New Zealand · Work
New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category
Income needed: NZD 105+ an hour ≈ $59
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Skilled Migrant Category is a work route for New Zealand. Applicants need income of NZD 105+ an hour ≈ $59. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- NZD 105+ an hour ≈ $59
- Government fees
- ~NZD 6,450 ≈ $3,610
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee NZD 6,450 ≈ $3,610; income to show NZD 105+/hr ≈ $59. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees~NZD 6,450 ≈ $3,610
- NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610)Visa cost shown as from NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610).
Shown, not spentNZD 105+/hr ≈ $59
- NZD 105 an hour (≈ $59)3 times the SMC wage threshold, currently NZD 105.00 (≈ $59) an hour, earns 6 income points; 2 times earns 4 points and 1.5 times earns 3 points.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years of residence
After 2 years in a row on this visa you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which lets you travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years as a permanent resident
Citizenship by grant needs 5 years living in New Zealand as a resident, with at least 240 days in New Zealand in each 12-month period and 1,350 days across the 5 years.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in New Zealand
- Only up to age 55
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- The applicant is aged 55 or younger when applying.
- The applicant has a job or job offer from an accredited employer at the required skill level.
- The applicant meets English language requirements.
- Points-based pathway: 6 skilled resident points from qualification, income or occupational registration, with up to 3 more from NZ skilled work experience.
- Skilled Work Experience pathway: at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience including at least 2 years of skilled work in New Zealand.
- Trades and Technician pathway: a relevant qualification and at least 4 years post-qualification experience including at least 18 months of skilled work in New Zealand.
What you must show3
- Income points: 3 times the SMC wage threshold, currently NZD 105.00 (≈ $59) an hour, earns 6 points.
- 2 times the threshold earns 4 points and 1.5 times earns 3 points.
- The visa cost is shown as from NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610).
What happens at day 183
How New Zealand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any 12-month periodTax residence begins by more than 183 days in New Zealand or a permanent place of abode
- Foreign-source income
New-resident relief (4 years)
New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents.
- Special regime
Transitional tax resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for New Zealand Tax records checked
Full official text
Points-based residence visa for people already working in, or holding a job offer in, a skilled role with an accredited employer; entry is by expression of interest (EOI) and invitation under one of three pathways. 1
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least NZD 105 an hour (≈ $59) · 3 times the SMC wage threshold, currently NZD 105.00 (≈ $59) an hour, earns 6 income points; 2 times earns 4 points and 1.5 times earns 3 points. 1
- A fee of NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610) · Visa cost shown as from NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610). 1
Requirements
- The applicant is aged 55 or younger when applying. 1
- The applicant has a job or job offer from an accredited employer at the required skill level. 1
- The applicant meets English language requirements. 1
- Points-based pathway: 6 skilled resident points from qualification, income or occupational registration, with up to 3 more from NZ skilled work experience. 1
- Skilled Work Experience pathway: at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience including at least 2 years of skilled work in New Zealand. 1
- Trades and Technician pathway: a relevant qualification and at least 4 years post-qualification experience including at least 18 months of skilled work in New Zealand. 1
- Income points: 3 times the SMC wage threshold, currently NZD 105.00 (≈ $59) an hour, earns 6 points. 1
- 2 times the threshold earns 4 points and 1.5 times earns 3 points. 1
- The visa cost is shown as from NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610). 1
Stay
- Resident visa: stay indefinitely.
Work
Live, work and study in New Zealand.
Family
Partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included.
Official sources
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: skilled resident points · Immigration New Zealand · checked 2026-10-10
- Presence in NZ requirements (citizenship by grant) · New Zealand Government (govt.nz, Department of Internal Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
Skilled Migrant Category and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Migrant Category | Needs income of NZD 105+ an hour ≈ $59 | – | – |
| Accredited Employer visa | Needs income of NZD 67.12+ an hour ≈ $38 | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Straight to Residence | – | – | – |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Skilled Migrant Category?
Income of at least NZD 105 an hour (≈ $59). 3 times the SMC wage threshold, currently NZD 105.00 (≈ $59) an hour, earns 6 income points; 2 times earns 4 points and 1.5 times earns 3 points. A fee of NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610). Visa cost shown as from NZD 6,450 (≈ $3,610).
How long can I stay on the Skilled Migrant Category?
Resident visa: stay indefinitely.
Can I work on the Skilled Migrant Category?
Live, work and study in New Zealand.
Can I bring my family on the Skilled Migrant Category?
Partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger can be included.
Does the Skilled Migrant Category lead to permanent residence in New Zealand?
Time on the Skilled Migrant Category counts toward permanent residence in New Zealand, which the rules allow after 2 years of residence. Time on the Skilled Migrant Category counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years as a permanent resident.
Is there a tax break for Skilled Migrant Category holders in New Zealand?
Transitional tax resident exemption for most foreign-source income: New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Transitional tax resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income
New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income; overseas employment and personal services income is not exempt.
Who it applies to
- Period begins on first day of New Zealand tax residence and ends four years after end of month of qualification, subject to earlier opt-out/termination events.
- The exemption can be used only once.
- The person was not a New Zealand tax resident at any time in the 10 years before qualifying.
Exclusions
- Overseas employment income and income from personal services is not exempt.
- Applying for Working for Families, opting out, reporting covered income, or confirming NZ tax to a foreign jurisdiction on covered income can terminate the exemption.
- Foreign-super withdrawals have their own rule.
Days in the country
- More than 183 days in any 12-month period · Tax residence begins by more than 183 days in New Zealand or a permanent place of abode
Tax residence
NZ tax residence can begin through more than 183 days in any 12-month period or permanent place of abode; this transitional exemption can apply during tax residence. After the exemption ends, worldwide income rules apply.
Visas
No particular visa is required by the tax rule; immigration and tax residence are distinct.
Other taxes
Tax exemption does not waive GST, PAYE on New Zealand work, KiwiSaver or other applicable levies; foreign employment/services carveout means remote work must be analyzed carefully.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in New Zealand
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: skilled resident points · Immigration New Zealand · checked 2026-10-10
- Presence in NZ requirements (citizenship by grant) · New Zealand Government (govt.nz, Department of Internal Affairs) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.