Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
New Zealand's points-based residence visa for skilled migrants. Requires skilled employment in New Zealand and sufficient points.
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Key Details
Stay Requirements
Skilled Migrant Category grants residence; maintaining/upgrading the visa needs genuine NZ residence
high confidenceHighlights
- Points-based residency for skilled workers
- Processing time of 6 months
- Minimum stay of 183 days/year
- Pathway to citizenship in 5 years
- Support for skilled labor market
The catch
- You have to actually live there. At least 183 days a year in-country — this becomes your main home, not a paper residency.
- Tax isn't the draw. Headline personal tax sits around 33% — this isn't a low-tax move.
- Language requirement. Language requirement: English - varies by pathway.
Auto-summarised from the data we hold — always confirm specifics on the official page.
What could change
Economic shifts may impact job availability and immigration policies.
Tax Notes
New Zealand's income tax is worldwide; skilled migrants are taxed on global income.
Figures are AI-assisted and can change. Confirm every detail on the official source before you act on it.