Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa announced
The Government has announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa that will help employers retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth.
Two new residence pathways will be introduced under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa.
- Skilled work experience pathway — for migrants in skilled roles ( skill level 1 to 3) with at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including 2 years in New Zealand earning at least 1.1 times the median wage.
- Trades and technician pathway — for migrants in specified trades or technician roles who hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification and have at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 18 months in New Zealand paid at or above the median wage.
In addition, applicants will still need to meet other requirements for residence such as health, character and the English language requirement.
These pathways are designed to better reflect the value of practical skills and migrants’ contribution to New Zealand’s workforce. Additional eligibility criteria will apply to certain occupations to manage immigration risk and ensure the pathways remain targeted to genuine skill needs.
The changes also include increased points for New Zealand university-level qualifications, making it easier for graduates to transition to residence. This supports the International Education Plan for Growth by recognising the value of local qualifications and encouraging international students to study here. Where an applicant is claiming points for an overseas qualification, it must be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) through an International Qualification Assessment (IQA), or be recognised on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment, to confirm it is comparable to the relevant New Zealand qualification standard.
Applicants claiming points for a post-graduate qualification must also hold an under-graduate degree, except for those with a doctoral degree or migrants claiming 5-points for a New Zealand master’s degree.
The New Zealand work experience requirements will be modestly reduced for some current pathways. This change reduces the amount of New Zealand work experience required for most migrants, from a maximum of 3 years to a maximum of 2 years. This helps improve the international competitiveness of the SMC settings to better attract and retain skilled and talented migrants.
Other changes also include removing the requirement to have an increased wage rate when applying for residence. Instead, migrants will only need to maintain the same median wage rate throughout their required period of New Zealand work experience.
These changes come into effect in August 2026, and we will provide detailed information closer to the time.
The announcement forms part of the Government’s Going for Growth programme, which includes actions to refine the Accredited Employer Work Visa, improve education outcomes, and support young job seekers into employment or training.
Summary of the changes to SMC
| Points | Current SMC settings | Length of NZ work experience to reach 6 points | New SMC settings | Length of NZ work experience to reach 6 points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Qualification: Registration: Income: | You do not need to claim points from work experience. | Qualification: New Zealand master’s degree (with a bachelor’s degree) Registration: Income: | You do not need to claim points from work experience. |
| 5 | Qualification: Registration: | 1 year | Qualification: New Zealand master’s degree (without a bachelor’s degree) New Zealand honours degree, post-graduate diploma or post-graduate certificate (each with a bachelor’s degree) New Zealand bachelor’s degree Registration: | 1 year |
| 4 | Qualification: Registration: Income: | 2 years | Qualification: Bachelor’s degree gained outside New Zealand Registration: Income: | 1.5 years |
| 3 | Qualification: Registration: Income: | 3 years | Registration: Income: | 2 years |
| Does not apply | Wage assessment Relevant wage rate assessed at start of required New Zealand work experience and at residence application. | Does not apply | Wage assessment Removed requirement for relevant wage to be met when applying for residence. Instead, relevant wage rate must be maintained throughout the required period of NZ work experience through to residence. | Does not apply |
Table 2 contains information about new pathways and eligibility requirements. These pathways will open in August 2026 — they are not available under the current Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa policy.
| New pathways and job lists | Eligibility requirements |
|---|---|
| Trades and technician pathway | To apply under this pathway, you must:
A table listing the specific trades and technicians qualifications will be published on our website in the coming months. |
| Skilled work experience pathway | To apply under this pathway, you must:
|
| Red list | Red list occupations will be excluded from the new skilled work experience and trades and technicians pathways. Migrants applying for these roles may still be eligible under other SMC pathways, for example Bachelor’s or above qualification or 1.5 times the median wage. |
| Amber list | Occupations on the amber list will have additional eligibility criteria to access the skilled work experience pathway, these occupations will not be eligible for the trades and technician pathway. |
Job or job offer and other requirements
All SMC applicants must also continue to have either current skilled employment or an offer of skilled employment at the relevant wage rate to be granted residence. They must also meet other eligibility requirements for residence, such as character, health and English language.
Article form: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/investor-category/