Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: Your Pathway to Permanent Residence
The Skilled migrant category resident visa offers a direct pathway to permanent residence in New Zealand for skilled workers. You need at least 6 points from skills (qualifications, registration, or income) plus up to 3 additional points from New Zealand work experience to be invited to apply. We’ll assess your eligibility, help maximise your points, and guide you through the application process.
The skilled migrant category (SMC) resident visa allows skilled workers to live, work, and study in New Zealand permanently. You can include your partner and dependent children (under 24 years old) in your residence application.
The current points system, introduced in October 2023, requires at least 6 skilled resident points before you can be invited to apply. Unlike the old 160-point system, this simplified approach focuses on your skills, qualifications, and New Zealand work experience.
Important: Major changes are coming in August 2026 with two new pathways: a Skilled Work Experience pathway and a Trades and Technician pathway. These will reduce work experience requirements and simplify wage criteria.
02. Current eligibility requirements (until August 2026)
To qualify for the skilled migrant category resident visa, you must:
Points requirements: You need at least 6 points total. Claim 3-6 points from ONE of these skill indicators:
- New Zealand occupational registration (3 or 6 points)
- New Zealand qualifications (3 or 6 points)
- Income (3 or 6 points)
You can then claim 1 point for each year of skilled work experience in New Zealand, up to a maximum of 3 points (for 3 years of work).
Income thresholds (as of August 18, 2025):
- ANZSCO skill levels 1-3: Must earn at least NZD $33.56/hour (median wage)
- ANZSCO skill levels 4-5: Must earn at least NZD $50.34/hour (1.5x median wage)
Other requirements:
- Be aged 55 or younger
- Have current skilled employment or a job offer with an accredited employer
- Meet English language requirements
- Meet health and character requirements
This is an invitation-based process. Once you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), if you meet the criteria, Immigration New Zealand will invite you to apply for residence.
From August 2026, two new residence pathways will launch:
Skilled Work Experience Pathway: For migrants in ANZSCO skill levels 1-3 roles with at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including 2 years in New Zealand earning at least 1.1x the median wage.
Trades and Technician Pathway: For trades or technician roles requiring a Level 4+ qualification (minimum 120 credits) with at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 18 months in New Zealand at or above the median wage.
Key improvements:
- Work experience requirement reduced from maximum three years to two years for most migrants
- Removal of wage uplift at residence stage – maintain median wage throughout work experience period only
- Increased points for New Zealand university-level qualifications
All applicants must still have current skilled employment or a job offer at the relevant wage rate, and meet health, character, and English language requirements.
Full policy details will be released closer to August 2026.
Once granted, your skilled migrant category resident visa allows you to live and work in New Zealand permanently. You’ll receive travel conditions that last two years from when you first arrive as a resident.
To travel beyond the two-year travel conditions, you can either:
- Apply for a permanent resident visa (allows indefinite travel)
- Apply for a variation of conditions on your resident visa
Maintaining your residence status is critical. Licensed advisers can help you understand your ongoing obligations and ensure you meet all requirements.
Processing time: Typically 5-14 months from invitation to decision, as this is a multi-stage, invitation-based process.
Application fee: NZD $6,450 per family for 2024-2025
Our service fee: Typically NZD $4,600 – $6,600
The skilled migrant category requires extensive documentation and strategic planning to maximise your points. Common challenges include:
- Determining which skill indicator gives you the most points
- Gathering evidence of qualifications and work experience
- Responding to Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letters
- Coordinating with your employer for job offer documentation
No surprises: We’re transparent about your realistic chances of invitation, total costs including government fees, and expected timeframes from assessment through to residence approval.
Book a free consultation to assess your eligibility under the current system or discuss how the August 2026 changes might affect your pathway to residence.
