Self-Assessment | Points Guide
Think about obtaining a New Zealand Resident Visa through the Skilled Migrant Category?
Our Self-Assessment tool will give you all the information you need for a quick first check of your chances of migrating under this policy.
Are you an eligible person for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa?
Application for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category is a two-stage process:
- Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) into the Pool
- Selected EOI will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the residence
- Do you meet the minimum requirements of this policy?
- How many points will you really need to get your EOI selected?
- Use our Points Guide to calculate your maximum claimable points.
Not sure about your self-assessment result? Ask one of our Licensed Immigration Advisers for a professional eligibility assessment now!
Aged between 20 and 55
Good Character
Acceptable Standard of Health
Sufficient English Language Proficiency
Minimum 160 Points* to be selected
(subject to change in the second half of 2022)
The minimum requirements for the Skilled Migrant Residency
To qualify for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant policy, you must meet all of the following minimum requirements:
- You must be aged between 20 and 55 (inclusive)
- You must be of good character
- You must have an acceptable standard of health
- You must have proven English language capabilities
- You must reach the threshold of 160 claimable points
HOW MANY POINTS CAN YOU CLAIM IN YOUR EOI?
Points Guide:
Points for Skilled Employment
▬
Offer of skilled employment or current skilled employment in New Zealand — 50
Bonus points for offer of skilled employment or skilled employment
▬
In an area of absolute skills shortage — +10
In a region outside of Auckland — +30
Partner’s skilled employment or offer of skilled employment in New Zealand — +20
High remuneration — +20
Points for Skilled Work Experience
▬
2 years — 10
4 years — 20
6 years — 30
8 years — 40
10 years or more — 50
Bonus points for skilled work experience
▬
1 year or more of work experience gained in New Zealand — +10
2 to 5 years of work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage — +10
6 years or more of work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage — +15
Points for Recognised Qualifications
▬
Level 3 qualification (if included in the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment) — 40
Level 4-6 qualification — 40
Level 7-8 qualification — 50
Level 9-10 qualification — 70
Bonus points for Qualifications
▬
Two years of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised New Zealand Bachelor degree (level 7) — +10
One year of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification — +10
Two years of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification — +15
Partner’s level 7-8 qualification — +10
Partner’s level 9-10 qualification — +20
Points for Age
▬
20-39 years — 30
40-44 years — 20
45-49 years — 10
50-55 years — 5
If you have already reached the age limit of the Skilled Migrant Category, you might still be able to apply for a resident visa for New Zealand. Let us know if you would like to find out more.
Do you reach the minimum points of 160?
Congratulations! That is a good start!
If you score 160 points or more and meet health, character, language and age requirements, you may submit your Expression of Interest (EOI), get it selected by the Immigration, and receive your Invitation to Apply for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa!
However, the Points System is a lot more complicated than it might appear at first sight.
Far reaching errors occur when it comes to establishing whether qualifications, work experience and job offers really match up and qualify for the necessary points. That is why nearly half of all SMC applications cannot be successfully approved eventually. Questions may include:
- What kind of employment can be considered as a skilled employment?
- What is the criteria for the work experience to be considered as skilled work experience?
- Can an overseas qualification be recognised as part of the claimable points?
- Can I include all my family members in my Skilled Migrant application?
- What would happen if I wrongly over-claimed my points in the EOI?
So, what will it really take for your EOI to be successful?
Our advice is very clear: Ask our Licensed Immigration Adviser to double check that your points claim is correct, before submitting your Expression of Interest.
Our Licensed Immigration Advisers can assist you with formulating a tailored strategy for you to achieve your goal of migrating to New Zealand. We will also be able to help you explore other residence options if they’re more suitable to your circumstances.
Most recent EOI Selection: 18 March 2020
684 Expressions of Interest have been selected for the next step (preliminary verification), all had a total of 160 or more points.
Latest selection details show that of those 684 successfully selected Expressions of Interest, 615 candidates had a job offer in New Zealand, and only 69 candidates were able to reach the necessary points score of 160 points without having to claim points for a job offer in New Zealand.
615
Successful EOIs with a Job Offer in New Zealand
69
Successful EOIs with a Job Offer in New Zealand
These numbers confirm what we experience in our practice: most candidates will need a job offer for their EOI to be successful.
The typical consistency of the pool on selection day:
Another way of looking at this is by looking at all EOIs that are in the pool on the day of a selection:
- Only about half of all Expressions of Interest in the pool were successfully selected
- The vast majority of successful candidates had claimed points for a job in New Zealand
- Only 5% of all EOI candidates where successful without claiming points for a job
- Nearly half of all EOIs in the pool were not successful
While the number of EOIs in the pool can change from one fortnight to another, the proportions of the outcome generally remain the same.
Once again it is confirmed that your best way forward is to start your job search in New Zealand before you submit your EOI.
Do you calculate 160 points or more for your EOI?
Great! You might be able to claim enough points for your Expression of Interest and have a realistic chance to be selected.
However, the Points System is a lot more complicated than it might appear at first sight.
Nearly half of all EOIs in the pool will not be successful
The Points System is Complicated...
The points system of the Skilled Migrant Category is more complicated than it might appear at first glance and far reaching errors occur when it comes to establishing whether qualifications, work experience and job offers really match up and qualify for the necessary points.
What happens if you claim too many points in your EOI?
If you accidentally claim more points than you are actually entitled to, your migration process will come to an early end. This might happen at any stage of the process:
- If your points don't match up with the SMC policy when Immigration New Zealand conducts their preliminary verification, you will not receive an invitation to apply for your residence visa
- If your EOI passes this first check, you will be asked to provide evidence for the points you have claimed in your EOI during your resident visa application stage
- If the evidence does not support your points claim, your resident visa application will be declined
Any of these setbacks will throw you back many month, as you will have to submit a new Expression of Interest and start your migration process again from the beginning.
Our advice is very clear: Ask our Licensed Immigration Adviser to double check that your points claim is correct, before submitting your Expression of Interest.
Claiming too many points in your EOI is just as detrimental to your residence process as not reaching the 160 points mark.
You can claim 50-110 points if you have a job offer in New Zealand!
As we have shown, the majority of successful EOIs were claiming points for a job offer in New Zealand. A job in New Zealand will be one of the most powerful tools for the success of your residence process:
- An offer of skilled employment will entitle you to 50 points. This could already lift you over the 160 points threshold for your EOI
- If your job is located outside of Auckland, in an area of absolute skill shortage and/or providing a high salary, you can claim up to 60 additional points
- A skilled job in New Zealand will entitle you to up to 110 points in addition to your points for your qualification and skilled work experience, with a potential of 20 additional points if your partner has a job too
It is realistic to assume that a job offer will very likely catapult you way over the 160 points minimum score.
So what can you actually do to improve your chances?
While our Licensed Immigration Advisers will ensure that you will claim the maximum points score achievable for you in your EOI, working with our Job Search Professionals on obtaining a job offer in New Zealand will most probably make the deciding difference for you.
Our Job Search Professionals will provide you with their knowledge of the local job market, of job search techniques used and job search etiquette appropriate in New Zealand.
Partnering with our Job Search Professionals will give you the necessary tools and empower you to approach the job market in New Zealand in the best possible manner.
Working with them will ultimately enable you to claim those important extra points in your Expression of Interest.
Read more about our Fusion Service and how it will improve your chances of becoming a resident.
Due to the current Covid-19 epidemic Immigration New Zealand Selection of Expressions of Interests (EOI) for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and the Parent Resident Visa have been temporarily suspended until further notices. It is reported that the Skilled Migrant Category would approximately reopen in the second half of 2022.
If your EOI has been submitted after the last selection on 18 March 2020, your EOI will remain valid until Immigration New Zealand begins selecting EOIs again, even if this happens more than the originally regulated maximum 6 months after your EOI has been submitted.
Find out how we can work with you on getting ahead: Covid-19 and your visa. Do not let this deter you from starting your migration process now.