September 2023 - Star Immigration

Migrating to New Zealand is not an easy process. Often one of the biggest challenges that migrants face is obtaining a job offer that meets immigration requirements. In many cases a migrant will need to have a job offer from an accredited employer and meet a remuneration threshold, in order to apply for a work visa. The job market and recruitment processes in New Zealand will likely be quite different to other countries. It is important to understand what New Zealand employers are looking for in a job application and in a job candidate. If you are thinking about migrating to New Zealand you should spend some time carrying out research before you start applying for jobs.

The Government’s Live and Work New Zealand website has some useful information and links:

https://www.live-work.immigration.govt.nz/work-in-new-zealand/finding-applying-for-jobs

https://www.live-work.immigration.govt.nz/work-in-new-zealand/finding-applying-for-jobs/job-websites-recruitment-companies

If you obtain a job offer in New Zealand, contact us today for assistance with obtaining the necessary visa to work in New Zealand.

The updated Skilled Migrant category (SMC) will open on 9 October 2023.

An applicant must:

Be 55 years old or younger;
Meet English, health and character requirements;
Have skilled employment in New Zealand with an accredited employer; and
Be eligible for six points.

The six required points can be claimed for:

One skill category: Income, Qualification or New Zealand registration

A combination of one skill category and skilled work experience in New Zealand

Some of the key differences to the previous SMC requirements are:

It will only be possible to claim points for recognised qualifications which are level 7 bachelor’s degree or higher
Work experience in New Zealand must be paid at the median wage or above to be eligible for points
No points can be claimed for overseas work experience

A person interested in applying for residence under the SMC, will submit an Expression of Interest online. There will be no fee for this stage. If the person declares all requirements have been met, then an Invitation to Apply will be automatically issued. The person will then have four months to lodge their residence application online. A fee is payable at the application stage. Immigration New Zealand has indicated that straight forward applications with all required information will be decided in six to eight weeks.

Although the updated policy may seem simple, it is quite complex with a lot of underlying requirements that must be met. Contact us today if you are interested in checking your eligibility to apply.