In recent years, many people have migrated to various countries to anchor their career life or to settle permanently. The primary reason is to enjoy a high standard of living and connect with the global work culture. New Zealand is a highly preferred destination for thousands of professional individuals and students from India. And also, they wish to have a long-term settlement in New Zealand. For this, they rely on the Skilled Migrant Category, which is a structured pathway drafted by Immigration New Zealand. With the new trend, many people are opting for other pathways due to frequent changes in Immigration policies, which also includes the expansion of the Green List.
Hence, many people wonder if the Skilled Migrant category is still the easiest way to get NZ PR or if pathways have replaced it. The answer to this varies with the applicant’s intention, profession, and educational background.
In this blog, we will learn about the New Zealand skilled migrant category to PR pathways, which are in trend and used by people to stay and settle in New Zealand.
A Classic Competitive Path Skilled Migrant Category
Let us know about the killed Migrant Category?
- The Skilled Migrant Category is a visa implemented by Immigration New Zealand, which allows eligible individuals to apply for and settle in the country.
- The eligible individuals are selected based on points, as SMC is a points-based resident visa, allowing skilled professionals to stay in the country and contribute to New Zealand economic growth.
- Through this, the selected workers can study, work and live in the country for an indefinite period. After fulfilling for requirements, they can apply for permanent residency.
Essential Requirements
As of the 2025 update, the applicants must score a minimum of six points from any one of the factors listed by the Immigration:
- New Zealand Occupational Registration
- A recognised New Zealand qualification
- Income at or above a high threshold
The applicants can also earn up to three additional points through skilled work experience in New Zealand, which will sum up to nine points, marking the highest points possible. Additional requirements to be fulfilled by the applicants are:
- They must be at the age of 55 or younger than that
- They must have a valid job offer or must work in a skilled job under an accredited employer
- They must meet the wage threshold based on the job qualification
- They must have good health and character
- They must fulfil the language requirement through proficiency in English
Through this points system, we can understand that the New Zealand Government only accepts the high-skilled professionals to work and settle in the country.
Wage Thresholds
Wage threshold is one of the important factors in the Skilled Migrant Category. For the ANZSCO levels of jobs 1,2, and 3, the workers' wages must meet or exceed the median wage of NZD. On the other hand, for the 4 and 5 job levels, the wages of the worker must be 1.5 times the median wage of NZD.
Follow-up process and fees
Firstly, the applicant must apply by submitting the Expression of Interest demonstrating that they meet the requirements. If the applicant gets selected through their score, they will be selected from the pool. The selected applicants will receive an Invitation to apply from the Government. The applicant can submit the full residence application along with the necessary documents and requirements. The visa application fee must be paid, and the visa processing time takes from 4 months to 6 months, depending on the profile.
Pros of Skilled Migrant Category
Before applying, the applicants must know about the advantages of the pathway and the way to utilise it.
- The Skilled Migrant Category leads to a wide range of professions, not concentrating on fewer varieties.
- By acquiring a Migrant visa, the applicant can apply for New Zealand PR for Skilled professionals after fulfilling some of the requirements.
- New Zealand Immigration has drafted a well-structured and transparent points system, which makes the process hassle-free.
- To apply for Permanent residency, the applicant does not require an employer sponsorship.
Cons of Skilled Migrant Category
The applicant must obtain a competitive score; a minimum score does not yield fruitful results. As this is the most preferred pathway by many applicants, it is subject to many policy changes and also takes a longer processing time when compared to other pathways.
Croyez Immigration assists you in finding flexible options for the Skilled Migrant Category by guiding you to fulfil the requirements for the New Zealand skilled migrant category to PR. We help fulfil all the requirements and make the route the easy one, leading to residency.
Green List the Fast-Track Alternative
What is the Green List?
The Green List has the categories of occupations where the New Zealand Government fills labour market shortages by selecting the eligible skilled professionals. Unlike the Skilled Migrant category green list offers two fast-track residency pathways:
- Tier 1 - Straight to Residence visa
- Tier 2 - Work to Residence visa
This pathway offers benefits like faster processing time, especially for professionals applying for high-demand roles, and certainty of getting selected.
Tier 1: NZ straight to residence visa
If the skilled professional's job is listed under the Tier 1 Category, they can apply for a resident visa directly. The applicant can apply from inside New Zealand or outside by staying in their home country. Unlike the Skilled Resident Category, it does not require a temporary work visa. Hence, the applicant can apply immediately, which reduces the waiting time.
Applicant’s eligibility:
The applicant must have a valid job offer from an accredited employer or a full-time job under a Tier 1 Green list category. They must also fulfil the wages and qualification/registration requirements listed under the Green list. And as always, it is important to fulfil the health, character and language requirements.
The Green List is considered the easiest way to get NZ PR for skilled professionals New Zealand skilled migrant category to PR.
Tier 2: NZ Work to Residence Visa
If the applicant’s occupation falls under the Tier 2 category, they must work for 24 months in New Zealand to apply for the resident visa. Though compared to the Tier 1 category, this is not instant, still, it is well-defined to apply for New Zealand PR.
Applicant’s Eligibility:
The applicant must work in New Zealand for 2 years to be eligible to apply for PR. Other requirements must be fulfilled from wages and requirements, working under a valid employer, and fulfilling all other standards like health, character and language.
In 2025, the New Zealand government added 10 more trades under Tier 2, like panel beaters, welders, and mechanical engineering technicians. Croyez Immigration helps the applicants to choose the right path according to the work and wages, with labour market shortages and profile needs.
Pros of the Green List Pathway
Both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 offer immediate residency for skilled professionals. In the Tier 1 category, the applicant can apply immediately, while for Tier 2, the applicant predicts the timeline for the work to residence visa. When compared to Skilled Migrant Category, these categories streamline faster processing and are designed for applicants applying for New Zealand PR as skilled professionals.
Cons of the Green List Pathway
Applicants under specific occupations can only apply through this pathway. The requirements have strict rules for qualification, registration and wages to apply for the pathway. If the job of applicant is not listed on the list, there is no other route to apply for direct residency. Though the Green List is the best pathway for filling labour market demand, it does not cover all the occupations like the Skilled Migrant Category.
Skilled Migrant Category vs. Green List: Which is Right for You?
Key Considerations - How to get permanent residency in New Zealand
1. Is your job on the Green List?
If the applicant's job is on the Tier 1, then the Green List is the best pathway for the New Zealand Permanent Residency. If the job is not listed under Tier 1, you can apply under the Skilled Migrant Category for the New Zealand skilled migrant category to PR.
2. What are your points?
If the applicant's job is not listed under the Green List, but they have 6 points by fulfilling the requirements like income, educational qualification, work and occupational registration, they can apply under the Skilled Migrant Category.
3. Do you have time or urgency?
If you want to settle in New Zealand immediately, apply under the Green List of the Tier 1 category, while Tier 2 offers a defined timeline. But when you have time, apply under the Skilled Migrant Category by meeting the points threshold.
4. How stable is your career path?
If your job is highly stable for a long period, you can opt for the Skilled Migrant Category. But when your job is listed under the Green List process under it is for faster processing.
5. Conclusion: No One-Size-Fits-All “Easiest” Path
Many applicants may wonder is the Skilled Migrant Category is the easiest way to get PR in New Zealand? The answers vary among the applicants; for some, it is yes, for others whose occupations are listed under the Tier 1 and Tier 2, it is no.
We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both pathways for New Zealand skilled migrant category to PR. The Skilled Migrant Category remains flexible for some of the professionals, but the Green List leads to direct Residency.
