There is a constant need for highly educated and skilled workers in all sectors of economy, in a fast developing country like New Zealand. The department of Immigration New Zealand has streamlined a skilled migrant visa category, to facilitate the growing need of skilled workers.

An individual must meet the basic eligibility criteria, to be eligible to apply under the Skilled Migrant visa category.

• An individual must be fit and healthy.
• An individual must be between the age bracket of 22 (should be 20) to 55 years.
• An individual must have proficiency in both written and spoken English
• An individual must be of good character with no terrorist or criminal records
• An individual must be registered with an appropriate professional body of your occupation.

Application Process

Submit an Expression of Interest

Under the Skilled Migrant visa category, the first step to applying is submitting an Expression of Interest. You must claim points on the basis of your age, skills, work experience, qualifications, and (close relative in New Zealand) etc. The first section of the form requires standard immigration information to help Immigration New Zealand ensure that you are of good character, fall in the defined age bar, are in good health, and you do not present any security risk to New Zealand and its citizens. The form consists of a skilled worker point system and outlines your general background information.

The EOI Pool Draw

If the applicant have a job offer or your points total up to 100 or more and once they submit their Expression of Interest against your Skilled Migrant visa, it is then put into the selection pool in case. Under the skilled worker immigration visa category, applicants with 140 points or more are automatically selected to apply. Immigration New Zealand selects as many additional applicants with 100 points or more as possible during their fortnight, if there still remain some vacancies.

Information that is provided on the Expression of Interest form is thoroughly check and verified at this stage. Selected applicants are sent an Invitation to Apply. On the other hand, applications with misleading information or those that are incomplete are rejected and send back to the applicant.

Your Invitation to Apply

The selected applicants from the EOI pool are sent an official Invitation to Apply (ITA), the applicants will be required to furnish evidences against the claims made in their Expression of Interest form including police clearance certificates, medical reports, proof of English language proficiency and other documents related to your education, skills, work and experience, passports and the applicable fees, at this stage.

Assessment & Approval

It is assessed for New Zealand’s Permanent Residence, once an application has been received. The applicant is further assessed on his/her intended ability to settle successfully in New Zealand, apart from verifying that the applicant meets all the skilled migrant visa requirements. Some applicants may also be called for a round of interview at the New Zealand Embassy, at this stage.

The applicant is offered a residence visa or permit, if an applicant successfully passes all the over mentioned stages and has proved his/her ability to settle in New Zealand and contribute significantly to its economy. Some applicants may receive a work to residence permit instead. The permit will give them a period of nine months to obtain employment in New Zealand.

 

Visas in the Skilled Migrant category include:

Expression of Interest Form

Expression of Interest form (INZ 1100)

While applying for The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), the first step is submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI form can be filled up online with a fee. In EOI applicant has to mention about self, family and also declares points for skills, experience, and other relevant factors. Once the EOI is examined and found credible, authority sends an invite to the applicant.

How does EOI work?

Applicant can claim points, while submitting the EOI form. The application goes into the EOI pool, if the EOI score is 100 or more points. EOI with score of 140 or more is selected followed by points score between 100 and 139 which include points for a skilled job or job offer, every fortnight. The EOI with lower scoring points are selected. The applicant’s EOI expires in 6 months, depending on the seats space available. The fee is non-refundable. If the EOI is not selected with this period, it lapses.

The applicants will have to produce relevant documents (ex: proof of English language ability medical and police certificates and documentation regarding your skills, experience, etc.), once the applicant is selected to prove the facts mentioned in EOI. The authority may also contact the organizations and people applicant has referred in the form.

Important requirements

Level of English: Applicant should have the minimum level of knowledge of English language, to be eligible for acquiring the visa. Applicant can produce an IELTS certificate or recognized qualifications taught entirely in English and working in skilled employment in New Zealand, to meet the minimum standard.

Health Requirements: Applicant is required to be healthy. This is to ensure the well-being of New Zealand citizens.

Good Character: Applicant should not have been involved in any criminal or dangerous activities. Applicant shouldn’t pose any potential security risk and should have served time in prison, or been deported from any country.