All applicants who meet the health, character, English and selection point requirements, but do not have either skilled employment or a higher degree gained in New Zealand will be invited to apply for a ‘job search visa’ to enable them to find ongoing skilled employment in New Zealand.
There will be greater flexibility for offshore applicants to travel to New Zealand within the 12 month validity of their ‘job search visa’.
Applicants who are outside New Zealand and whose SMC application is assessed under SMC instructions effective on or after 28 August 2017 may be granted a Work to Residence visa allowing work and multiple entries to New Zealand for 12 months from the date the Work to Residence Visa is granted.
Skilled employment is employment that meets a minimum remuneration threshold and requires specialist, technical or management expertise obtained through:
the completion of recognised relevant qualifications; or
relevant work experience; or
the completion of recognised relevant qualifications and/or work experience.
另一方面，对雇主来说，有相关工作经验的才看给高薪：
Your employment may be assessed as skilled if it meets the requirements below.
it is described in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), as a skill level 1, 2 or 3 occupation, it substantially matches the ANZSCO description of that occupation, and pays NZ$24.29 per hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more, or
it is described in the ANZSCO as a skill level 4 or 5 occupation, it substantially matches the ANZSCO description of that occupation, and pays $36.44 per hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more, or
it has no corresponding description in the ANZSCO, and pays NZ$36.44 per hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more.
You’ll need to find the closest matching ANZSCO occupation for your current job or job offer1. You must also be suitably qualified for the employment by training and/or experience requirements corresponding to the skill level of your occupation.
Most types of work visas allow the holder to support visas for their partners or dependent children. However there are some restrictions to be aware of.
If you hold a work visa, you will normally be able to support the following visas for your partner and dependent children:
A open work visa for your partner
A visitor visa for your partner or your children
A student visa for your children
All work, visitor and student visas granted to the partners or children of work visa holders will be granted for the same duration as your work visa.
Who cannot support visas for partners and dependent children?
You cannot support a work, visitor or student visa for your partner or dependent child if you hold a work visa granted under one of the following categories:
Foreign crew of fishing vessels
Working Holiday Scheme
Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Instructions
Domestic staff of diplomatic, consular, or official staff
Essential Skills, if your employment is lower skilled (see below).
Essential Skills work visas for lower-skilled employment
All Essential Skills work visas applied for after 28 August 2017 will be granted with the skill-band of the employment stated on the approval letter. If your skill band is lower-skilled, you cannot support visas for your family members, unless one of the following applies:
Your partner or dependent child held a visa based on their relationship to you on 28 August 2017. You can continue to support your family for visas while holding an Essential Skills visa for lower-skilled employment.
You previously studied in New Zealand, then subsequently held a post-study work visa. If you were eligible to support your partner for a work visa or your children for student visas while you held a student visa, and subsequently supported them for a visa based on the relationship while holding your post study work visa, you may continue to support family for visas while holding an Essential Skills visa for lower-skilled employment.
如果是直接获得新西兰移民签证当然是可以直接带配偶和子女的，所有国家的移民签证都是以家庭为单位，一人申请全家移民（配偶和子女）。这里说的概念是如果给的是 job search visa 是不能带配偶子女的。
Skilled employment
it is described in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), as a skill level 1, 2 or 3 occupation, it substantially matches the ANZSCO description of that occupation, and pays NZ$24.29 per hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more, or
it is described in the ANZSCO as a skill level 4 or 5 occupation, it substantially matches the ANZSCO description of that occupation, and pays $36.44 per hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more, or
it has no corresponding description in the ANZSCO, and pays NZ$36.44 per hour (or equivalent annual salary) or more.
Can my application under the SMC be approved if I do not have skilled employment in New Zealand?
To be approved residence, an applicant needs to have either skilled employment in New Zealand (or an offer of skilled employment), or a Master’s degree or Doctorate gained after two years of study in New Zealand.
If you are assessed as having sufficient points to meet the selection threshold, and you meet health, character and English language requirements, but do not have skilled employment in New Zealand (or a Master’s degree or Doctorate gained after two years of study in New Zealand), we will defer the decision on your application and invite you to apply for a job search visa. This job search visa will allow you to look for skilled employment in New Zealand. The decision on your residence application will be deferred while you look for skilled employment.