Service Definitions

Skilled employment

Skilled employment is work that requires you to use significant specialist, technical or management expertise. You may have gained this expertise through completing a recognised qualification or through work experience that relies heavily on this expertise.

Future growth area

An identified future growth area is an industry area that offers New Zealand considerable opportunity to increase its prosperity. Currently New Zealand recognises three broad areas - Biotechnology, Information Communications Technology and Creative industries. You can qualify for points for this factor if you can prove your employment in New Zealand is in one of these areas.

Cluster

A cluster is a group of employers within a particular industry who, though they may compete with each other, also work together co-operatively to gain greater business advantage. We currently recognise five clusters - you only qualify for points if your employer belongs to one of these five clusters:

• Film Auckland
• Wellington Creative Manufacturing
• Canterbury Software
• Canterbury Nutraceuticals
• Biosouth

Area of absolute skills shortage

These areas are occupations in which New Zealand has a significant shortage of skilled workers. These are listed on the Priority Occupations List . You can qualify for points if you can prove that your current employment or offer of employment meets the specifications of the List and that you are suitably qualified or experienced for the occupation.

Employment outside Auckland

A place of work that is outside the Auckland region attracts bonus points as we want to ensure all of New Zealand can benefit from the skills of people moving here. To qualify for points you will need to prove that your employment is outside the seven local government areas that make up the Auckland region.

These local government areas are defined as follows:

• Rodney District Council;
• North Shore City Council;
• Waitakere City Council;
• Auckland City Council;
• Manukau City Council;
• Papakura District Council;
• Franklin District Council.

Expression of Interest

The first step to gaining permanent residency in New Zealand is to complete an "Expression of Interest" form, which is to confirm your interest in coming to New Zealand to live and work. Completing this form lets you see whether you are eligible for an Invitation to Apply for residence in New Zealand. It is also your opportunity to present all the information the NZIS will need to make an informed decision on whether they formally invite you to apply for residence.

Recognised qualification

You can qualify for points for qualifications such as trade certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees and post-graduate qualifications. Your qualification must align with those the NZIS have accepted in the List of Recognised Qualifications.

If it does not the NZIS may require NZQA to assess your qualification. The points you can earn for a recognised qualification will depend on what level they assess your qualification to be at on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.

New Zealand qualifications

You can qualify for points for qualifications that you have studied for and gained through a New Zealand institution such as a University or Polytechnic. The qualification must have required at least two years' study in New Zealand.

Comparable labour market

A labour market is the commercial environment in which people exchange their work for income and where employers and workers 'trade' on the demand for, and supply of, skills. If you do not have skilled employment or an offer of skilled employment, your work experience must have been gained in a comparable labour market in order for you to claim points.

English language requirements

The NZIS requires people to have a reasonable standard of English to ensure they have the best opportunity to settle readily into work and life in New Zealand.