•

New Zealand
Rules for Skilled Immigration

If you have tertiary qualifications and work experience, there is a good chance you will be eligible for residence in New Zealand under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Currently, you need to score 100 points to obtain New Zealand residence in the Skilled Migrant Category.

Age Based Points are awarded as follows:

Age Range	Points
20-29	30
30-39	25
40-44	20
45-49	20
50-55	5

Skilled Employment Points are awarded as follows:

Skilled Employment Status	Points
An offer of employment in New Zealand or current employment in NZ for less than 12 months (but minimum of 3 months)	50
Current employment in NZ for 12 months or more (ongoing)	60

Bonus points are awarded as follows for an offer of employment in:

Employment Offer	Points
An identified future growth area, identified cluster or absolute skills shortage area	5
Region outside Auckland	10
Spouse / partner employment or offer of employment	10

Relevant Work Experience Points are awarded as follows:
(Your experience must be in a "comparable labour market". Most developed countries, such as the UK, EU, USA and Canada are classed as comparable labour market. China, India and many other developing countries are not recognized as comparable labour markets.)

Total Relevant Work Experience	Points
2 years	10
4 years	15
6 years	20
8 years	25
10 years	30

Additional Bonus Points for work experience in NZ are awarded as follows:

NZ Work Experience	Points
2 years	5
4 years	10
6 or more years	15

Additional bonus points for work experience in an identified future growth area, identified cluster or area of absolute skills shortage:

Work Experience	Points
2 to 5 years	5
6 years or more	10

If your job is on the New Zealand Immigration Service's Long Term Skill Shortage List, extra bonuses are available of 5 points for your qualifications, 5 points for your work experience and 5 points for an offer of skilled employment.

Points for your Qualifications are awarded as follows:

Highest Qualification	Points
Recognised basic qualification (e.g. trade qualification, diploma, bachelors' degree	50
Recognised post-graduate qualification (e.g. Masters degree or higher)	55

Bonus Points for your Qualifications are awarded as follows:

Qualification	Points
Recognised NZ qualification (and at least two years study in NZ)	10
Qualification in an identified future growth area, identified cluster or area of absolute skill shortage	5
Your Spouse / partner's qualifications	10

Points for Close Family in New Zealand are awarded as follows:

Qualification	Points
Close family support in New Zealand	10

Close family is adult brothers, sisters, adult children (17 years and over) and parents of either the principal applicant or their partner.

New Zealand Rules for Skilled Immigration

New Zealand
Rules for Skilled Immigration