Skilled Migrant

The New Zealand Skilled Migration Program allows skilled workers in specialist occupations to immigrate to New Zealand to help fill workforce and live permanently. New Zealand is currently experiencing a huge shortage of skilled workers in a number of industries so now is the perfect time to apply.

 

You no longer need to have a job offer or sponsorship to be eligible for a New Zealand Skilled Migration Visa, but if you do have a job from a New Zealand employer, you will get additional points to your visa application. Nurses, Social Workers, Engineers, Motor Mechanics, Electricians, Welders, Fabricators and Metal Workers are in particularly high demand in New Zealand at present.

 

To be eligible for this Visa, you must:

l   be 55 years of age or under

l   score at least 100 points in the skills points test

l   You must meet the character and health requirements.

l   Your occupation must be on the skill list.

l   You must be fully qualified in your occupation.

l   You must have at least 3 years’ experience relevant to your qualification.

l   You must be fluent in English.

 

Note: Some Occupations requires registration to qualify for Bonus points in the Skills points test & employment in New Zealand.

 

English Language requirements:

For the principal applicant (the person making the application) the minimum standard of English is an International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) certificate, with an overall band score of 6.5 or better in the General or Academic modules. The certificate must be less than two years old.

 

Everyone else included in the application who is aged 16 and over must also meet the following standard of English.

l    recent IELTS certificate with an overall band score of 5 or better in the General or Academic module.

l   A partner or child aged 16 or over who does not meet the requirements above, they can still meet the standard by paying for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This allows them to improve their English after they arrive in New Zealand.

l   You pay for the level of course required depending on your current level of English. If you have no IELTS certificate, or a score below 3.5, you have to pay the full amount. But if you have had an IELTS test and your score was 3.5 or above, you will pay less.

 

If overall IELTS band score is...	... then you'll pay
4.5 or more but below 5	NZ$1,700
4 or more but below 4.5	NZ$3,350
3.5 or more but below 4	NZ$5,000
Below 3.5	NZ$6,650

Note:

You need to have a Qualification assessment with New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) before the EOI, if your qualification is NOT on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

 

New Zealand residence to Citizenship

l   ‘New Zealand residence’ means you have a residence permit, a residence visa, or a permanent residence visa issued by Immigration New Zealand or you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

l   You need have a minimum presence in New Zealand of 450 days with New Zealand residence in the 20 months before you make your Citizenship application.