Requirements for the Skilled Migrant Category

If you want to move to New Zealand under the Skilled Migrant Category, you will have to meet our requirements.

Minimum standards

You and any family members included in your application must meet the following standards.

Health: You must be in good health. If your Expression of Interest is accepted and you are invited to apply for residence, you will have to be assessed by an approved doctor. Your application must be accompanied by medical and chest x-ray certificates for each person.

Character: You must be of good character. You will have to provide a police certificate and evidence for all applicants over 17 years. Some people who have committed serious crimes will not be allowed into New Zealand at all. Section 7(1) of the Immigration Act outlines what disqualifies an applicant in these terms.

English language ability: You must speak sufficient English. Whether you are the principal or non-principal applicant, you will need to meet a certain level of ability in spoken and written English.

Occupational registration: In certain fields of work, you will need to ensure you have occupational registration if you want to work in New Zealand. If you require registration and do not have it, you will be unable to work in your chosen occupation under the Skilled Migrant Category.

If you qualify, you can learn about claiming points on your EOI.

Skills wanted

In New Zealand, we are experiencing a skill shortage across our labour market. We want to recruit people into certain industries, all over New Zealand.

Industries which have a strong demand for skilled people include:

• Education
• Health and medical groups
• Information and communications technology
• Agriculture and farming
• Engineering
• Trades.

We have two lists which identify the industries and professions where we need skilled people.

The Immediate Skill Shortage List identifies the jobs and skills needed in New Zealand, by region.

The Long Term Skill Shortage List shows the areas where we have a sustained and ongoing shortage of skilled people throughout the whole of New Zealand.

The Process Diagram