Skilled Migrant Residence Visas
Expert Guidance for Your Skilled Migrant Residence Visa Application
I’ll help you navigate the complexities of the skilled migrant residence visa process and achieve your dream of living in New Zealand.
What is a Skilled Migrant Residence Visa?
A “skilled migrant residence visa” is a type of New Zealand residence visa that Immigration New Zealand grants to people with the skills that New Zealand employers require.
Eligibility Requirements
Depending on the particular skilled residence visa category, applicants may be assessed against a range of criteria, including their age, qualifications, work experience in New Zealand and skilled employment in New Zealand. Applicants must either already be in skilled employment with a New Zealand employer or have an offer of skilled employment. They must also meet minimum standards of English, as well as health and character requirements.
Types of Skilled Residence Visa
There are two main types of skilled residence visas:
“Work to Residence” type residence visa categories, whereby you may be eligible to apply for New Zealand residence after you have completed 24 months of work in New Zealand in a particular occupation;
“Straight to Residence” type residence visa categories, whereby you may be eligible to apply for New Zealand Residence immediately (and without first holding a work visa).
Within these two broad types are the following skilled residence visa categories:
Work to Residence:
Skilled Residence - Green List Work to Residence – This is a work to residence visa category for if you have a “Tier 2 Green List” job with an accredited employer that meets the specified requirements on the Green List for the role and have worked for 24 months in New Zealand in a Tier 2 Green List role (and met its specified requirements).
Care Workforce Work to Residence – This is a work to residence visa category for if you have held an Accredited Employer Work Visa for 2 years to work in a Care Workforce Sector occupation.
Transport Sector Work to Residence – This is a work to residence category for if you are a bus driver, truck driver, ship’s master (skipper) or deck hand.
Religious Worker Residence Visa – This is a work to residence category for if you have held a Religious Worker Work Visa for at least 3 years.
Straight to Residence:
Skilled Migrant Category Residence – This is a points-based, straight to residence visa category for if you can show you have the skills that will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth.
Read our blog, Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa Points System Explained, to find out about the point system.
Skilled Residence - Straight to Residence – This is a straight to residence visa category for if you have “acceptable employment” in a “Tier 1 Green List” role with an accredited New Zealand employer.
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you with a skilled residence visa application.
Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa Resources
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Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa Points System Explained
In November 2023, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) “simplified” the SMC points system into a “6 points” system, whereby applicants must show they meet the requirements for claiming a minimum of 6 points (the minimum points requirement under the old SMC before its closure was 180 points).
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Understanding the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa Processing Times
There are different estimated processing times for other ‘Skilled Residence’ categories, such as the Straight to Residence Visa (4 months at the date of writing) and Work to Residence Visa (12 weeks at the date of writing).
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Green List Residence & Work to Residence Visas - An Ultimate Guide
The “Green List” is a list of occupations that Immigration New Zealand maintains that allow a person to apply for a NZ Residence visa.
The Green List occupations for both tiers are set out in Appendix 13 of the INZ Operational Manual.
Helping You Avoid Common Skilled Residence Visa Pitfalls
Each of the above skilled residence visa categories contains a number of strict requirements and areas where you can get caught out, which are not always obvious, especially if you’re not familiar with the process.
Relying on an online assessment ‘tool’ to assess your eligibility is risky, as these tools are overly simplistic and won’t scrutinise your potential eligibility to the same extent as an Immigration New Zealand officer will scrutinise your application. You’ll run the risk of lodging an application that is doomed to file, either because you don’t meet the requirements for the particular category or your supporting evidence is deficient.
For all of the above reasons, it is highly recommended you seek expert immigration advice before proceeding with a skilled residence visa application, as it could save you a significant amount of time, money and stress.
Problems With Your Application? Declined Application?
Has Immigration New Zealand written to you to raise concerns about your skilled residence visa application or to decline it? Is your situation particularly complex? For example, because you or your partner has a criminal record, or you or a family member included in your application has a health issue? As a specialist immigration lawyer, I can assist with:
Responses to PPI (“potentially prejudicial information”) letters received from Immigration New Zealand
Character and medical waiver requests
Residence Appeals to the Immigration & Protection Tribunal.
Further information about my services for assisting with immigration problems can be found here.
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you with a skilled residence visa application.
Why Choose Me As Your Immigration Lawyer?
As a specialist immigration lawyer, I hate seeing people with valuable skills, experience and a desire to live and work in New Zealand confused and frustrated by the many options and pathways available.
I’ve helped hundreds of overseas workers from across the globe obtain New Zealand work and residence visas. Experienced in both sides of the process, I also work with a variety of NZ employers across a wide range of industries.
Importantly, I am not an "Immigration Adviser” or “Consultant”. I’m a NZ Immigration Lawyer, having completed a 4 year Law Degree and post qualification courses (Immigration Advisers / Consultants only need to complete a 1 year course to practice). Regulated by the New Zealand Law Society, I am required to charge fair and reasonable fees and represent my clients in accordance with strict ethical and professional rules.
You can trust that I will conduct a rigorous assessment of your potential eligibility for a skilled residence visa using my own tried and tested assessment process. I will walk you through any areas of concern or risk and the possible ways of addressing them and help you formulate a plan for helping you to achieve New Zealand residence. Drawing on my extensive New Zealand immigration knowledge and experience and applying a high level of attention to detail and care, I will support you through the complexities of the skilled residence visa process to give your application the best chance of success.
Recent Success Stories
“If you are looking for an immigration lawyer - please, look no further! James is truly amazing. Not only he is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in immigration field - he is super attentive and dedicated and will treat your case as his own. James McLeod and his team helped us throughout to accomplish our dream to become a NZ resident. Many thanks James!! Highly recommended for those who are seeking assistance in any type of NZ visas.”
“James is one of the best immigration lawyers. He is proactive and very thorough with the documentation. Due to pandemic, my case became complex than expected. However, James was always there to guide me in the right direction. He went over and beyond to ensure that my case was well presented and as a result the outcome was positive. Thank you for all your support!”
“Woop woop! Thanks James! That’s amazing news and very gratefully received whilst we’re both in isolation with covid. Thanks again for all of your work and patience getting us to this point. We both massively appreciate it.”
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you with a skilled migrant residence visa application.