New Zealand

New Zealand: The Skilled Migrant Category

Source: Immigration New Zealand website

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers you the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently. To be eligible for residence under SMC you must:

  • be 55 or under
  • be healthy
  • be of good character
  • speak English

To decide if you can apply we use a points system. You get points for age, experience, employability and qualifications.


How to apply

There are two steps:

  1. You complete an Expression of Interest, telling us about yourself, your family, your skills and your experience.
  2. If you have enough points, we accept your Expression of Interest, and send you an Invitation to Apply. You complete it, and return it to us with your supporting documents. Minimum standards You can include your partner and dependent children in your application, but you all have to meet these standards.

Health: You must be healthy. If you are invited to apply for residence, you and your family will have to be assessed by an approved doctor. -

Character: You and your family must be of good character. We don't allow some people who have committed serious crimes to come to New Zealand.

English language: You and your family will need to meet a certain level of ability in spoken and written English.

Occupational registration: If you need occupational registration and do not have it, you will not be able to work in your chosen occupation under the Skilled Migrant Category.


Licensed Immigration Adviser

Global Visa Support can refer you to a Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand, please ask for details.


Aspire2 International

Aspire2 International is a leading New Zealand training provider that offers people the education and skills to succeed in work and life. This is a registered Private Training Establishment (PTE) since 1996 and one of the largest NZQA-accredited PTEs in New Zealand.

All the programmes of Aspire2 International have a practical focus. Everything you learn will give you the skills to work in your chosen career. Aspire2 International works closely with academic, community and industry partners to ensure that what they are teaching is what the partners are looking for in an employee. Throughout your study, you will gain insights into real industries through presentations from the industry partners.

The six campuses of Aspire2 International are in some of New Zealand’s most vibrant and beautiful cities, just a step from shopping malls, restaurants and theatres. Locations include Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch. In Auckland you’ll choose between two campuses: Queen Street is where you’ll learn English, and Henderson has state-of-the-art facilities for the cookery programme, and is right near transport options.

If you’re an international student, living and studying in a town centre will give you many opportunities to practice your English. All the locations are also close to stunning scenery and tourist destinations, which will make it easy to take a tour during your holidays.


Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is the largest tertiary provider in the Bay of Plenty and the third largest institute of technology in New Zealand.

We are home to more than 14,000 students, more than 1,000 staff, and we offer more than 150 programmes ranging from certificate to post-graduate level.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is an amalgamation of two high performing institutions – Bay of Plenty Polytechnic in Tauranga, and Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua. The institutions merged in May 2016 to better meet the education and employment needs of the region.

We offer a high quality education that can lead toward a range of careers in such areas as agriculture, business, communications, early childhood education, forestry, hospitality, information technology (IT), Māori studies, nursing and health, sport management, and tourism.


Being situated in a region of such natural beauty provides plenty of opportunities to wind down, or up, depending on your adrenalin needs. Some of these activities include mountain biking, whitewater and flatwater kayaking, horseback-riding, hiking, soaking in hot pools, and bungy jumping.


New Zealand Tertiary College

New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) is a private tertiary education provider with campuses in Auckland and Christchurch. NZTC has been specialising in the provision of high-quality, professional qualifications that cater to the changing needs of the early childhood sector for over 30 years.


As specialists in early childhood education and teacher training, NZTC is a popular choice for students thanks to our flexible study options, including our online learning environment which allows you to enrol today, start tomorrow. NZTC qualifications are NZQA accredited and range from introductory level certificates through to a Master degree.


NZTC vision is to empower our students with knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs that will enable them to be effective early childhood educators.

  • Deliver relevant and high quality academic training in early childhood education
  • Provide a stimulating, supportive learning environment for our students
  • Recognise the uniqueness of early childhood development in the life cycle
  • Create a learning environment that enables our students to realise their highest potential as early childhood teachers
  • Give our students practical skills for working in the early childhood sector
  • Recognise and appreciate that our students are uniquely gifted and their individuality should be respected
  • Educate our students to support the child's primary caregivers - the parents
  • Acknowledge that early childhood teachers can make a difference in the lives of young children and their families
  • Enable our students to be true professionals in their career


Ara Institute Of Canterbury

Ara Institute of Canterbury is a vibrant, progressive, government-funded tertiary institute providing world-class, tertiary-level education throughout the Canterbury and Waitaki region. Ara was created in 2016 when education providers CPIT and Aoraki Polytechnic merged, bringing together two well-established organisations and over 200 years of collective experience and success.

Ara's talented staff, innovative business collaborators and supportive community partners are passionate about the role they play in the students' success. Ara is committed to equipping every student with the industry-relevant knowledge, skills and experience they need to get the job they want and to excel in it.

Ara's learning models and course content continually evolve to respond to industry and regional needs. To ensure the students have real-world experience. Ara offers an ever-expanding array of workplace training opportunities, internships, apprenticeships and partnerships with industry. And to meet demand for flexible study options, Ara offers an increasing range of online, blended delivery and part time programmes.


Auckland Goldstar Institute

Auckland Goldstar Institute. AGI is a Private Training Establishment (PTE) registered with and accredited by New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA). AGI is a Signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. The school focus is on delivering high quality vocational and applied education to international students. AGI is the only institute in the Auckland area offering Diploma Level 5 & 6 programmes in Healthcare, as well as offering programmes in English and Management to International Students.

Their programmes offerings in Healthcare coupled with our extensive English language programmes enable students to pursue employment in a range of healthcare related positions.

AGI has established strong links with local providers and stakeholders to ensure our students learn the practical skills they require to be successful. AGI provides a safe, caring and friendly environment for our students. Their teaching , support and marketing staff all have oversea experience in foreign language environments so we understand what it is like coming to a new country to pursue studies. Offering a fun and rewarding learning experience for our student and everyone encouraged to take advantage of the many exciting activities and experiences New Zealand has to offer.


Seafield School of English

Seafield School of English is located in Auckland, New Zealand's 'City of Sails' and in Christchurch, the 'Gateway City" to the spectacular South Island of New Zealand.

Both campuses are located near the sea.

Since 1982 have been helping students experience all New Zealand has to offer.

Seafield is a multi award-winning Specialist English Language School, offering General English courses, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), and preparation for the IELTS, TOEIC and Cambridge exams.


Seafield School of English holds Category 1 status with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), and is a member of English New Zealand.

Special features of our school include:

  • Ideal locations near the sea
  • Small classes averaging 8 students in size (max. 12)
  • Study pathways to university & other programmes
  • Well-qualified and experienced teachers
  • Free one-to-one after class tutorials
  • Free loan of textbooks
  • Students only ever pay one Registration Fee
  • Free Wi-Fi and computer facilities with free internet
  • Part-time work rights – Seafield has 'Category 1' status
  • Accommodation placement services
  • Student advisors who speak a variety of languages
  • After school and weekend activity programmes

Seafield campuses have comfortable classrooms, student library & computer facilities, student common rooms and, of course, friendly and professional staff. Each campus is ideally located, within easy walking distance to the waterfront, bus services, shops, banks, supermarkets, cafes & bars, public libraries, gyms and other amenities.


Waikato Institute of Education

For several years Waikato Institute of Education (WIE) has been one of New Zealand's leading English language schools, offering quality English Courses in New Zealand. WIE is a New Zealand Government Approved Institution, and registered with the NZ Ministry of Education. All WIE programmes are accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Waikato Institute of Education (WIE) is the only authorised Cambridge English, Occupational English Test (OET) and IELTS Pre-Test Examinations Centre in Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and the only testing centre for TOEIC in Hamilton.

WIE is well situated in the beautiful river city of Hamilton, New Zealand's second-fastest growing city. With a population of close to 200,000 Hamilton provides the perfect environment for study and leisure. Hamilton is centrally located and within a short driving distance to many of New Zealand's landmark beaches, lakes, mountains, popular tourist destinations and activities and recreational activities.


Work permit

Students are allowed to work 20 hours per week during semesters; full time during breaks and holidays

Post-Study Job Search Visa

Upon graduation of certain courses, you are entitled to a Post-Study Job Search Visa

Passport of New Zealand

Possible to apply for a New Zealand citizenship after 5 years of work