence category.
Can I include my family in my application?
An eligible partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger may generally be included. They must meet the applicable relationship, dependency, health, character and English-language requirements.
What happens if I change my employer or job?
A change of employer, occupation, duties, location, hours or remuneration may affect your eligibility. You may also need to change your temporary visa or its conditions. Immigration New Zealand should be informed of material changes occurring during the residence process.
Is there an age limit for the Skilled Migrant Category?
The principal applicant must be aged 55 or younger when applying. Different age requirements may apply to other residence pathways.
Does submitting an Expression of Interest give me a visa?
No. An Expression of Interest is not a visa and does not by itself give you permission to remain or work in New Zealand. You must continue to hold an appropriate valid visa while your residence matter is being considered.
Does an Invitation to Apply guarantee residence approval?
No. An Invitation to Apply allows you to submit a residence application. Immigration New Zealand will then assess whether the information declared in the EOI is correct and whether the evidence demonstrates that all requirements are met.
Can Immigration New Zealand question whether my employment is genuine?
Yes. Immigration New Zealand may examine whether the role is genuine, sustainable and ongoing, whether you are performing the stated duties and whether the employer can maintain the employment.
Is the Skilled Migrant Category my only residence option?
No. Depending on your occupation and circumstances, you may have another pathway through the Green List, Care Workforce, Transport Workforce, partnership, investment or another residence category.
Why should I obtain an SMC assessment before applying?
An assessment can identify the appropriate pathway, determine which employment and work experience may qualify, review your points and qualifications, identify evidential weaknesses and consider whether another residence category may be more suitable.
״The Skilled Migrant Category now offers more than one way to qualify for residence, but the pathways use different definitions of eligible employment, relevant experience, skilled work, qualifications and remunarations.
We can assess your circumstances, identify a potentially suitable pathway explain the evidence and steps required.״
Request a Skilled Migrant Category Assessment