Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Not understanding skilled vs unskilled jobs
  This can result in a shorter visa or even missing out on a residence pathway entirely. It’s important to match your actual job duties — not just your job title — with the correct ANZSCO code to meet INZ’s criteria.

• Misunderstanding INZ’s salary assessment
  Many applicants assume allowances or bonuses can be included in pay calculations — but INZ has strict rules on what counts as remuneration. Misjudging this can result in failing to meet the wage threshold for your role.

• Employer is not accredited or unwilling to become accredited
  An essential requirement for SMC is holding a job offer from an accredited employer. If your employer is not accredited — or refuses to go through the process — your residence application cannot proceed. We can help you liaise with your employer.

• Assigning incorrect points to qualifications or registrations
  Claiming points for a qualification that is not NZ-recognised, or incorrectly assuming that provisional or trainee registration carries full points, can cause your application to fall below the required 6-point threshold.

• Errors in calculating New Zealand work experience
  Not all NZ work experience counts. For example, part-time work or casual hours may not meet the definition. Incorrectly assuming your experience qualifies can result in a declined application — and if your work visa is close to expiring, you may miss the opportunity to reapply in time.

• Failure to disclose relevant information to INZ
  Omitting key facts, even from past visa applications, can raise character concerns. INZ treats this as providing false or misleading information, which may lead to an automatic decline and long-term impact on future visa eligibility