SKILLED IMMIGRATION IN NEW ZEALAND
WHY CHOOSE NEW ZEALAND
Skilled migration to New Zealand is a popular option for people who want to live and work in a diverse and thriving country. New Zealand is among popular destinations across the globe for its thriving economy and variety of opportunities. The ravishing country has become a popular choice for talented people to come to New Zealand and have a bright future.
The stunning country offers a wide spectrum of visas for skilled migrants, such as the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), the Essential Skills Work Visa, and the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa. These visas allow skilled migrants to contribute to New Zealand’s economy and society while enjoying the benefits of a high quality of life, a clean environment, and a pleasant sociable culture. The applicants need to meet certain criteria, such as having relevant qualifications, work experience, and English language skills, as well as meeting health and character requirements.
Skilled Migration
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.
To be eligible for residence under SMC you must:
- be 55 or under
- be healthy
- be of good character
- speak English.
To decide if you can apply, check the points system. You get points for age, experience, employability, and qualifications.
There are two steps:
You complete an Expression of Interest, about yourself, your family, your skills, and your experience.
If you have enough points, INZ will accept your Expression of Interest, and send you an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You complete it and return it with your supporting documents.
Overview of the Skilled Migrant Category
1. Requirements
To apply under the Skilled Migrant Category, you must meet the requirements. You need to be aged 55 or under. You also have to meet the standards of health, character, and English language ability before you start the process.
2. The Expression of Interest
This is the first step towards making an application. If you qualify, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), in which you claim points for skills, experience, and other factors.
3. The EOI pool and the pool draw
If you have claimed 100 points or more on your EOI, you can submit it to the Pool. Every fortnight, all EOIs over 140 points are automatically selected for an invitation to apply (ITA). After this, lower-scoring EOIs with certain factors, such as skilled employment in New Zealand, are selected.
4. Invitation to Apply
Once your EOI is drawn from the pool, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reviews it and if finds it credible, INZ will send you an ITA. You will have to show proof of the claims made on your EOI. This means medical and police certificates, proof of English language ability, and documentation regarding your skills, experience, and other factors.
The application form contains the information that you provided in your EOI. You will check the information and return it to INZ with your documentation.
Immigration New Zealand will assess your SMC residence application based on the criteria that are valid on the date of your application. The criteria may change over time, so they may not match the ones that were in effect when you submitted or selected your EOI
5. Full assessment
Once INZ receives your application and documents, they start assessing your application for residence. INZ will make sure that you meet all our requirements, and that your points claims are valid.
INZ will also assess your ability to settle in New Zealand successfully. They may consider you able based on your application, or INZ may wish to interview you.
6. Resident visas and Job Search visas
If you meet the criteria and believe you will settle successfully and contribute to New Zealand, INZ will offer you a resident visa.
If INZ thinks you have potential, but want to see how you settle, INZ will give you a job search visa, which you can use to help obtain an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand for up to nine months. Fetching skilled employment at this time will show your ability to settle and contribute, and your residence application will be approved.
Please remember that an SMC Job Search visa is an opportunity to seek skilled employment in New Zealand. It is not a guarantee of work, a job offer, or of residence. Immigration New Zealand recommends that applicants do not sell their assets, end their children’s schooling, or ship their household items to New Zealand until they have full approval of their residence status.
To learn about the point system, click here and check the points indicator
Source: Immigration New Zealand