Expression of Interest New Zeland

INZ 1101

Skilled Migrant Category
Expression of Interest Guide
A guide to help you understand and fill out the
Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest form

Overview of the Skilled migrant
Information about this guide Category
You should read this guide before you
complete the application How does the Skilled Migrant Category work?
OFFICE USE ONLY Client no.: Date received:
form. The guide gives you
/ / Application no.:

information about: INZ 1000

New Zealand offers many opportunities for skilled migrants,
Residence
Application
under Family Category, Residence from Work Category, and special instructions
• how to decide which visa you particularly in industries and regions experiencing growth and
About this guide
Residence
Guide
INZ 1002

INZ 1002

a guide to completing the Residence Application (INZ 1000)

Who is this guide for?
Use the guide to help you complete the application form
For help completing this form, please refer to the Residence Guide (INZ 1002).
need to apply for skill shortages. The Skilled Migrant Category has been designed
to give priority to meeting those needs and opportunities.
For use by applicants applying for residence class visa under the:
This guide is intended to help you complete • Residence From Work Category
your Residence Application (INZ 1000)

Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007
correctly. It explains the • Family categories
OFFICE USE ONLY Client no.: Date received:

evidence you must provide
/ / Application no.:

INZ 1000 • Pacific Access Category
Residence
Application
when applying for residence. • Samoan Quota Scheme, or
• Special Residence categories.
under Family Category, Residence from Work Category, and special instructions

About this guide
Residence
Guide
INZ 1002

INZ 1002

a guide to completing the Residence Application (INZ 1000)

Who is this guide for?
Use the guide to help you complete the application form
For help completing this form, please refer to the Residence Guide (INZ 1002).
You should read this
guide along with the Self- If you want to submit an Expression of Interest under the
For use by applicants applying for residence class visa under the:
This guide is intended to help you complete
your Residence Application (INZ 1000)
• Family
Residence From Work Category
correctly. It explains the • Refugeecategories
evidence you must provide • Pacific Family Support Category
when applying for residence.

You should read this
guide along with the Self-
Assessment Guide for
• Samoan
•
Access Category, or
Quota Scheme.
If you want to submit an Expression of Interest under the
Skilled Migrant Category, you can either complete and submit
Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007
Residence in New Zealand an Expression of Interest form online at www.immigration.
(INZ 1003), which sets govt.nz or you can fill in a paper form (available from an
out the instructions Immigration New Zealand (INZ) office or our website).
requirements for people
applying for residence in
Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 it is an offence to provide immigration
If you want to apply for residence under the Migrant Investment
New Zealand.
Instructions, see our Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category) Guide
(INZ 1162), or Investor (Investor 2 Category) Guide (INZ 1164).
Please take time to read this If you want to apply for residence under the Entrepreneur
guide carefully, and refer to it or Employee of a Relocating Business categories, see our
when completing your application form.

Numbered boxes like this B9 refer to questions in the
application form. Please make sure you answer all the
relevant questions and provide all the documents we
Entrepreneur/ERB Guide (INZ 1057).

Migrant levy
advice without being licensed or exempt. If your immigration adviser is not licensed when they
ask you to, otherwise we may not be able to accept If your application for residence is successful then you may
your application. If you are applying for residence while
you are in New Zealand on a visitor, work or student
visa, you need to make sure your visa is valid when you
need to pay a migrant levy before your residence is granted.
You can find details of which categories of applicants are
required to pay the migrant levy and the amount you will need
should be, Immigration New Zealand will return your application.

Assessment Guide for Skilled Migrant Category, you can either complete and submit
apply for residence. to pay in our Fees Guide (INZ 1028).

Help us to decide your application quickly by:
More information
• providing
reading this guide carefully, and
• application the required documents with your
all You can get more information and advice from:
form.
For more information and application forms visit our
website at www.immigration.govt.nz.
• officesour INZ branch offices overseas. We have overseas
Any of
in Apia, Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong,
Jakarta, London, Moscow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Nuku’alofa,
Pretoria, Shanghai, Singapore, Suva, Sydney and Taipei.
For more information and to view the register of licensed advisers, go to the Immigration
Advisers Authority website www.iaa.govt.nz or email info@iaa.govt.nz.
• Any of our INZ offices in New Zealand, which are located in
Auckland, Henderson, Manukau, Hamilton, Palmerston North,
Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch and Dunedin
• Your nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission.
All INZ forms, leaflets and fee information can be downloaded
from our website www.immigration.govt.nz.

For further information on immigration
visit www.immigration.govt.nz
November 2010

Residence category/instructions you are applying under
Which residence category are you applying under?
Residence in New Zealand an Expression of Interest form online at www.immigration.
(INZ 1003), which sets govt.nz or you can fill in a paper form (available from an
Family Pacific Access Category Refugee Family Support Category
Residence from Work Samoan Quota Scheme Other (Specify)
If you are applying under the Family: Partnership Category or the Family: Dependent Child Category, answer the following question.
Is your partner or parent an expatriate New Zealander? Yes No

out the instructions Immigration New Zealand (INZ) office or our website).

Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 it is an offence to provide immigration
For the purposes of prioritising such applications, an expatriate New Zealander is either:
• a New Zealand citizen, or
• the holder of a residence class visa,
and has been absent from New Zealand for at least two years prior to the date of this application (apart from short visits).

requirements for people
In the case of a partnership application the New Zealand partner must have been living together with the principal applicant
for 12 months or more in a partnership that is genuine and stable.

If you want to apply for residence under the Migrant Investment
applying for residence in
Instructions, see our Investor Plus (Investor 1 Category) Guide
New Zealand.
April 2011
(INZ 1162), or Investor (Investor 2 Category) Guide (INZ 1164).
Please take time to read this If you want to apply for residence under the Entrepreneur

advice without being licensed or exempt. If your immigration adviser is not licensed when they
guide carefully, and refer to it or Employee of a Relocating Business categories, see our
when completing your application form. Entrepreneur/ERB Guide (INZ 1057).

• what evidence you need
Numbered boxes like this B9 refer to questions in the
application form. Please make sure you answer all the Migrant levy

should be, Immigration New Zealand will return your application.
relevant questions and provide all the documents we
ask you to, otherwise we may not be able to accept If your application for residence is successful then you may
your application. If you are applying for residence while need to pay a migrant levy before your residence is granted.
you are in New Zealand on a visitor, work or student You can find details of which categories of applicants are
visa, you need to make sure your visa is valid when you required to pay the migrant levy and the amount you will need
apply for residence. to pay in our Fees Guide (INZ 1028).

Help us to decide your application quickly by:
More information
• reading this guide carefully, and

For more information and to view the register of licensed advisers, go to the Immigration
• providing all the required documents with your You can get more information and advice from:
application form. • Any of our INZ branch offices overseas. We have overseas
For more information and application forms visit our offices in Apia, Bangkok, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong,
website at www.immigration.govt.nz. Jakarta, London, Moscow, Mumbai, New Delhi, Nuku’alofa,
Pretoria, Shanghai, Singapore, Suva, Sydney and Taipei.
• Any of our INZ offices in New Zealand, which are located in
Auckland, Henderson, Manukau, Hamilton, Palmerston North,
Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch and Dunedin
• Your nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission.
Advisers Authority website www.iaa.govt.nz or email info@iaa.govt.nz.
All INZ forms, leaflets and fee information can be downloaded
from our website www.immigration.govt.nz.

Lawyers provide immigration advice and are exempt from licensing under the Immigration

If you are interested in migrating to New Zealand as a skilled
November 2011

Advisers Licensing Act. For more information and to view the register of immigration lawyers,

to provide with your
go to the New Zealand Law Society website www.lawsociety.org.nz.

When filling in this form, please print clearly in English using CAPITAL LETTERS.

migrant, and if you have the skills we need, then we are ready
Residence category/instructions you are applying under
Which residence category are you applying under?
Family
Residence from Work
Pacific Access Category
Samoan Quota Scheme
Refugee Family Support Category
Other (Specify)
application form.
to work with you to meet our mutual goals.
If you are applying under the Family: Partnership Category or the Family: Dependent Child Category, answer the following question.
Is your partner or parent an expatriate New Zealander? Yes No

For the purposes of prioritising such applications, an expatriate New Zealander is either:
• a New Zealand citizen, or

Purpose of this guide
• the holder of a residence class visa,
and has been absent from New Zealand for at least two years prior to the date of this application (apart from short visits).
In the case of a partnership application the New Zealand partner must have been living together with the principal applicant
for 12 months or more in a partnership that is genuine and stable.

The prerequisites
This guide relates specifically
to step two of the process
March 2012

To be considered under this category you need to be of
outlined on page 3. It good health, good character, have a reasonable standard
provides information to help you understand the of English* and be under 56 years of age. You will also need
terms and requirements of the Expression of to meet the threshold of 100 points for employability
Interest Form (INZ 1100). and capacity-building factors to have an Expression of
Interest (EOI) accepted.
Skilled Migrant Category
The points system
This booklet is only a guide to help you understand the
terms as you complete your Expression of Interest The points system is designed to reflect which applicants
form. The authoritative details of the Skilled Migrant have the most to offer New Zealand so that Immigration
Category are contained in the INZ immigration New Zealand (INZ) can extend invitations to apply for
instructions under Skilled Migrant Category. You can residence to them. The points you can qualify for are set
read this online at www.immigration.govt.nz. out on page 6. Points are available for skilled employment
in New Zealand, work experience, qualifications, age and
close family in New Zealand. Bonus points are available
for employment in identified areas of future growth and/
or absolute skill shortage. Bonus points are also available
for employment outside Auckland, studying full-time in
New Zealand for at least two years towards a recognised
New Zealand qualification, gaining recognised New Zealand
qualification(s), and for a partner’s recognised qualification
or offer of skilled employment in New Zealand.

* Principal applicants (and their partners, if that person is claiming
points for a job, job offer or qualification) must have an English-
speaking background, or have reached an overall IELTS band
score of 6.5. Other secondary applicants 16 years and over must
have an English-speaking background, have reached an overall
IELTS band score of 5 or pre-purchase a specified amount of
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition.

July 2012

Contents
Information about this guide 1

Overview of the Skilled migrant Category 1
How does the Skilled Migrant Category work? 1
The process 3
Important things you need to know 4
The Expression of Interest form 5
The Skilled Migrant Category points system 6
Next steps 7

Summary of terms 9

2 – Expression of Interest Guide - July 2012

The Skilled Migrant Category If you are completing a paper form you need to
send this to:
You will see from the prerequisites and points
system that the Skilled Migrant Category is Expressions of Interest Team
designed to minimise the risk of a mismatch Immigration New Zealand
between the skills migrants bring and the skills DX SR57164
New Zealand needs. The highest points will PO Box 3705
be available to qualified, skilled migrants who Wellington
are already working in skilled employment in NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand. Research has confirmed that such You can complete and submit an Expression of
migrants settle more quickly and are able to Interest form online, which is easier to complete
match their New Zealand counterparts in salary and less expensive than submitting a paper form.
levels and standards of living.
Although a skilled job offer is not a prerequisite, Step three: We select Expressions of
you can see how important it is to consider Interest
ensuring that your skills are needed in New Zealand Expressions of Interest are submitted into a
before you sell your home, leave your job and move Pool. Periodically, Expressions of Interest are
to New Zealand. Be wary of anyone who offers to selected from the Pool as follows:
guarantee you residence or to sell you a job offer
– it may be a fraudulent practice and could result • Expressions of Interest that have total points
in your Expression of Interest or application being of 140 or more will be selected automatically
declined. If anyone attempts to bribe an INZ officer from the Pool;
the application will be declined and charges may • Expressions of Interest that have a points total
be laid. If you have any doubts, check with INZ – and of 100 or more but less than 140, and include
check the INZ fees before paying any money to an points for an offer of skilled employment or
agent, adviser or representative. current skilled employment in New Zealand, are
selected (according to their points ranking) in
sufficient numbers to meet New Zealand’s
The process Immigration Programme requirements.
This is an overview of how the process operates. If, following the selection process set out
above, further places are available, additional
Step one: You can complete an initial Expressions of Interest may be selected
self-assessment from the Pool on the basis of criteria
set from time to time by the Minister of
A Skilled Migrant Quick Check is available at Immigration. These additional selection
www.immigration.govt.nz and in the Self- criteria can be viewed on our website at
Assessment Guide for Residence (INZ 1003). This www.immigration.govt.nz/skilledmigrant.
will help you decide whether or not it is worth
submitting an Expression of Interest. Once your Expression of Interest has been
selected from the Pool, following some checking,
Step two: You submit an Expression of you may be invited to lodge an application for
residence. Checking will generally involve assessing
Interest
the credibility of the points that you have claimed.
You complete and send us an Expression of
An Expression of Interest is current for a period
Interest form. You can get the form from either
of six months from the date of submission to the
the INZ website www.immigration.govt.nz or an
Pool. If selection(s) of Expressions of Interest
INZ office. In this you will tell us about your health,
occur within the six-month period and yours
character, age, English language ability, as well as
is not selected, we will automatically withdraw
the factors that will earn you points. When it is
your Expression of Interest at the end of the
completed, submit it to INZ with the applicable
six-month period. If your Expression of Interest
fees, where it will be checked to ensure that all
is selected from the Pool but later returned to
relevant information has been supplied, and that
the Pool by an immigration officer (for example
it meets the requirements for entry to the Pool.
if you are not awarded some of the points you
claimed, but still have at least 100 points), your
Expression of Interest will also be automatically
withdrawn from the Pool, six months from the
date it was first submitted.

Expression of Interest Guide - July 2012 – 3

If your Expression of Interest is withdrawn, you Important things you need to know
can submit another one if you wish.
If, during the time that your Expression of Interest is Providing correct and complete
in the Pool, there is a change in your circumstances, information
or in the information that you have provided to INZ,
you must inform INZ. If any information is found to When filling out your Expression of Interest, it is
be false or misleading we may choose not to invite essential that you provide correct and complete
you to apply for residence. information and that you do not withhold any
relevant information.
Step four: We invite you to apply for Any information you give us may be checked and
residence verified by immigration officers if your Expression
If you have been successful, we send you an official of Interest is selected from the Pool. If any
Invitation to Apply for residence and an application information is found to be false or misleading, we
form that already contains your personal may choose to not invite you to apply.
details provided in your Expression of Interest. You will also need to advise INZ if there are any
At this stage you will need to send us the signed changes to the details you have supplied in your
form, the applicable fees and all the necessary Expression of Interest.
documentation to support the claims you made
in your Expression of Interest, such as passports, Completing all sections of the form
qualifications and relevant certificates.
You must complete all questions on the
Step five: Decision-making Expression of Interest form. If the question does
not apply to you, you must write either ‘N/A’ or
We assess your application for residence against ‘not applicable’ in the space provided. This will
Residence Instructions and look at your ability to enable us to know that you have answered all
settle successfully and make a real contribution to questions relevant to you.
New Zealand’s social and economic development.
We also fully verify everything you have told us in Advance Passenger Screening
your Expression of Interest. Depending on how
New Zealand has implemented a system designed
you are able to demonstrate your ability to settle
to enhance the security of New Zealand’s borders.
in New Zealand successfully, you may be granted
You may be refused permission to board your
a resident visa, or you may be granted a work visa
flight to come to, or return to, New Zealand if:
which enables you to move from work to residence.
• you do not have an appropriate visa to enter
Step six: Welcome to New Zealand – we New Zealand; or
want to stay in touch with you • your visa has expired; or
We will send you a Welcome to New Zealand • your visa has not been transferred to your
settlement information booklet which contains current/new passport or the passport being
details of local Settlement Support New Zealand used to enter New Zealand.
(SSNZ) organisations which have dedicated To minimise any disruption to your travel plans
local settlement support coordinators. These ensure your travel documents are up-to-date
settlement support coordinators will be your and that you have the appropriate and current
point of contact for settlement information. visa. If you have any questions check
www.immigration.govt.nz.
Want to know more?
Visit www.immigration.govt.nz – the most up-
Importing your car, boat, and
to-date information can be found there. There’s household items
information about all immigration instructions, You may be able to bring your car, boat, and/or
including the other categories in the household items to New Zealand. For detailed
New Zealand Immigration Programme eg family information on restrictions, and to find out if you
sponsored migration, business migration or must pay Customs charges, see the New Zealand
work-to-residence instructions. You can access Customs Service website www.customs.govt.nz.
other websites that provide general information For enquiries telephone 0800 428 786 (within
about living and working in New Zealand through New Zealand) or +64 9 300 5399 (outside
the INZ website. New Zealand), or email feedback@customs.govt.nz.


The Expression of Interest form INZ deals with agents, advisers or
representatives in the following ways.
If you are interested in migrating to • You may give your own address, or the address
New Zealand as a skilled migrant and if you have of your agent, adviser or representative, as a
the skills we need, you need to complete an point of contact for INZ. If you choose to give
Expression of Interest. your agent’s, adviser’s or representative’s
address, all correspondence from INZ will be
How do I know whether it is sent to your agent, adviser or representative.
worthwhile submitting an Expression • If you stop using the services of your agent,
of Interest form? adviser or representative, you must cancel
A Skilled Migrant Quick Check is available at your authorisation to INZ in writing, or INZ will
www.immigration.govt.nz and in the Self- continue to deal with them. If you hire an agent,
Assessment Guide for Residence (INZ 1003). This adviser or representative, you will have to
will help you decide whether or not it is worth provide a new authorisation to INZ.
submitting an Expression of Interest. You need to be aware that you are responsible
for any documents or information that you
As you work your way through the Expression
submit to INZ, or that your agent, adviser or
of Interest you will find points working spaces
representative submits on your behalf.
alongside key questions. Write your points in these
boxes and when you have completed the form, If any person helps you to complete the form –
total your points. You must have at least 100 points for example by interpreting or translating it, or
before you send us the form. If you want to be by completing it for you – they should also sign
more certain of your points, we recommend you the form. If you are changing your immigration
complete an online Expression of Interest. adviser, please use the form Immigration Adviser
Details (INZ 1160).
Who can be included on my Expression of
Interest form? Declaration section
The following people can be included on your Make sure you read and understand all the
Expression of Interest form. These are the declarations before you sign the declaration
people (non-principal applicants) you will want to section of your Expression of Interest form.
come to New Zealand with you: Please contact your nearest INZ branch if you
have any questions about the declaration. Our
• partners
contact details are at the back of this guide.
• dependent children.
As the principal applicant, you will need to supply Declaration for person assisting
evidence of your relationship to all the people applicant to complete an Expression of
you include on your Expression of Interest form. Interest form
A summary description of what we mean when
we use these terms can be found at the back of If any person has helped you to fill out your
this guide. Expression of Interest form by explaining,
translating or completing it for you, they must
Who can help me fill out the form? sign the declaration. Make sure they read and
understand the declaration before they sign it.
If you are submitting an Expression of Interest
form, you may ask another person to help Payment details section
you. Anyone can act as your agent, adviser
or representative. An agent, adviser or To help us process your Expression of Interest
representative may be: as quickly as possible, make sure you complete
the payment details section of the Expression of
• a lawyer Interest form.
• a consultant
Our New Zealand branches do not accept cash.
• any other person (including a friend) whom you Most of our branches outside New Zealand do
hire or ask to help you express interest. not accept cash.
INZ treats all applicants equally. We do not
give preferential service to applicants’ agents, Privacy Act section
advisers or representatives. Make sure you read and understand this section
before you sign your Expression of Interest form.


The Skilled Migrant Category points system
This table outlines the points system we use for Expressions of Interest. We have provided a column
for you to work out your own points.

Factors Points Your
points
Skilled employment
Current skilled employment in New Zealand for 12 months or more 60
Offer of skilled employment in New Zealand or current employment in New Zealand for less than 12 months 50
Bonus points for employment or offer of employment
In an identified future growth area 10
In an area of absolute skills shortage 10
In a region outside Auckland 10
Partner employment or offer of employment 20
Relevant work experience
Two years 10
Four years 15
Six years 20
Eight years 25
Ten years 30
Additional bonus points if work experience in New Zealand
One year 5
Two years 10
Three years or more 15
Additional bonus points for work experience in an identified future growth area
Two to five years 10
Six years or more 15
Additional bonus points for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage
Two to five years 10
Six years or more 15
Points for qualifications
Recognised level 4-6 qualification (e.g. trade qualification, diploma) 40
Recognised level 7 or 8 qualification (e.g bachelor degree, bachelor degree with Honours) 50
Recognised level 9 or 10 post-graduate qualification (Masters degree, Doctorate) 60
Bonus points for qualifications
Two years of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised bachelor degree (level seven on the 10
NZQF) New Zealand qualification
One year of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification 10
Two years of full-time study in New Zealand completing a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification 15
Qualification in an identified future growth area 10
Qualification in an area of absolute skill shortage 10
Partner qualifications – recognised level 4-6 qualification 10
– recognised level 7 + qualification 20
Bonus points for famuly
Close family in New Zealand 10
Points for age
20 to 29 30
30 to 39 25
40 to 44 20
45 to 49 10
50 to 55 5


Next steps in your Expression of Interest appear credible
and legitimate. As part of this process, we may
contact the people and organisations you list in
What happens next? your Expression of Interest. You may be contacted
You must meet the health, character, English and requested to provide additional information or
language and age prerequisites, including attaining documentation during this period if necessary.
at least 100 points for employability and capacity- If it is determined that your claims are not credible
building factors. (You might need to refer to the or legitimate, you will receive notification that your
summary of terms in the next section of this guide Expression of Interest will not proceed any further.
to understand the terms we use below.)
If it is determined that your claims appear
If you meet all these requirements, and you have credible and legitimate, you will receive an
paid the applicable fee, your Expression of Interest Invitation to Apply for residence. The Invitation
will be accepted into the Expression of Interest Pool. to Apply will specify a time frame of four months
Expressions of Interest are submitted into a within which you may lodge an application under
Pool. Periodically, Expressions of Interest are the Skilled Migrant Category. The Invitation to
selected from the Pool as follows: Apply will also specify the documentation that
you will need to provide at the time that your
• Expressions of Interest that have total points
application is lodged and the applicable fees. You
of 140 or more will be selected automatically
will also be sent further information to assist you
from the Pool
to lodge your application for residence correctly.
• Expressions of Interest that have a points total
of 100 or more but less than 140, and include How do I lodge an application for
points for an offer of skilled employment or
residence if I am invited to apply?
current skilled employment in New Zealand, are
selected (according to their points ranking) in You will need to sign and submit a short
sufficient numbers to meet New Zealand’s application form, attach passport photos, the
Immigration Programme requirements. documentation requested in the Invitation to
Apply and the applicable fees. This application
If, following the selection process set out
should be sent to the address specified in your
above, further places are available, additional
Invitation to Apply.
Expressions of Interest may be selected from the
Pool on the basis of criteria set from time to time Documentation required to enable INZ to
by the Minister of Immigration. These additional validate the claims you have made in your
selection criteria can be viewed on our website at Expression of Interest is likely to include the
www.immigration.govt.nz/skilledmigrant. following items.
Once your Expression of Interest has been • Passport(s) (for all applicants, if available).
selected from the Pool, following some • Birth certificate(s) (for all applicants).
checking, you may be invited to lodge an • Marriage certificate(s) (if applicable).
application for residence.
• Custody documentation (for any children,
If your Expression of Interest is not selected from where applicable).
the Pool, it will remain in the Pool for six months. • Police certificates (for all applicants aged 17
If after the six-month period your Expression of and over, which are no more than six months
Interest has not been selected from the Pool, we old when lodged).
will withdraw your Expression of Interest from the
Pool and you will receive notification that this has • A General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) and
happened. You can submit another Expression of Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) (for all
Interest if you wish. applicants, which are no more than three
months old when lodged, unless you have
If we have not selected any Expressions of previously provided these certificates with an
Interest during the six-month period that your earlier visa application and they were issued
Expression of Interest is in the Pool, it will remain less than 36 months ago).
in the Pool until a selection has been made. • Evidence of English language ability (for all
applicants aged 16 and over).
What happens if I am selected?
• Evidence of a recognised qualification (for you
If your Expression of Interest is selected it will and/or your partner, if applicable).
undergo a preliminary checking and verification
• Evidence of skilled work experience (for you,
process, to determine whether the claims made
if applicable).


• Evidence of a skilled job offer (for you and/or
your partner, if applicable).
• Evidence of current skilled employment.
• Other documentation as specified by INZ in
your Invitation to Apply.
In some cases, we will conduct an interview with
you covering your employment prospects, your
familiarity with New Zealand and the support you
are likely to have here.

When should I start gathering the
documents I will need if I’m invited to
apply for residence?
The documentation required to lodge an
application can take some weeks or even
months to gather. Documents that can take
the longest to obtain are items such as police
certificates, qualification assessments from
the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
(NZQA) and International English Language
Testing System (IELTS) certificates.
It is therefore vital that you begin the process of
obtaining these documents as soon as possible.
You must use official INZ forms to obtain
medical certificates. To find out about our
health requirements, see the leaflet Health
Requirements (INZ 1121) available on our
website at www.immigration.govt.nz, or from
your local branch.
For information on how to obtain a police
certificate from a particular country visit
www.immigration.govt.nz/policecertificate.
Accessing the website is the quickest means of
obtaining this information, however if you do not
have access to the internet you can either:
• call us on 0508 55 88 55 if you are in New Zealand
or (09) 914 4100 if you are in Auckland
• contact your nearest Immigration New Zealand
branch.
If, between the time you are sent an Invitation
to Apply and the time you submit your residence
application, there has been a change in your
circumstances, or in the information you have
provided to INZ, you must inform INZ.


Summary of terms
This section of the guide will help you understand the terms we have used in the form and in the
explanations in the guide.

Acceptable standard of health
We consider you to have an acceptable standard of health if you are unlikely to be a danger to public
health, unlikely to be a burden on health services and are fit for the purpose of entry to New Zealand.
Please refer to the leaflet Health Requirements (INZ 1121) for more information.

Areas of absolute skills shortage
These areas are occupations in which New Zealand has an ongoing and sustained shortage of skilled
workers. These are listed on the Long Term Skill Shortage List (see Appendix 4 of the Immigration
New Zealand Operational Manual). You can earn points if you can prove that your current employment
or offer of employment meets the specifications of the list and that you are suitably qualified or
experienced for the occupation. You can also qualify for bonus points if your work experience and/or
qualification are in an area of absolute skills shortage.

Bonus points
Bonus points are available for employment, work experience and qualifications in identified areas
of future growth or absolute skill shortage. Bonus points are also available for employment outside
Auckland, studying full-time in New Zealand for at least two years towards a recognised New Zealand
qualification, gaining recognised New Zealand qualification(s) and for a partner’s recognised
qualification or skilled employment in New Zealand. See ‘Identified future growth area’, ‘Area of
absolute skills shortage’, ‘Employment outside Auckland’.

Character requirements
For your Expression of Interest to be considered for the Pool we need to be assured that you are of good
character. We have set a number of requirements that help us determine this. See ‘Good character’.

Citizenship
You are usually automatically a citizen of the country in which you were born, but you may also hold
citizenship in another country. Your citizenship(s) will be listed in your passport(s).

Close family in New Zealand
You can earn points if you have a close family member in New Zealand who is a citizen or a residence
class visa holder of New Zealand and whose primary place of established residence is New Zealand.
This provision recognises that the presence of close family in New Zealand enhances prospects for
employability and settlement.

Comparable labour market
A labour market is the commercial environment in which people exchange their work for income
and where employers and workers ‘trade’ on the demand for, and supply of, skills. If you do not have
skilled employment in New Zealand or an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand, or if your work
experience is not in an area of absolute skills shortage, you can only qualify for points for your work
experience if it is in a labour market that is comparable to New Zealand.
The following countries are comparable labour markets:
Australia Finland Israel Norway Spain
Austria France Italy Phillippines Sweden
Belgium–Luxemburg Germany Japan Portugal Switzerland
Canada Greece Malaysia Republic of South Korea United Kingdom
Cyprus Iceland Netherlands Singapore United States
Denmark Ireland New Zealand South Africa


Custody of children
If you are separated or divorced and bringing a child under 16 years with you to New Zealand we
will need to see proof of their right to leave their home country and your right to remove them.
Section R2.1.45 of the INZ Immigration Instructions (available online at www.immigration.govt.nz)
contains comprehensive residence instructions on child custody.

Dependent children
Dependent children of a principal applicant are children aged up to 24 years who are unmarried and
who have not had their own children (unless your child is under 17 years). They need not live with you
but must at least rely mainly on an adult for financial support. Children aged 18 to 20 years may be
considered dependent whether or not they are dependent on an adult for financial support.

Domiciled
A company is domiciled in the country where it is permanently located and legally registered.
Multinational companies are domiciled in the country where the head office or parent company
is registered. For example, if company A has branches in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, but the
head office is in the United Kingdom, it is considered to be domiciled in the United Kingdom. See
‘Comparable labour market’.

Employability and capacity-building factors
We have determined a number of factors against which you will be assessed. These factors include
current, or an offer of, skilled employment in New Zealand, work experience, age and qualifications.
We have allocated points to each of these factors and the total score you gain when rated against
them determines whether your Expression of Interest can go into the Pool.

Employment outside Auckland
A place of work that is outside the Auckland region attracts bonus points as we want to ensure all of
New Zealand can benefit from the skills of people moving here. To earn points, you will need to prove
that your employment is outside the six local government areas that make up the Auckland region.

ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) training
This is English language training. If a partner or a child does not meet the minimum standards of
English, they will need to purchase ESOL training in New Zealand. You need to pay the tuition charge
before an application for residence can be granted.

Expression of Interest (EOI)
The form you are now completing is an expression of your interest in coming to New Zealand to live
and work. Completing this form lets you see whether you may be eligible for an Invitation to Apply for
residence in New Zealand. It is also your opportunity to present all the information we will need to
make an informed decision on whether we invite you to apply for residence.

Expression of Interest Pool
The Expression of Interest Pool is the collection of Expressions of Interest of people who have claimed
at least 100 points for our employability and capacity-building factors. Expressions of Interest are
entered into a Pool and are ranked from highest to lowest on the basis of their points. It is from this
Pool that we select people and invite them to apply for residence. See ‘Points’, ‘Bonus points’.

Expunged criminal records
Expungement of a criminal record is a legal process that can clear criminal convictions from a
person’s record.

Full-time employment
Employment is full time if it averages at least 30 hours a week. You can only gain points for skilled
employment that is full-time.


Genuine and stable relationship
We need to be satisfied that you and your partner entered your relationship intending to remain in
it long-term and to be exclusive to each other. We also need to be satisfied that your relationship is
likely to last. See ‘Partner’.

Good character
We consider that a person of good character does not pose a potential security risk and is unlikely
to have served time in prison, been deported from any country, or involved in any criminal or
dangerous activities.

Health requirements
For your Expression of Interest to be considered for the Pool we need to be assured that you are healthy.
We make this requirement to safeguard the well-being of New Zealanders and the operation of the
country’s health services. Please read the leaflet Health Requirements (INZ 1121) for further details.

Identified future growth area
This is an industry area that offers New Zealand considerable opportunity to increase its prosperity.
Currently we recognise three broad areas — biotechnology, information communications technology,
and creative industries. You can gain points if you can prove your employment in New Zealand is in one
of these areas.

IELTS certificate
A recent test from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) can be used as proof
that you meet our English language requirements. As principal applicant, you need to have an overall
band score of 6.5 or over in the IELTS General or Academic Module. See ‘Minimum standard of English’.

International Qualification Assessment (IQA) (formerly Qualifications Assessment
Report (QAR))
This report produced by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) assesses the level of your
qualification and includes a full verification of the qualification. We will use this report to help decide
if you qualify for points. See ‘New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)’.

Issuing authority
This is the government agency of the country or region that granted your document (eg passport or
birth certificate).

Legal adoption
We need to see proof of adoption. If you have adopted your child through legal means we need to see
the original adoption papers — or a certified copy — from the country in which you adopted the child.

Long Term Skill Shortage List
This is a list of the occupations in which New Zealand has a sustained and ongoing shortage of
skilled workers.

Minimum standard of English
We require people to have a reasonable standard of English to ensure they have the best
opportunity to settle readily into work and life in New Zealand.
There are a number of ways you can show you meet our minimum standard of English requirements,
including an IELTS certificate, recognised qualifications taught entirely in English and working in skilled
employment in New Zealand. We may also consider other factors such as other countries in which you
have lived, other languages you speak and your family’s English skills. See ‘English language requirements’.


New Zealand qualification
A New Zealand qualification is a recognised qualification that is on the New Zealand Qualifications
Framework at level 4 (National Certificate or New Zealand Certificate (level 4)), up to and including
level 10.
See ‘New Zealand Qualifications Framework’.

New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
The NZQA is the government agency responsible for quality assurance of qualifications.

New Zealand Qualifications Framework
This register provides the different levels of qualifications in New Zealand and is available at
www.nzqf.govt.nz.

Non-principal applicant
If you are including other people in your Expression of Interest we consider them to be the non-
principal applicants. This includes partners and dependent children.

Occupational registration
People working in some occupations in New Zealand are required by law to be registered with the
professional body of their occupation. Most often registration is required in medical and health
occupations but it also applies to a range of business and trade occupations. You will only gain points
for qualifications required for these occupations or employment in these occupations if you can
prove you have either full or provisional registration or if you are a medical or dental professional
and hold written confirmation from the New Zealand Dental or Medical Council that you are eligible
for registration subject only to attending an interview with a Council representative on arrival
in New Zealand. (You should enter the reference number of the letter stating you are eligible for
registration in the Expression of Interest question asking for your occupational registration number.)
Note: For medical practitioners, registration within a ‘special scope of practice’ is not full or provisional
registration for the purpose of a residence application.

Occupations requiring registration
In New Zealand registration is required by law in order to undertake employment as one of the following:

Architect Electrician (see note below) Optometrist
Barrister or solicitor Electrical service technician Osteopath
Chiropractor Enrolled nurse Pharmacist
Clinical dental technician Immigration adviser Physiotherapist
Clinical dental therapist Line mechanic Plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer
Dental hygienist Medical laboratory scientist/technologist Podiatrist
Dental technician Medical laboratory technician Psychologist
Dental therapist Medical practitioner Real estate agent
Dentist Medical radiation technologist Cadastral (land title) surveyor
Dietitian Nurses and midwives Teacher
Dispensing optician Occupational therapist Veterinarian

Note: Electrician — where a current ‘Employer Licence’ is held, an electrician working for that employer does not require individual
occupational registration.


New Zealand Occupational Registration Bodies

1. Architects Education and Registration Board 9. Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand
2. Dental Technicians Board 10. Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand
3. Dental Council of New Zealand 11. Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board
4. Electrical Workers Registration Board 12. Real Estate Agents Licensing Board
5. Engineers Registration Board 13. Registration Boards Secretariat
6. Medical Council of New Zealand 14. The Survey Board of New Zealand Office of the
Surveyor-General Land Information New Zealand
7. Nursing Council of New Zealand 15. New Zealand Teachers Council
8. New Zealand Law Society 16. Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

Occupations treated as exceptions
Some occupations are treated as an exception under the Skilled Migrant Category. An offer of
employment or current employment in New Zealand that is in an occupation listed below is eligible for
points for skilled employment. See ‘Skilled employment’.
• 442111 Prison officer

Offer of employment
This is a job offer from a New Zealand employer made specifically to you.

Ongoing employment
We will consider your employment to be ongoing if you are a permanent employee who is employed
either indefinitely or for at least 12 months and with the option for your employment to be extended.
Employment is also ongoing if it is on a contract basis and you have consistent history of contract
work and such contract work is likely to be sustained. See ‘Skilled employment’.

Partner
A partner of a principal applicant is someone who is legally married, or joined in a civil union, to the
applicant or who is living in a partnership that is like a marriage.
The partnership can be between people of the opposite or same sex. The partnership must be
genuine and stable.
We recognise partnerships where both partners:
• are aged 18 years or over (or have parental/guardian or other consent if aged 16 or 17 years)
• met each other before any residence application was submitted
• aren’t close relatives.
A partner will only be granted residence if both people in the partnership have been living together
for at least 12 months.

Partnership
A partnership exists where you are in a genuine and stable relationship with another person. See
‘Partner’, ‘Genuine and stable relationship’.

Permanent place of residence
This is your main residential address.

Place of work
A place of work is where you ordinarily go to work. It may or may not be part of a building. See
‘Employment outside Auckland’.


Points
You may qualify for points for employability and capacity-building factors. The points system is
designed for ranking Expressions of Interest so that we can extend Invitations to Apply for residence
to those who have the most to offer New Zealand. The greater the number of points you qualify for,
the greater your chance of gaining an Invitation to Apply for residence. You need to qualify for at
least 100 points to have a chance of entering the Expressions of Interest Pool.

Police certificates
Certificates you obtain from the police to prove you are of good character. You must obtain these
from your country of citizenship and any country in which you have lived for over 12 months in the
past 10 years (whether on one visit or intermittently). Anyone 17 years or older included in the
Expression of Interest will require a police certificate if you are invited to apply for residence.

Postgraduate New Zealand qualification
A postgraduate New Zealand qualification is a recognised qualification that is on the New Zealand
Qualification Framework at levels 8 to 10.

Pre-Assessment Result (PAR)
This report is available online from the NZQA and assesses your qualification based only on
information supplied by you and without seeing the original documents. If you are invited to apply
for residence your qualification will then have to be fully assessed by the NZQA. See ‘International
Qualification Assessment (IQA)’.

Principal applicant
You are the principal applicant if you are the primary person making the application for residence. It
is you and your skills that we will assess.

Recognised qualification
You can gain points for qualifications such as trade certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees and
postgraduate qualifications.

Points
The points you can earn will depend on what level your qualification occupies on the New Zealand
Qualifications Framework (providing it is not an excluded qualification). SM14.10 shows how
points are awarded for recognised qualifications at various levels of the NZQF. See ‘New Zealand
Qualifications Framework’, ‘New Zealand Qualifications Authority’, ‘Pre-Assessment Result’,
‘International Qualification Assessment’, ‘Occupational Registration’.

Recognised work experience
You can gain points for work experience if it is relevant to your recognised qualification or relates
to your current or offered skilled employment in New Zealand. You can gain additional bonus points
if you have work experience lawfully gained in New Zealand or that was in an identified future growth
area or area of absolute skills shortage. If you do not have current or offered skilled employment
in New Zealand, or if your work experience is not in an area of absolute skills shortage, your work
experience must have been in a comparable labour market in order for you to claim points. If you are
claiming points for skilled employment in New Zealand you must also qualify for points for either a
recognised qualification or recognised work experience. See ‘Identified future growth area’, ‘Area of
absolute skills shortage’, ‘Comparable labour market’.

Selection
We make regular selections from the Pool. Periodically, Expressions of Interest are selected from the
Pool as follows:
• Expressions of Interest that have total points of 140 or more will be selected automatically from
the Pool;


• Expressions of Interest that have a points total of 100 or more but less than 140, and include
points for an offer of skilled employment or current skilled employment in New Zealand, are
selected (according to their points ranking) in sufficient numbers to meet New Zealand’s
Immigration Programme requirements.
If, following the selection process set out above, further places are available, additional Expressions
of Interest may be selected from the Pool on the basis of criteria set from time to time by the
Minister of Immigration. These additional selection criteria can be viewed on our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz/skilledmigrant.

Settlement and contribution requirements
You need to show you have the potential to settle in New Zealand and make a contribution socially
and economically. In some cases we will assess this by conducting an interview with you covering your
employment prospects, your familiarity with New Zealand and the support you are likely to have here.

Skilled employment
Skilled employment is work that requires specialist, technical or management expertise obtained
through completing a recognised qualification and/or through work experience.
Points are provided for skilled employment for a third party, not for self-employment in your
own business. If you wish to obtain residence by establishing and operating your own business in
New Zealand, you should consider the Business categories.

Skilled migrant
We consider a skilled migrant to be a person who wants to come and live and work in New Zealand,
and who has the skills that New Zealand needs to help it prosper nationally and internationally.

SMC Job Search Work visa
Principal applicants under the Skilled Migrant Category who do not meet the requirements to be granted
residence, but who are assessed as having potential to settle successfully in New Zealand, can be granted
a job search visa to work in New Zealand for up to nine months. The purpose of the Job Search Work visa
is to enable applicants to establish themselves in ongoing skilled employment in New Zealand. Work visas
granted under will allow work for any employer in New Zealand. At the end of the nine-month period, if you
have become established in full-time employment, residence can be granted.

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)
The Tertiary Education Commission. The Commission is responsible for co-ordinating ESOL tuition of
non-principal applicants choosing to use the tuition option to meet the English requirement. See ESOL.

Two years’ study
Two years of full-time study in New Zealand towards a recognised New Zealand qualification must be
completed in no less than four semesters during a period of at least 16 months to gain points.

Work experience in New Zealand
You can gain additional bonus points if you can show evidence of lawful recognised work experience in
New Zealand.


List of terms
Acceptable standard of health 9
Areas of absolute skills shortage 9
Bonus points 9
Character requirements 9
Citizenship9
Close family in New Zealand 9
Comparable labour market 9
Custody of children 10
Dependent children 10
Domiciled10
Employability and capacity-building factors 10
Employment outside Auckland 10
ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) training 10
Expression of Interest (EOI) 10
Expression of Interest Pool 10
Expunged criminal records 10
Full-time employment 10
Genuine and stable relationship 11
Good character 11
Health requirements 11
Identified future growth area 11
IELTS certificate 11
International Qualification Assessment (IQA) (formerly Qualifications Assessment Report (QAR)) 11
Issuing authority 11
Legal adoption 11
Long Term Skill Shortage List 11
Minimum standard of English 11
New Zealand qualification 12
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) 12
New Zealand Qualifications Framework 12
Non-principal applicant 12
Occupational registration 12
Occupations treated as exceptions 13
Offer of employment 13
Ongoing employment 13
Partner13
Partnership13
Permanent place of residence 13


Place of work 13
Points14
Police certificates 14
Postgraduate New Zealand qualification 14
Pre-Assessment Result (PAR) 14
Principal applicant 14
Recognised qualification 14
Recognised work experience 14
Selection14
Settlement and contribution requirements 15
Skilled employment 15
Skilled migrant 15
SMC Job Search Work visa 15
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) 15
Two years’ study 15
Work experience in New Zealand 15


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