On 22 April this year, the New Zealand and Australian governments announced a plan: from 1 July, New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia for four years or more and arrived in Australia after 2001 can apply for Australian citizenship directly. New Zealanders will no longer need to obtain Australian PR first before becoming eligible for Australian citizenship—this change will directly affect roughly 350,000 New Zealanders living in Australia.

Beyond letting people who already hold New Zealand citizenship secure Australian citizenship quickly, this news also offers people who don’t yet meet Australia’s migration criteria but still hope to live in Australia in future a major springboard! Of course, you still need to complete a New Zealand PR application first before you can consider this option.

Below we walk you through New Zealand’s latest migration policies—see which one fits you!

“Green List” Occupations: Apply Directly for New Zealand Residence

In 2022 the New Zealand government announced a brand-new “Green List” to replace the former “Long Term Skill Shortage List”, providing a fast, priority pathway to New Zealand residence for more experienced workers in construction and engineering, healthcare, ICT and the trades.

Since it was announced, the “Green List” has steadily added occupations across more fields, making the scheme more comprehensive. Depending on the occupation, there are two application pathways: one is the “Straight to Residence” category, and the other is the “Work to Residence” category.

Both pathways are similar to Australia’s employer-sponsored visas, but their advantages are a lower age requirement, no skills assessment required, and an English score of just 6.5 overall.

Straight to Residence Visa

Applicants who meet this category can apply for New Zealand residence directly, either onshore in New Zealand or from overseas, and may include a partner and children under 24 in the application.

Eligibility criteria:

1. Applicant is under 55 years of age;

2. An English score equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall;

3. The migration occupation is on the “Green List” Tier 1 role list and meets that occupation’s specific requirements;

4. A job offer from a qualified New Zealand-based employer;

Work to Residence Visa (applications open from 29 September 2023)

Applicants who meet this category must work in New Zealand for two years before they can apply for New Zealand residence, and may include a partner and children under 24 in the application.

Eligibility criteria:

1. Applicant is under 55 years of age;

2. An English score equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall;

3. The migration occupation is on the “Green List” Tier 2 role list and meets that occupation’s specific requirements;

4. Two years of full-time work in the nominated occupation in New Zealand;

5. Hold at least an Accredited Employer Work Visa;

Popular occupations:

Construction Project Manager

Project Builder

Quantity Surveyor

Electronics and Electrical Engineers, Environmental Engineers, Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technicians, Mechanical Engineers, Environmental Engineers, and more

Telecommunications Engineers, Telecommunications Network Engineers, Veterinarians, doctors of various specialties, Food Technologists

ICT Managers (requires an hourly rate of NZ$61.69)

Software Engineers (requires an hourly rate of NZ$61.69)

Multimedia Specialists (requires an hourly rate of NZ$48.94)

The “Six-Point” New Zealand Skilled Migration: Simpler Scoring

There are currently three main types of New Zealand skilled migration:

SMC Skilled Migration category: residence is granted through a points-based system;

Green List migration category: a fast-track migration pathway for specific occupations;

High-Wage migration visa: for applicants earning at least twice the median wage;

*2023 New Zealand median wage: NZ$29.66

Just this June, New Zealand’s points-based skilled migration underwent a major overhaul. After the threshold rose from 160 to 180 points, the future may bring a simplified EOI scoring approach—the “Six-Point” skilled migration.

What is “Six-Point” skilled migration?

Compared with the old EOI points system, the six-point system is very easy to understand: no partner bonus points, no regional bonus points, no need to arrive on a work visa, and no overseas study or work experience required. As long as you combine one of work experience, qualifications or income (choose one) with points for years worked in New Zealand to reach 6 points, you can apply for permanent residence.

In short, you must have local New Zealand work experience in order to lodge.

But there are several major advantages worth knowing:

1. No skills assessment required;

2. An English score of 6.5 overall is sufficient;

3. Overseas qualifications can be recognised;

4. A partner does not affect your score, and there is no regional distinction;

5. The maximum age to lodge is 55;

Note here that for the blue section on the left—qualifications, New Zealand work experience and income level—you choose only one; they cannot be stacked. Pick any one of these, add it to the work experience on the right, and once the points total reaches 6 you can lodge.

For example:

1. A New Zealand or overseas doctoral graduate reaches 6 points outright and can apply once they have a local New Zealand employer;

2. Someone with a master’s degree can qualify after one year of work in New Zealand;

3. Licensed professionals—such as building practitioners or registered teachers—can meet the 6-point requirement after 3 years of work in New Zealand;

4. High-income applicants—those whose hourly rate is up to three times the New Zealand median wage—can reach 6 points outright;

So for those interested in New Zealand, this year’s new policies are more diverse than ever: if you’re on the Green List and have an employer offering work, you can go straight for the “Green List” category pathway. If you’re a high-income or highly qualified applicant, you can choose the SMC “Six-Point” skilled migration.

Catch Up on Past Articles

Lodge before 1 July to avoid the $70,000 wage rise! 189, 190 and 491 are still being granted

What are you waiting for? Plenty of Australian migration “bargain” pathways are still open at the end of the financial year!

2023 offshore state migration pathways for Australia! Both 190 and 491 are open to apply!

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New Zealand’s Migration Policy Is Looking Great This Year! A Genuine Springboard to Australian PR → New Zealand Citizens Can Convert Directly to Australian Citizenship

Lodge before 1 July to avoid the $70,000 wage rise! 189, 190 and 491 are still being granted

What are you waiting for? Plenty of Australian migration “bargain” pathways are still open at the end of the financial year!

2023 offshore state migration pathways for Australia! Both 190 and 491 are open to apply!

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