The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers three residence pathways for people working in skilled roles in New Zealand – the Points Pathway, Skilled Work Experience Pathway, and Trade & Technicians Pathway. These pathways lead to the Skilled Migrant Resident Visa, which is one of New Zealand’s main skilled residence options.
Each pathway has different requirements, and the right one for you will depend on your occupation, experience, qualifications, and pay level.
To be able to apply, you will need to have a skilled job offer, or current skilled employment, with an Accredited Employer for at least 30 hours per week, on a permanent or 12‑month fixed‑term contract.
The Points Pathway is based on a points system where you must claim 6 points to be eligible to apply for a Skilled Migrant Resident Visa.
Have a skilled job offer or current skilled employment with an Accredited Employer
Work at least 30 hours per week on a permanent or 12‑month fixed‑term contract
Be suitably qualified for the role (through qualifications, work experience or occupational registration) as set out in ANZSCO
Be paid at least:
the SMC wage threshold for ANZSCO skill level 1–3 roles
1.5× the SMC wage threshold for ANZSCO skill level 4–5 roles
Meet health, character, and English language requirements
Be aged 55 or under
You need 6 points in total. You must claim your core points from qualifications or occupational registration or income, and can top up with skilled work experience in New Zealand if needed.
You must claim your core points from one of the following:
You can choose whichever gives you the most points.
a) Occupational registration
Your occupation must be on the list of eligible roles requiring occupational registration.
Points will be awarded based on years of training required to gain registration (as shown on the list of roles):
b) Recognised qualification
You may claim points for a qualification equivalent to Level 7 Bachelor’s degree or higher. Qualifications from outside New Zealand will need to be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as equivalent to a New Zealand qualification, in order to claim points, unless they are on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment.
Points awarded:
You can claim points, even if your degree is not relevant for the role you have been offered.
If you have a non-degree qualification at NZQF Level 7 or below, you will not be able to claim points under the new points system.
Points awarded for higher income levels:
Skilled work experience in New Zealand (top-up points)
You can claim up to 3 points for skilled work experience in New Zealand.
Your skilled work experience must be paid at least:
You can combine your skill indicator points with NZ skilled work experience, to reach the required 6 points.
Important:
If claiming income + NZ work experience → you must show you earned the required income throughout the entire period.
If claiming occupational registration + NZ work experience → you must have held registration throughout the entire period.
From 24th August 2026, the points you can earn through your qualifications, and the number of years’ of Skilled Work Experience you need to top this up, will be changing.
Recognised qualifications (Points awarded, effective from 24th August 2026):
You can claim points even if your qualification is not directly relevant to your job. Qualifications below a Level 7 Bachelors degree do not qualify for points.
Skilled work experience in New Zealand (Points awarded, effective from 24th August 2026):
Points can be claimed as follows (from 24th August 2026):
If you are claiming 6 points from a single skill indicator (qualification, income, or occupational registration) and your skilled employment is based on contracts for services, you must complete at least 1 year of skilled work experience in New Zealand in the 2 years before you apply.
How to claim 6 Points from 24th August 2026
This new pathway recognises extensive skilled experience, including time spent working in New Zealand.
To qualify for the Skilled Work Experience pathway, you must:
Work in an eligible occupation with an Accredited Employer, in an ANZSCO skill level 1–3 role
Be paid at least 1.1× the SMC wage threshold
Have at least 5 years of directly relevant skilled work experience, including:
3 years of directly relevant work experience (completed in any country within the last 10 years)
2 years of directly relevant work experience in New Zealand, paid at least 1.1× the SMC wage threshold (completed within the last 4 years)
Work experience must not be self‑employment
Not work in a role on the Red List
If your role is on the Amber List, additional requirements apply:
You must be paid at least 1.2× the SMC wage threshold
You must have at least 5 years directly relevant skilled work experience in New Zealand
Of those 5 years, the last 2 years must be skilled work experience earning at least 1.2× the SMC wage threshold
This pathway provides a clear route to residence for people in eligible trade and technical occupations.
To qualify for the Trades and Technicians pathway, you must:
Work in an eligible occupation with an Accredited Employer, in an ANZSCO skill level 1–3 role that is on the Trades & Technicians occupation list
Be paid at least the SMC wage threshold
Hold a Level 4+ qualification relevant to your trade or technical occupation
Have at least 4 years directly relevant skilled work experience, gained after your qualification, including:
At least 2 years and 6 months of skilled work experience (completed in any country within the last 10 years)
18 months in New Zealand, paid at or above the SMC wage threshold (completed within the last 3 years)
Work experience must not be self‑employment
You can include your partner and dependent children in your Skilled Migrant Category application, if they meet the relevant criteria. To include a partner, you must have been living together in a genuine and stable relationship for at least 12 months. Once approved, you will all be granted residence, and your partner and children will be able to work and study in New Zealand.