🇳🇿New Zealand · Visa guide
New Zealand Skilled Migrant Residence
The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa — the main permanent-residence route for skilled Indians, points-based and tied to a skilled job.
- ProcessingPrioritised applications (occupational registration or high-wage roles) are often decided in 4-7 weeks; non-prioritised cases take 2-18 months.
- Visa categorySkilled Migrant Residence
- Your guideOne consultant
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is the single largest residence pathway for skilled Indians. It uses a simplified 6-point threshold: you reach the points through one skill source — a New Zealand occupational registration, a recognised qualification at NZQF Level 7 or higher, or income from skilled employment — topped up if needed with points for New Zealand skilled work experience.
Beyond the points, you must hold a skilled job, or job offer, with an Accredited Employer. Faster Green List pathways also exist: a Tier 1 Green List role can lead to a Straight to Residence Visa without prior New Zealand experience, while Tier 2 roles lead to residence after 24 months of qualifying work. An initial Resident Visa becomes a Permanent Resident Visa after 24 months.
Lifeset Overseas assesses your points honestly, advises on the qualification assessment and the Green List, and builds the residence file around a genuine skilled job offer.
Your next step
Ready to start your New Zealand Skilled Migrant Residence?
A visa file is won or lost on the small things — a mismatched date, a thin financial trail, a document formatted wrong. We go deep into your profile, build every document properly, and give you an honest verdict before you commit. If your case isn't ready, we'll tell you — and tell you exactly how to fix it.
Free, honest assessment
We read your full profile and tell you straight whether your case is ready — before you pay anything.
Your file, built right
Every document prepared, apostilled, translated and stress-tested the way the embassy expects.
One consultant, end to end
The same person handles your case from the first call to the visa decision — no hand-offs.
We handle the process
VFS appointment, biometrics, submission and follow-up — we manage the moving parts for you.
licensed (No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024)Fixed fees agreed upfrontWe won’t take a case we believe will fail
Other New Zealand visas
New Zealand Visitor Visa
A visa for tourism, family visits, weddings and short stays of up to 9 months — Indians need a full visitor visa, not an NZeTA.
New Zealand Business Visitor Visa
A visitor visa for short business activity in New Zealand — meetings, conferences and negotiations, with no employment.
New Zealand Student Visa
The Fee Paying Student Visa — the main route for Indian students enrolling full-time at a New Zealand university, polytechnic or institute.
New Zealand Student Guardian Visa
A visitor visa that lets one parent or legal guardian live in New Zealand with a child who is studying there.
Start here · One message away
Ready to start your visa journey?
Message us on WhatsApp — share your visa goal and a licensed consultant takes it from there. No forms, no call centres. One person, start to decision.