Skilled Migrant Visa is for those people who can show to Immigration New Zealand that they have the skills that New Zealand wants. In most cases, you will need to have a full time employment performing a role that would be seen as "skilled" in the eyes of the Immigration Officer processing your application.
You will need to satisfy each of the following requirements:
Let's take a look at each in turn.
General requirements for skilled migrant visa include paying correct application fee, using prescribed Immigration New Zealand form, meeting health/character requirements, and being a 'bona fide' (genuine) applicant. You cannot apply under this category as the principal applicant if you are aged 56 and over.
You will need to provide evidence to show that you have English proficiency equivalent to an IELTS exam score of at least 6.5. Your partner and your dependent children aged 16 years or over will need to provide evidence to show that they have English proficiency equivalent to an IELTS exam score of at least 5.0. Partners and dependent children have the option of pre-purchasing ESOL training if they are unable to meet the English language requirement.
This category operates a points system. From the following table, you will need to work out that you can claim at least 160 points.
There is a string of requirements you have to meet in terms of your employment, which include the following:
Depending on what skill level your position is according to the ANZSCO, you will need to show that you are suitably qualified by training or experience to carry out the tasks associated with the position.
Many issues that you were not aware of could surface when you lodge a Skilled Migrant visa NZ application, so it will be worth getting proper advice and guidance from the beginning.