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, qualifications and/or experience that New Zealand requires.
Eligibility Requirements
Depending on the particular skilled residence visa category, applicants may be assessed against a range of criteria, including their age, qualifications, occupational registration, work experience, occupation, remuneration, 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.
Given the number of different skilled residence categories and pathways available, determining which option you are eligible for – and which provides the best pathway to New Zealand residence – can require a detailed assessment of your particular circumstances.
Types of Skilled Residence Visa
There are a number of different skilled residence pathways, including:
Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa (SMC)
From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category provides three separate pathways to residence:
the Points-based pathway, which requires applicants to obtain 6 points based on their income, qualifications or specified New Zealand occupational registration, potentially combined with skilled work experience in New Zealand;
the Skilled Work Experience pathway, which provides a residence pathway for applicants in eligible ANZSCO skill level 1–3 occupations who meet specified remuneration and work experience requirements; and
the Trades and Technician pathway, which provides a residence pathway for applicants working in specified trade and technician occupations who meet the applicable qualification and work experience requirements.
The requirements for each pathway are quite different and can depend upon an applicant's occupation, remuneration, qualifications and previous work experience.
Read my blog, Skilled Migrant Category Residence Visa Points System Explained, to find out about the current point system.
Green List – Straight to Residence Visa
The Straight to Residence Visa provides a pathway to residence for applicants who have qualifying employment or an offer of employment in a Tier 1 Green List occupation and meet the specified requirements for that occupation.
Green List – Work to Residence Visa
The Work to Residence Visa provides a pathway to residence for applicants who have completed 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand in a Tier 2 Green List occupation and meet the applicable requirements.
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
The Care Workforce Work to Residence category provides a pathway to residence for applicants who have completed 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand in an eligible Care Workforce sector occupation and meet the applicable remuneration and other requirements.
Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa
The Transport Sector Work to Residence category provides a pathway to residence for applicants who have completed 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand in an eligible transport occupation and meet the applicable occupational, remuneration and other requirements.
Religious Worker Residence Visa
The Religious Worker Residence Visa provides a residence pathway for eligible religious workers who meet the applicable work and visa requirements.
I’m more than happy to discuss how I can assist 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
From 24 August 2026, major changes to the Skilled Migrant Category take effect, including two new residence pathways and changes to the existing 6-point pathway. The changes significantly expand the residence options available to skilled workers in New Zealand.
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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 discuss how I can assist you with a skilled migrant residence visa application.