The objective of the General Skills category is to select migrants who will

increase New Zealand's levels of human capability
and foster international linkages.

Principal applicants in the General Skills category are assessed by a points system.

Applications under the General Skills category with a points score of 23 or less will be declined. Applications scoring 24 points or more will only be approved if they meet the relevant weekly passmark.

Note: Applicants whose points score is within 5 points of the passmark for the week in which their application was made, who have not already claimed points for an offer of employment and have met English language, health and character requirements may apply for a work visa or permit to enable them to seek employment in New Zealand. For further details please refer to the Self Assessment Guide for Residence in New Zealand.

The passmark is recalculated for the start of each week

The category and level of the QT that a qualification or group of qualifications occupies is established by reference to:
i) the List of Recognised Qualifications; or
ii) a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) assessment report; or
iii) occupational registration in New Zealand
If your qualification(s)is not included on the List of Recognised Qualifications you will need to provide a NZQA assessment of your qualification(s).If you need to provide a NZQA Assessment Report you may submit either an Interim Assessment Report or a Qualifications Assessment Report. If you have provided NZIS with an Interim Assessment Report you should also submit the Qualifications Assessment Report which NZQA will provide to you upon completion of their verification requirements for your qualification(s).

If you have obtained registration by a New Zealand organisation authorised by law to give occupational registration, points may be awarded to your qualification(s) if registration has involved an assessment of comparability of your overseas qualification to a New Zealand qualification on the List of Recognised Qualifications. If you are claiming points on the basis of your registration you will need to provide your certificate of registration.

You must score a minimum of 10 points for qualifications (unless you are one of the exceptions described on page 22). A maximum of 12 points for qualifications may be scored.

Please note: From 1 July 2001 onwards, if you need to provide a NZQA assessment of your qualifications or a certificate of registration in order to claim points for your qualification(s),these documents must be included with your application in order to meet lodgement requirements for an application under the General Skills category.

If you are claiming points for a qualification required for employment in one of the occupations listed below, you must :

Gain full or provisional registration (whichever is required to practice in New Zealand)

Have an offer of employment (for which points may be awarded)in an occupation that does not require registration, and the occupation is assessed as relevant to the qualification for which points are claimed or

Be eligible to claim points for post-qualification in an occupation for which registration is not required in New Zealand, and have been employed in that occupation for the same or greater period of time than in an occupation for which registration is required by law in New Zealand.

Please note: For teachers, provisional registration includes both "provisional" and "subject to confirmation" registration. For medical practitioners, "probationary " registration is considered to be "provisional " registration.

Qualifications will be awarded points based on the category and level that the qualification (or group of qualifications) occupy on the Qualifications Table (QT) as outlined below.

The Qualifications Table is aligned to the New Zealand National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which is a system administered by the NZQA for organising and understanding the relationships between a wide range of New Zealand qualifications.

A qualification (or group of qualifications) which is assessed as occupying a category and level on the QT for which no points may be awarded, will not be awarded points.

You can be allocated an additional 2 points if you have completed a qualification in New Zealand for which you have been, or could have been, awarded qualifications points. However, these points are not available if you received NZODA scholarship assistance to complete the New Zealand qualification.

A New Zealand qualification is defined as a qualification :

Conferred by a New Zealand institution; and

Where at least half the course requirements are undertaken by the applicant in New Zealand.

You can be allocated up to a maximum of 10 points for work A qualification (or group of qualifications) which is assessed as occupying a category and level on the QT for which no points may be awarded, will not be awarded points. experience.

Applicants who receive points for a job offer do not need to have their work experience relevant to their qualifications.

Applicants who claim points for work experience but who do not have a job offer must continue to demonstrate that their work experience is both sound and relevant to the qualification for which they have received points.

The definition of "sound" work experience excludes any work experience which was :

gained before the applicant turned 20, unless that work experience was gained after the qualification for which points are awarded; or

gained during compulsory military or community service, unless that applicant can show that the work experience is relevant to the qualification for which points are awarded; or

of such a low standard as to lead to the applicant's dismissal.

You must score a minimum of 1 point for work experience, unless you have completed a General Skills recognised qualification in New Zealand. You cannot count experience which was an integral part or course requirement of the qualification for which you are allocated points.

Points are allocated on the basis of work experience for 30 hours or more per week. Work experience for less than 30 hours per week may be awarded points on a pro rata basis. You can claim 1 point for every two complete years work experience.

You can be allocated 5 points if you have a genuine offer of employment in New Zealand.

The offer of employment must be

 i. for ongoing employment with a single employer; or

ii.for one or more contracts totalling at least 6 months, if the principal applicant has obtained points for work experience, or would be eligible to be awarded points for such  work experience but did not claim them.

Points may be awarded for an offer of employment only if the offer is:

You must obtain registration if this is required by law to take up the offer of employment. If registration is not required, the employment must be relevant to the qualification for which you are allocated points.

You can be allocated points for your age at the time that you lodge your application. If you turn 25 years of age whilst your application is being processed, your points for age can be increased.

If you are 56 years of age or over; your application for residence cannot be approved under the General Skills category.

You can be allocated a maximum total of 7 points for settlement factors. Settlement factors are:

Settlement Funds  ::
You can be allocated a maximum of 2 points for settlement funds (i.e. cash, shares, stocks and any other assets). These funds must be transferred to New Zealand before residence will be granted and they must be free of debt. You need not transfer your funds to New Zealand until your application has been approved in principle. You have six months from the date of approval in principle to transfer your funds.

You can be allocated a maximum of 2 points for work experience gained lawfully in New Zealand. The work experience must be relevant to the qualification for which you are to be allocated points. You can be allocated points for New Zealand work experience under both this section and the Work Experience section.

Points are allocated on the basis of work experience for 30 hours or more per week. Work experience for less than 30 hours per week may be awarded points on a pro rata basis. You can claim 1 point for each complete year of work experience.