Update (October 2026)
This comparison was first published in 2019. Both systems have changed a lot since then:
- New Zealand: the 160 point Skilled Migrant Category system described below was replaced on 9 October 2023 by a simpler 6 point system. From 24 August 2026 the Skilled Migrant Category has three pathways: a 6 point pathway (points for income, qualification or New Zealand registration, plus New Zealand skilled work experience), a skilled work experience pathway, and a trades and technicians pathway. You still need to be 55 or under and meet the English requirement (for example IELTS 6.5). The resident visa fee is NZ$6,450.
- New Zealand: the Essential Skills, Long Term Skill Shortage List and Talent (Accredited Employer) work visas closed in 2022 and were replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
- Australia: the 189 visa still uses a 65 point pass mark and SkillSelect, but invitation rounds no longer have a fixed monthly date. The 489 visa was replaced by the 491 visa in November 2019 and the TSS visa by the Skills in Demand (482) visa on 7 December 2024. From 1 July 2026 the 189 visa charge is AUD 6,135 for the main applicant (see 2026 visa fees).
The 2019 details below are kept for reference. For advice on your own situation, book a consultation.
Australia and New Zealand are two main destinations for people thinking about immigrating to a new country. Both are great countries, especially for immigrants, but to make it easier for you we have compared them side by side to help you choose a path for your new life. A major factor in choosing where to immigrate, is the immigration system itself! We’ve therefore compared the Australian Skilled visa system with the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category!
We have done a similar comparison for these countries business visas and can be seen here.
Please note this is a basic comparison of immigration programs between New Zealand vs Australia skilled visa programs, for your to understand which immigration program gives you better options! To assess your individual case please book a meeting here.
Skilled Worker Programs – Overview
Here we are going to compare two popular immigration programs: Australia’s Skilled Independent program (subclass 189) and New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa.
Both of these programs aim to attract high caliber applicants with skilled work experience, your education, English language ability and many more.
Neither of the programs require applicants to have a job offer or family or state sponsor to submit an EOI however in most cases to be eligible for New Zealand’s Skilled visa you would need the job offer points.
These two immigration programs may be ideal for highly qualified skilled workers from any country, regardless of having a family or employer to sponsor them on these visas.
In both of the above visa programs you achieve permanent resident status. Permanent resident status allows you to stay in these countries indefinitely with a pathway to citizenship.
Both of these skilled migration programs are points-based systems to determine their eligibility and to select applicants.
Differences
A major difference in the Australian 189 visa to the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category is that to apply for the 189 visa you must have a positive skills assessment from a skills assessing authority to demonstrate your degree is comparable to an Australian degree and can potentially start practicing in Australia. In New Zealand, your qualification must be recognised by either being:
- on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment or;
- assessed by a New Zealand registration authority at the same level as a qualification on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment as part of an application for New Zealand occupational registration.
For comparison, Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker program requires applicants to have at least 1 year of full-time, skilled work experience. Canada now defines skilled work experience as a job in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 (the NOC Skill Level 0, A or B system was replaced in November 2022). See our Australia vs Canada comparison.
Another difference is the occupations lists for both programs. The Australian occupations list for the skilled independent visa can be seen here.
In Australia, you must be under 45 whereas you can apply for New Zealand if you are 55 or under (this is still the case in 2026).
Points System Comparison
Both programs are points based and to determine eligibility of applicants for immigration. They assign points for age, language proficiency, work experience, education, and factors such as study in respective countries, regional area (area of skill shortage) work and more. In Australia, you must score a minimum of 65 points to be eligible, while New Zealand’s program required (until 9 October 2023) a minimum of 160 points for an invitation.
Maximum points per factor as published in 2019. The New Zealand column shows the old 160 point system, which no longer applies.
| Factor | Australia | New Zealand |
| Maximum Points Per Factor | ||
| Age | 30 | 30 |
| Language Proficiency | 20 | – |
| Job offer or already working in AU/NZ | 0 | 50 |
| Absolute skills shortage area work/outside Auckland/High income | 30 | |
| Overseas Work Experience | 15 | 50 |
| Onshore Work Experience | 20 | 10 |
| Qualifications (Education) | 20 | 70 |
| Other Factors (study requirements, regional study, professional year, community language, partner skills) | 20 | 40 |
| Passing Score | 65 | 160 |
If you meet the minimum point’s requirement, you are eligible to submit your interest in the program. However, for both Australia and New Zealand (100 points) simply meeting the minimum points requirement does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply and immigrate to these countries. In other words the pool mark for all General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa are 65 for Australia and 100 for New Zealand but the competitive nature of these visas, a pool mark does not guarantee an invitation to apply. In 2019 New Zealand was inviting candidates with 160 or over points. Since 9 October 2023 New Zealand uses a 6 point system instead (see the update at the top of this page).
Application Process
Choose a country to see how selection and invitations work.
The application process for the Australian Skilled Independent Visa program is similar to New Zealand’s Express of Interest system. Applicants who meet the minimum of 65 points must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the SkillSelect online system.
When this article was written, Australian immigration issued invitations once a month (on the 11th day of each month). Invitation rounds are now held at irregular intervals, usually a few times a year, so there is no fixed invitation date. Applicants with the highest ranking EOIs will be invited to apply. If multiple applicants have the same ranking score, the candidate whose occupation ceiling is not reached and their profile was submitted earlier will be prioritized. SkillSelect EOIs are valid for up to 2 years. If an EOI is not invited within 2 years, it will expire.
Occupation ceilings in the Australian Immigration system give an eligible occupation a maximum quota and if that quota is reached no other invitations in that occupation will be invited until the next year.
After receiving an invitation, an applicant is given 60 days to submit an application for Australian permanent residence to the Department of Home Affairs. If the application is successful, they receive permanent resident status for themselves and any dependent family members (spouse/ de facto and children).
Processing Times & Cost
In 2019 Australia’s Skilled Independent program cost AU$4045 for the principal applicant, plus an additional AU$2025 for a spouse or partner, and AU$1010 per child. From 1 July 2026 the visa application charge is AUD 6,135 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for a partner and AUD 1,540 per child. There is no EOI fee. Similar to New Zealand immigration, Australian applicants would pay for translation, postage, health exams and miscellaneous costs.
New Zealand’s application fees are lower compared to Australian immigration but the processing time in both programs are similar.
In 2019 New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category program charged NZ$530 for an Online Expression of Interest plus an additional NZ$2710 as the application cost for the family. As at October 2026 the Skilled Migrant Category resident visa fee is NZ$6,450 (including the immigration levy). Applicants should be aware of the various other costs they can expect during the immigration process.
In 2019 New Zealand’s Skilled visa showed processing of 90% of all applications within 10 months of receipt, and Australia’s Independent Skills migration program stated that 90% of applications were processed within 6 months of receipt. Processing times change often, so check the current Australian visa processing times before you plan.
Other Immigration Options
Both of these programs are intended for high-skilled workers and to address skill shortages without a connection to either Australia or New Zealand. If the applicant has ties to the country, for example they completed their studies in Australia or they have a job offer in New Zealand, then they may have additional options.
Australia, for example, also manages the 190 state sponsored visa or the 491 skilled work regional visa (which replaced the 489 visa in November 2019), another program within the skilled category which prioritizes foreign nationals with a state or family sponsor. In 2019 New Zealand also generously favoured people who work in an area of absolute skills shortage, work outside of Auckland or who are paid the high remuneration threshold.
As well, Australia operates several immigration programs for employer sponsored programs who have a business to support their application. There are visas available to those with an employer nomination (482 Skills in Demand visa, which replaced the TSS visa, 186 ENS visa and 494 regional employer sponsored visa, which replaced the 187 RSMS visa), to those from certain regions, and for those with special skills.
New Zealand also has a range of employer assisted visas, mainly the Specific Purpose Work visa, Essential Skills Work visa, Long Term Skill Shortage List Work visa and the Talent Work Visa (Accredited Employer). The Essential Skills, Long Term Skill Shortage List and Talent work visas have since closed: since 2022 most employer-assisted work in New Zealand is through the Accredited Employer Work Visa.
If you would like to learn more about your own eligibility for Australia or New Zealand immigration, book a consultation or complete one of our free online assessments. One of our registered migration agents or licensed advisers will review your eligibility and contact you to discuss your options!
If you would like to find out more about your skilled migration pathways to Australia and New zealand or discuss your visa options further , please contact VisaEnvoy, Australian migration agents and immigration lawyers in Melbourne on 03 9521 7577 or book a meeting.
