Your Path to Permanent Residence in NZ

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is New Zealand's main residence visa for skilled workers and gives indefinite residence. Every applicant needs a skilled job, or a job offer, with an accredited New Zealand employer, and must qualify through one of three pathways: the 6-point pathway, the Skilled Work Experience pathway or the Trades and Technician pathway.

You need 6 points. You claim 3 to 6 points from one category only: a recognised qualification, New Zealand occupational registration, or income of at least 1.5 times the SMC wage threshold. You can then add up to 3 points for skilled work experience in New Zealand: 1 point for 1 year, 2 points for 1.5 years and 3 points for 2 years. There are no points for age, overseas work experience or a partner's skills.

No. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) replaced the 180-point system and the points-ranked selection pool on 9 October 2023. Guides that still mention 180 points, age points, points for working outside Auckland or partner points describe the old rules. You still lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI), which has no fee, and if invited you must apply within 4 months of the Invitation to Apply.

Yes. On every SMC pathway you must work for, or have an offer from, an accredited employer. The job must be skilled, at least 30 hours a week, and either permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months, or a contract (or continuous contracts) of at least 6 months. It must also meet the pay rule for your pathway.

Both started on 24 August 2026 and do not use points. The Skilled Work Experience pathway needs a job at ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 and at least 5 years of directly relevant experience, including 2 years of skilled work in New Zealand paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold. The Trades and Technician pathway covers specified trades and technician occupations and needs a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification and at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 1.5 years in New Zealand paid at least the SMC wage threshold.

The SMC wage threshold is NZD 35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026. For income points, 1.5 times is NZD 52.50 (3 points), 2 times is NZD 70.00 (4 points) and 3 times is NZD 105.00 (6 points). The Skilled Work Experience pathway needs at least 1.1 times (NZD 38.50), or 1.2 times (NZD 42.00) for amber-list occupations. You must meet the threshold in force when your skilled work starts and keep at least that rate when you apply.

INZ keeps a red list and an amber list for the new pathways. Red-list occupations, such as retail manager, hairdresser, beauty therapist and massage therapist, cannot use the Skilled Work Experience or Trades and Technician pathways and must claim 6 points. Amber-list occupations, such as chef, baker, cafe or restaurant manager, office manager and ICT support technician, can use the Skilled Work Experience pathway only with 5 years of relevant work in New Zealand, including 2 years paid at least 1.2 times the threshold. INZ reviews both lists regularly.

You must be 55 or younger when you apply. Age earns no points. Dependent children included in the application must be 24 or younger.

The principal applicant needs IELTS 6.5 overall (General or Academic), PTE Academic 58, TOEFL iBT 79, or Cambridge B2 First 176 with grade C+ or higher in all four skills. Only the overall score is set; there is no band minimum. Results must be no more than 2 years old and the test must be taken in person at a test centre. If you hold a full occupational registration that earns points, results can be up to 5 years old.

Yes, your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger. Your partner and any children aged 16 or older must also show English, for example IELTS 5, PTE Academic 36, TOEFL iBT 35 or B2 First 154. If they do not meet it, they can pay for English lessons in New Zealand instead. The principal applicant cannot use the lessons option.

The residence application fee is from NZD 6,450 and the EOI has no fee. INZ's visa page does not publish a single processing time, so check INZ's current processing times before you plan a move. Medical and chest X-ray certificates must be less than 3 months old when submitted, and police certificates for everyone aged 17 or older must be less than 6 months old when you apply.

From 8 March 2027, 17 occupations leave the Work to Residence Green List and move to the SMC pathways: 13 to Trades and Technician (including motor mechanic, diesel motor mechanic, automotive electrician, welder, fitter and metal fabricator) and 4 to Skilled Work Experience (including telecommunications technician and crane, hoist or lift operator). Qualifying work started before that date can still count toward the 24-month Work to Residence requirement. INZ also plans a 2027 extension of the Accredited Employer Work Visa for migrants who need up to 12 more months of skilled experience.