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Skilled / residence pathway: process worksheet

A general, publicly available outline of how a skilled residence application is typically structured by Immigration New Zealand, from understanding the published criteria through to a decision. It is an educational worksheet you complete for yourself; it does not assess your eligibility or recommend that you apply.

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1. Step 1. Read the published criteria for the category

   Find the residence category on the Immigration New Zealand website and read its published eligibility criteria. The published page is the authoritative source; this worksheet only helps you organise your own reading of it.

   Indicative phase: Preparation: self-paced · Official source

2. Step 2. Total your own attributes with the self-check tool

   Use the self-check tool to total your own attributes against the published threshold. The result is a self-calculated tally, not a determination of eligibility.

   Indicative phase: Preparation: self-paced · Open the tool

3. Step 3. Gather the document categories on the published checklist

   Collect the categories of documents the published checklist describes (for example identity, qualifications, employment and character documents). Confirm the exact list for your category with Immigration New Zealand.

   Indicative phase: Preparation: self-paced · Open the tool

4. Step 4. Arrange any qualification or occupational recognition (if required)

   Some categories require an assessment of overseas qualifications or occupational registration. Where the published criteria require it, this is arranged with the relevant recognised body.

   Indicative phase: Varies: depends on the assessing body · Official source

5. Step 5. Obtain health and character documents (if required)

   Where the published criteria require them, applicants obtain medical certificates and police/character certificates to the published specification.

   Indicative phase: Varies: depends on providers and your countries of residence · Official source

6. Step 6. Complete and submit the application to the published process

   Applications are submitted to Immigration New Zealand through the published channel for the category, with the required forms, evidence and fees.

   Indicative phase: A defined task once your evidence is ready · Official source

7. Step 7. Immigration New Zealand assesses the application

   Immigration New Zealand assesses the application against its published criteria and may request further information. Processing times vary by category and over time.

   Indicative phase: See the INZ published processing times · Official source

8. Step 8. Receive the decision

   Immigration New Zealand notifies the outcome. Only Immigration New Zealand decides an application; this service plays no part in the decision.

   Indicative phase: See the INZ published processing times · Official source