Skilled Migrant Category update

The first selection of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) since 2020 took place on 11 November 2022. Over 6,500 EOIs were selected covering almost 15,000 people. This is the largest EOI selection in the history of the Skilled Migrant Category or SMC (which has been around in one form or one another as a point system since 1991!).

Immigration NZ are reviewing these EOIs and have started issuing Invitations to Apply for Residence (ITAs). It will take until around the end of January 2023 for all EOIs to be reviewed. Earlier this week 161 SMC residence applications had been lodged and that number will grow substantially in 2023. Some people will not receive ITAs as they may have over claimed points or are not eligible for other reasons that will prevent them moving to the residence application stage.

Processing of SMC residence applications is expected to start in March 2023 but won’t start fully until June 2023 when INZ will have completed most of the 2021 Resident Visa processing.

Meantime EOIs claiming 180 points or higher will continue to be selected each fortnight until SMC policy changes are announced in July 2023.

Our advice is if you qualify under the SMC now to apply sooner rather than later. If the government proceeds with their 2023 proposed SMC changes only those with PhDs holding job offers as scientists or university professors will get through quickly while others will need to build up years of work experience in NZ.

We live in hope the processing queue for SMC residence applications doesn’t get too long but INZ resources are really stretched so it may just be inevitable. We will keep you posted on developments in the New Year.

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