From Thursday 3 November 2022 at 8 pm (NZDT), Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is changing the Expression of Interest (EOI) form for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa to give people more time to meet the visa requirements.
Skilled Migrant Category reopening
Selections of expressions of interest (EOIs) for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa will resume at 2 pm on 9 November 2022 (NZDT). Immigration New Zealand uses a points-based system to assess, so the EOIs will be selected with at least 160 points, which is the current threshold.
NZQA assessments and English language tests
Although selections of EOIs will resume on 9 November, there is a delay for NZQA international qualification assessments and English language tests, so some people may not be able to receive their assessments or sit their tests before this date.
Currently, you cannot submit an EOI if you do not have the assessment and test results. But, on the updated EOI form, you will be able to tell INZ if you are waiting on an NZQA assessment, test results or a booked test. If invited to apply for an SMC residence visa, you will need to upload your assessment or test results.
The requirements to submit a residence application are also changing to allow English language test results that are more than 2 years old as evidence of an acceptable standard of English.
Wage threshold
The SMC median wage threshold was recently increased from $27 per hour to $27.76 per hour.
People who meet the new pay threshold should update the information in their EOI as soon as possible. INZ may send invitations to apply for an SMC residence visa to those who met the previous requirements at the time they submitted an EOI. However, if you are invited to apply for residence, you will need to meet the new threshold.
For further information and assistance, contact Arno Nothnagel, our NZ Immigration Director here.
