Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is the most common starting point for South African applicants who can't immediately secure a SMC-eligible offer from outside NZ.

• Up to 3 years' validity, tied to your accredited employer
• NZD ~750 application fee + immigration health surcharge
• Processing typically 2-4 months
• Time spent in NZ on AEWV counts toward SMC's NZ work experience points
• Spouse can get an open work visa
• Children get student visas with domestic fees if state schools

The Green List bypasses parts of the SMC process for occupations in critical shortage. Two tiers:

Software engineers are not on the Green List currently — fall back to standard SMC + AEWV.

English test required — SA passport holders are NOT exempt. Take IELTS General, PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT, or CAE.

Visa required for entry — short-term visitor visa or eVisa for short stays.

SA Honours degreetypically maps to Level 8 on the NZ qualification framework (above Bachelor's). Worth getting an NZQA assessment for points clarity.

Notable SA community in Auckland and Wellington — concentrated in tech, healthcare, and trades.

Distance — typically routed via Australia or Asia (16-18 hours total). No direct flights from SA.

Citizenship — 5 years residence (longest of the three destination countries), but pathway is well-defined.