immigrate.ioNZ

Immigration research

New Zealand

A points system rebuilt around income and qualifications.

Research New Zealand immigration for your situation.

Tell us where you are, what you do, and what you are trying to understand about moving to New Zealand.

SEARCHING NEW ZEALAND ONLY

Answers point you at routes and official sources to read. They don’t assess whether you qualify or predict an outcome.

Main pathways

Have a qualifying income or degree and want residence?

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa

The main skilled-residence pathway -- points from income, qualifications, and New Zealand work experience.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category →

Have a job offer from an accredited NZ employer?

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

A temporary work visa tied to an employer accredited by Immigration New Zealand.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Accredited Employer Work Visa →

On a skilled work visa already, want a path to residence?

Work to Residence

Certain skilled work visas that can lead to residence after a qualifying period.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Work to Residence visa →

Have a New Zealand citizen or resident partner?

Family visa

For partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens or residents.

Considering studying in New Zealand first?

Fee Paying Student Visa

Lets you study at a New Zealand institution as a full-fee-paying student. A temporary status on its own, not an immigration pathway.

After graduating, the Post-Study Work Visa gives open work rights -- that work experience is what the Skilled Migrant Category's points are built from.

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Fee Paying Student Visa →

SMC points required

6 skilled resident points

Earned from income (the required multiple of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) wage threshold varies by pathway -- see the official source), qualifications (bachelor's degree or higher, or NZ-registered occupational qualification), plus skilled NZ work experience.

Direct source

Skilled Migrant Category: the process, and what to produce

INZ names 11 document groups for the visa application stage, and publishes a time limit for three of them — each measured against the day you submit rather than being an expiry date on the document.

Open the step flow →Documents and submission deadlines →

What this data covers

Public New Zealand government information across 5 pathways and 1 sourced data point. Not a comprehensive guide to New Zealand immigration law.

⚠ It doesn't assess your eligibility or predict an outcome. immigrate.io's source-linked case research currently only covers US EB-2 NIW petitions.

Last updated 2026-08-20

Official resources

By law, immigration advice about New Zealand must come from an IAA-licensed adviser, unless you're an exempt category (e.g. a lawyer).

See US NIW case research →

Keep your New Zealand research in one file

A matter holds the document list, the dates you enter, the published costs and the questions you still need answered — for this country, in one place. Everything above stays readable without an account.

Start a New Zealand matter →