Skilled Migrant Category Visa
A. Requirements
Principal applicant and any family members included in the application must meet the following standards:
■ Health: You must be in good health. If your Expression of Interest is accepted and you are invited to apply for residence, you will have to be assessed by an approved doctor. Your application must be accompanied by medical and chest X-ray certificates for each person;
■ Character: You must be of good character. You will have to provide a police certificate and evidence for all applicants over 17 years. Some people who have committed serious crimes will not be allowed into New Zealand at all. Sections 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act 2009 outline what disqualifies an applicant in these terms;
■ English language ability: You must speak sufficient English. Whether you are the principal or non-principal applicant, you will need to meet a certain level of ability in spoken and written English;
■ Occupational registration: In certain fields of work, you will need to ensure you have occupational registration if you want to work in New Zealand. If you require registration and do not have it, you will be unable to work in your chosen occupation under the Skilled Migrant Category.
B. Skills wanted
■ The Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) identifies the jobs and skills needed in New Zealand, by region;
■ The Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSS) shows the areas where we have a sustained and ongoing shortage of skilled people throughout the whole of New Zealand.
C. Process
■ Lodgment of the “Expression of Interest” (EOI) to the Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
EOI criteria:
○ Skilled employment
a) An offer of employment or current skilled employment in New Zealand that requires specialist, technical, or management expertise;
b) Expertise may have been gained either through a relevant recognised qualification, relevant work experience, or a combination of both a relevant recognised qualification and relevant work experience;
○ Work experience
a) You can get points for at least two years’ previous experience in the same field for which you have skilled employment;
b) You will get more points for four, six, eight, or ten or more years’ experience;
○ Recognised qualification
a) Trade certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees and post-graduate qualifications;
○ Age
a) Must be 55 years or younger to apply;
○ Close family
a) Have close family in New Zealand who has residence or citizenship.
Applicants with over 140 points are selected from the pool automatically. After this, those with between 100 and 140 points, and which include points for a skilled job or job offer, are selected. EOI selection is every forth night. Once selected from the pool, an “Invitation to Apply” (ITA) for residence will be sent to the applicant.
DEFERRED RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS
In case of deferred residency, INZ will offer you a Work to Residence (WTR) Visa to help you obtain a skilled job offer subject to the following conditions:
■ Within three months of the offer, you must return your application form for the work to residence visa.
■ During the visa application, you must show to INZ that you are able to support yourself and your family for at least the first three months in New Zealand. This means NZ$1000 per person for each month, or NZ$400 per person each month if your accommodation has been paid for.
■ You will also have to show that you have the money available to purchase tickets to your home country for you and your family in the event that you have to leave New Zealand.
■ If you are out of New Zealand, you will get a Work to Residence Visa with travel conditions allowing you to travel to New Zealand within three months. On arrival, or if you are already in New Zealand, you will be granted a further Work Visa for nine months.
■ If you are able to get skilled employment, INZ will approve your residence application.
DECLINED MIGRANT RESIDENCE APPLICATION
In the event that your residence application is unsuccessful (DECLINED) you may still be able to come and settle in New Zealand under Temporary Visas, such as:
■ Working in New Zealand temporarily (Work Visa)
■ Studying in New Zealand (Student Visa)
■ Visiting New Zealand (Visitor Visa)