Skilled Migrant Category in New Zealand

Skilled Migrant Category · New Zealand visa route

skilled · last reviewed 2026-10-11 · all New Zealand routes

Since 24 August 2026, SMC has three pathways: Points-based, Skilled Work Experience, and Trades and Technician. Six points are required only for the Points-based pathway; the other two have their own occupation, qualification, wage and work-history tests.

Route overview

Points, skilled work experience, or trades and technician

Typical timeline / duration: Indefinite residence once approved; travel conditions are separate.

Important notes

Be 55 or younger and meet the applicable English, health, character and family-relationship requirements.
Hold genuine full-time skilled employment or an offer from an accredited employer, meeting the occupation, wage and employment-duration conditions.
Meet one pathway: six points from one skill category plus eligible New Zealand work if needed; Skilled Work Experience requirements; or Trades and Technician requirements.
Submit an Expression of Interest for the qualifying pathway, then provide supporting evidence when invited to apply.
Implemented on 24 August 2026: the two experience pathways and revised qualification/work-experience points are operating, not merely future announcements.
Most applicants retain the SMC wage threshold from when qualifying New Zealand work began; the five-month work-visa grace period may apply. If no experience is needed, the invitation-date rate applies. Six-point contractors have an additional one-year New Zealand work requirement and a current invitation-date wage test.
Overseas qualifications used for points generally need an IQA unless exempt. For Level 8/9 claims, a supporting bachelor's certificate and transcript are generally needed, except the five-point New Zealand master's claim. The supporting bachelor's does not itself need an IQA; combined-degree evidence rules also apply.
The new experience pathways exclude self-employment. A genuine, continuing New Zealand-based job remains necessary; neither a qualification nor reaching a time threshold guarantees residence.

Preparation checklist

Select the pathway and check the exact occupation code against the Amber, Red or Trades and Technician list where relevant.
Create a dated work-history timeline separating relevant experience from the additional New Zealand period; avoid double-counting.
Collect qualification certificates, supporting degree transcripts and the required IQA or assessment exemption.
Match contracts, job descriptions and earnings records to the wage rate and employment dates you are relying on.
Prepare identity, English, medical, police and family evidence and retain the submitted EOI and invitation.

Three SMC pathways — in force since 24 August 2026

Pathway	Core requirements
Points-based	Six points from one category (qualification, recognised registration or income), topped up with eligible New Zealand skilled work if needed.
Skilled Work Experience	Three years of directly relevant experience plus a separate two years of skilled New Zealand work within the previous four years: at least five years total. ANZSCO 1–3 job, not on the Red List; pay at least 1.1x the applicable SMC wage threshold. Amber List jobs need 1.2x and the initial three years in New Zealand.
Trades and Technician	Listed Appendix 23 occupation; relevant Level 4+ qualification; 2.5 years of relevant experience plus a separate 18 months of New Zealand skilled work within the previous three years: four years total, all after qualification. Pay at least the applicable SMC wage threshold.

Both experience pathways exclude self-employment. The initial relevant-experience component must be within the previous ten years. New Zealand trade qualifications need 120 eligible credits, potentially including prerequisite qualifications; overseas qualifications require an IQA confirming Level 4+ but not a separate 120-credit test.

Current points-based qualification examples

Recognised qualification type	Points
Doctorate; or New Zealand master's with a bachelor's (including combined degrees)	6
New Zealand master's without a supporting bachelor's; overseas master's with a bachelor's; New Zealand Level 8 honours/postgraduate diploma/certificate with a bachelor's; New Zealand bachelor's	5
Overseas Level 8 honours/postgraduate diploma/certificate with a bachelor's; overseas bachelor's	4

These examples require the recognised qualification type, not just a matching level. Overseas IQAs recognising only a level can instead yield 5/4/3 points at Levels 10/9/8. A six-point New Zealand master's claim also requires at least 30 weeks of full-time New Zealand master's study.

New Zealand work top-ups

Eligible skilled work	Extra points
1 year within the previous 2 years	1
18 months within the previous 3 years	2
2 years within the previous 4 years	3

Qualification, registration and income base categories cannot be combined. Income claims use 1.5x / 2x / 3x the applicable SMC wage threshold for 3 / 4 / 6 points. Recognised registration points follow the specific occupation's instructions. Six-point service contractors have the additional work rule described above.

Wage dates and evidence

The SMC reference rate is NZD 35.00/hour from 9 March 2026; applicable earlier rates may remain valid. At this reference rate, 1.1x is NZD 38.50, 1.2x NZD 42.00 and 1.5x NZD 52.50. The correct rate depends on the pathway, occupation, qualifying start date, grace period and invitation date. Work-experience windows are counted back from the residence application, not simply the EOI.

Gather contracts, job descriptions and tax/pay records proving role, dates, hours and pay; qualification/registration evidence; and identity, English, health, character, translations and family evidence where required. The job offer must be available and ongoing and genuinely need to be based in New Zealand. Residence is indefinite, but travel conditions and later Permanent Resident Visa eligibility are separate.