Updated for 2026 policy

🇳🇿 Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

6-point residence pathway for skilled workers

The Skilled Migrant Category was redesigned in October 2023 into a clean 6-point system. Applicants earn points from any combination of occupational registration, qualifications or income at multiples of the median wage.

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4.9 ★ on Google & JustDial · 12,000+ families since 2016

New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

Filed from

Pune · Since 2016

Timeline

3-8 months from complete application to residence.

Investment

Professional fees ₹95,000+…

Success rate

94% approvals

Families filed

12,000+ since 2016

Chapter 01

How the 6 SMC points work

Applicants can earn points from any of three streams — occupational registration (medical practitioners, engineers, nurses etc.), qualifications (Bachelor 3 pts, Master's 4 pts, Doctoral 6 pts) or income (1.5x median wage 3 pts, 2x median 4 pts, 3x median 6 pts).

You need a total of 6 points and a skilled job or job offer paying at least the median wage. That's it — no complicated 180-point matrix, no age bans (though under 55 is a general threshold), no partner-based points.

Registration + income is the most common Indian pathway: a registered nurse earning 1.5x median wage gets 6+3 = 9 points, easily clearing 6.

AI-powered · free · instant

Check your New Zealand PR score in 2 minutes

Answer a few questions and get an indicative score, a factor-by-factor breakdown and your gap against current 2026 cut-offs.

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Eligibility scorecard

Do you qualify for SMC?

Every box below counts. Meet 70% or more and you're a strong candidate — book a free assessment and we'll map the exact CRS / points / score.

Skilled job or job offer paying NZ median wage or higher
Six SMC points from registration, qualifications and/or income
Age under 55
Competent English (IELTS 6.5 overall) unless from an English-native country or English-medium bachelor's+
Health and character requirements met

Total timeline

3-8 months from complete application to residence.

Investment

Professional fees ₹95,000+. Government fees NZD 5,600 for main applicant.

Mark Consultant advantage

Written scope · Fixed fee · Licensed advisors · 94% approval rate

Immigration New Zealand · Green List reviewed 2026

Is your occupation on the New Zealand shortage list?

SMC selection is driven by occupation demand. See the full Green List (Tier 1 & Tier 2) and Sector Agreements with official codes, indicative 2026 salaries and the visa route each job unlocks.

View in-demand occupations

The process

How we file your SMC

A transparent, milestone-based process. You always know what stage your file is at.

01
Step 1 of 5
Points calculator
Map your occupational registration, qualifications and income to SMC points.
02
Step 2 of 5
NZQA assessment (if needed)
Qualification points require NZQA International Qualifications Assessment.
03
Step 3 of 5
Job offer or Green List match
Secure NZ job offer at median-wage or match Green List Tier 1.
04
Step 4 of 5
Residence application
File complete SMC residence application with all evidence.
05
Step 5 of 5
Grant & landing
Residence granted; land within 12 months to activate visa.

Document checklist

Everything you'll need to file

Every document is pre-verified for accuracy, chronology and destination-country standards before submission.

18 documents · fully managed

Valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond intended stay
Recent passport-sized photographs meeting country-specific dimensions
Educational certificates and consolidated mark-sheets (SSC, HSC, degree, PG)
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA / WES / IQAS) where required
Detailed CV with month-precise employment history
Experience letters on company letterhead with roles, responsibilities and salary
Latest three years of income tax returns and Form 16
Bank statements for last six months (personal and business)
English language proficiency proof (IELTS, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL, Duolingo as accepted)
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from all countries of 6+ months residence since age 18
Upfront medical examination from panel physicians when required
Marriage certificate and spouse's supporting documents if adding dependents
Birth certificates of dependent children
Proof of funds — fixed deposits, mutual funds, property valuation, sponsor affidavits
NZQA IQA assessment
IELTS Academic score
NZ job offer letter and IEA
Registration certificates for regulated occupations

Mark Consultant filed our SMC end-to-end. Written scope, fixed fee, honest timeline — no follow-up chasing. We landed in New Zealand exactly when they said we would.

Verified client family

New Zealand · Filed through Pune office

More New Zealand pathways

Explore related New Zealand visa categories

AEWV / Work to Residence

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Employer-sponsored work visa with PR pathway

Student Visa

New Zealand Student Visa

Study at NZ universities and polytechnics

Green List

Green List Straight to Residence

Fast-track PR for in-demand occupations

Documents Required

Documents Required for New Zealand

Complete document checklist for NZ visas

FAQs

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) — Common questions

Do I need a NZ job offer for SMC?

For most SMC pathways, yes. Green List Straight to Residence in Tier 1 does not always require a job offer — occupational registration alone can suffice.

Why is Mark Consultant considered the best visa and immigration consultant?

Since 2016 we have filed 12,000+ approved visas from Pune with a 4.9-star client rating on Google and JustDial. We are known as the best visa and immigration consultants because we sign written scope-and-fee agreements, refuse to over-promise outcomes and assign a single accountable case manager to every file. Our team is trained on ICCRC-aligned processes and stays current with monthly IRCC, Home Affairs, UKVI, USCIS, INZ and BAMF policy changes.

Are you the best visa consultants in Pune and India?

Client-rated yes — Mark Consultant is repeatedly ranked among the best visa consultants in Pune and the best visa consultants in India for permanent residency, skilled work and student visas. Our reputation is built on transparent pricing, refusal to file weak cases and post-landing settlement help.

Can you guarantee a visa approval?

No ethical consultant can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the immigration authority. What we guarantee is an accurate eligibility assessment, honest advice on the strongest visa route for your profile, forensically prepared documents and a filing that maximises your approval odds.

What documents do you review for a free assessment?

For a free 30-minute assessment we review your latest CV, passport bio page, highest education mark-sheets and any English test scores you already have. If you don't have IELTS/PTE yet, we still run an indicative eligibility calculation and share a step plan by email.

Book a free assessment

File your SMC with Pune's best immigration consultants

Honest eligibility read within 24 hours. Written scope, written fees, and a single accountable case manager from day one to landing.

Call +91 91194 49942 Book free assessment →

Why 12,000+ clients trust us

✓ 9+ years in Pune — since 2016
✓ 4.9★ average rating, verified reviews
✓ Written fee agreements, no surprises
✓ ICCRC-aligned filing processes
✓ Post-landing support in destination country

Free visa assessment

Get a free eligibility check for your visa

Share a few details — a licensed advisor will call you within 24 hours with an honest read on your profile.

✓ Response within 24 hours by a licensed advisor
✓ Written scope and fixed fee — no hidden charges
✓ 9+ years, 12,000+ successful cases across India

Prefer to talk?

+91 91194 49942 info@markconsultant.in