Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa

New Zealand · for applicants from Nigeria

Verified · 22 June 2026

New Zealand's main points-based skilled residence visa. Under the current 6-point system you must reach 6 points, claiming from ONLY ONE skill category (NZ occupational registration, a recognised qualification, OR income at 1.5x median wage), plus points for skilled work in NZ. A simplified pathway model (Skilled Work Experience, Trades & Technician) takes effect 24 Aug 2026.

Rules last verified: 22 June 2026 · by Elizabeth O

At a glance

Embassy processing

Varies; check INZ current times

Our turnaround

5–7 working days

Done-for-you Standard

Government fees

~£6,450

≈ ₦11,797,050

Why applications get refused

Points combined across categories

Applicant tried to combine qualification + income/registration points.

Fix: Pick the single strongest category and top up with NZ skilled-work points only.

Job not ANZSCO skill level 1-3

Role assessed as not skilled.

Fix: Confirm the ANZSCO classification before applying.

Wage below required threshold

Pay under the median-wage-linked threshold for the pathway.

Fix: Ensure pay meets the threshold throughout the work-experience period.

English not evidenced

No acceptable English test/exemption.

Fix: Provide an acceptable English test result or evidence an exemption.

Document checklist

Required

Valid passport

When: "all"

Evidence of skilled employment / job offer in NZ

When: "all"

Qualification certificates + NZQA assessment (if claiming qualification points)

When: "qualification route"

NZ occupational registration (if claiming registration points)

When: "registration route"

Evidence of income (if claiming income points)

When: "income route"

English language evidence (IELTS/equivalent)

When: "unless exempt"

Medical certificate & chest X-ray

When: "all"

Police certificates

When: "all"

Application timeline

1. Prepare your application

Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms

1–3 weeks

2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)

Specialist checks your file before you submit

5–7 working days

3. Submit online or at visa centre

Biometrics appointment may be required

1 day

4. Embassy decision

Standard processing. Priority options may be available.

Varies; check INZ current times

All-in government fees

These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.

Mandatory

Skilled Migrant resident visa

£6,450

11,797,050

Total government fees

6,450

≈ ₦11,797,050

Indicative. 1 GBP = 1829 NGN · 2026-08-03. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.

What a free chatbot cannot do

A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.

  • Rules verified against the official source, with the date
  • Document checklist built for your specific profile
  • The inconsistency check that catches what gets people refused
  • A human reviews your complete file before submission

Know your real chances for this route

Free, in about a minute. Your eligibility, gaps, and the all-in cost estimate. No signup to see the score.

Check your chances free →

The assessment pre-selects New Zealand and the work route for you. You can adjust before you run it.

Common questions about the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa

Sourced answers to the most-searched questions about this corridor are being verified and will appear here. Start the free assessment or ask the desk directly.

Real outcomes

100% approved

Based on 12 reported outcomes across all Rekoja cases. This is a look back at past cases, not a prediction. The embassy decides; past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Prepare for the interview

Many work routes include an interview or credibility check. Done-for-you Premium includes a live interview-preparation session with a specialist: the questions officers actually ask on this route, practised with you before the real thing.

Preparation improves your readiness, not the decision. Practice, never a guarantee.

Related routes

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Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.