With members of our team having previously worked as SMC case officers within Immigration New Zealand (INZ), we have invaluable first-hand experience, making us perfectly placed to advise on, and represent clients for, any SMC application, no matter how complex.

The Skilled Migrant category is now temporarily closed while a new policy is implemented. It is due to re-open in October 2023. The information below relate to the new policy that is due to come into effect in the coming months. 

Applying for Skilled Migrant residency involves a two stage process

• The first stage involves preparing and submitting an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) online, in which it is necessary to provide details about yourself, your health and character, your English ability, your employment, your qualifications, your work experience and your family. This is submitted into a selection pool, with INZ having a monthly draw. If selected, INZ will review the information provided at face value, and if all criteria appear to be met, you will be invited to apply for residence.

• You then have four months to submit a Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) residence application, including various mandatory documents and other supporting documents to prove the claims made in the EOI. An INZ case officer will then verify the claims made and the documentation provided and if satisfied that all criteria are met, they will make a recommendation to approve the grant of residence. This recommendation then goes through a quality check process, and if that is also approved, residence visas will be granted.

The key criteria that must be met for an Invitation to Apply to be issued and for a SMC residence application to ultimately be approved, include:

• Being eligible for 6 points within the specified points framework, as illustrated below 

• Holding an offer of skilled employment at the time the residence application is submitted. For employment to be determined "skilled", at a bare minimum it must be offering a pay rate equivalent to the median wage or higher, and sit at a certain skill level. Lower skilled jobs may also qualify if remunerated at a rate at least 50% higher than the median wage. INZ determine occupational skill level utilising the occupation framework found on the Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO)

• Meet health and character criteria

• Demonstrate a certain level of English ability. It is mandatory for the principal applicant to meet English at a certain level, while secondary applicants (partner and children over 14) must meet a lower threshold of English, or alternatively can opt out if they agree to pre-purchase English tuition instead

The above is a very brief overview of the category. There are many additional requirements, restrictions and variables that apply depending on individual circumstances, and we specialise in advising clients on those variables and how to best apply them to the circumstances of our clients.  There is much more to the process, and we would be happy to expand upon these points when discussing your proposed instructions.