Skilled Migrant Category: Points, Eligibility & Process

If you're thinking about moving to New Zealand to work and eventually settle here permanently, understanding the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is essential. The SMC is your pathway to permanent residence, but it's not just about having a job—you'll need to meet specific points requirements and work experience criteria. The good news? New Zealand is making significant changes to make this process more achievable, especially from August 2026 onwards.

What is the Skilled Migrant Category?

The Skilled Migrant Category is New Zealand's primary residence visa pathway for skilled workers from overseas. It recognises your qualifications, work experience, and professional registration to determine whether you're eligible for permanent residence. Rather than a lottery system, the SMC uses a points-based framework where you need to accumulate at least 6 points to qualify.^[1]

The beauty of the SMC is its flexibility—you can build your points through different routes depending on your background. Whether you've got a university degree, professional registration, or years of relevant work experience, there's likely a pathway for you.

How the Points System Works

Current Points Framework (Until August 2026)

Right now, the SMC operates on a simplified points system introduced in 2023. To be eligible, you must accumulate at least 6 points, which can come from:^[1]

3 to 6 points based on your qualifications, professional registration, or income
1 point per year of skilled work experience in New Zealand, up to a maximum of 3 points

The key thing to understand is that you choose one main pathway—qualification, income, or registration—and you can't combine points from these categories. However, your New Zealand work experience can top up your score across any pathway.^[1]

What Qualifications Are Worth?

Your education level determines your baseline points. Here's what you can expect under the current system:

Doctoral degree: 6 points (no work experience needed)
Master's degree: 5 points (requires 1 year NZ work experience to reach 6 points)
Honours degree or postgraduate diploma: 4 points (requires 2 years NZ work experience)
Bachelor's degree or postgraduate certificate: 3 points (requires 3 years NZ work experience)

If you've got professional registration in a specified occupation (like nursing, engineering, or architecture), you can also earn points based on your training and work experience in that field.^[1]

Major Changes Coming in August 2026

The New Zealand Government is overhauling the SMC to make it more attractive to skilled workers and better aligned with our labour market needs. These changes take effect from August 2026 and are genuinely beneficial for prospective migrants.^[2]

Reduced Work Experience Requirements

One of the biggest wins is the reduction in required New Zealand work experience. For most skilled migrant pathways, you'll no longer need up to three years—the maximum will drop to two years.^[2] This means you can apply for residence much faster, making New Zealand a more competitive option compared to other countries.

For example, if you've got a bachelor's degree, you'll currently need three years of NZ work experience to reach 6 points. From August 2026, you'll only need 1.5 years.^[2]

Higher Recognition for New Zealand Qualifications

If you've studied at a New Zealand university, you're about to get a significant boost. Graduates with New Zealand university-level qualifications will receive higher points, making the transition from study to permanent residence much more straightforward.^[2] This change aligns with the Government's International Education Plan for Growth and strengthens New Zealand's appeal to international students.

Here's what's changing: a New Zealand master's degree will be worth 6 points (same as a doctoral degree), meaning you won't need any work experience to qualify for residence.^[2]

Simplified Wage Rules

Currently, you need to meet a higher wage threshold when you apply for residence. From August 2026, this changes. Instead, you'll simply need to maintain the median wage throughout your required period of New Zealand work experience.^[2] This removes a significant financial hurdle at the application stage and makes planning your residence application much easier.

Two New Residence Pathways

The Government is introducing two brand-new pathways specifically designed to recognise different types of skilled workers:^[3]

Skilled Work Experience Pathway: For workers in ANZSCO skill levels 1–3 roles with 5+ years of directly relevant experience (including at least 2 years in New Zealand)
Trades & Technician Pathway: For specified trades with Level 4+ qualifications and post-qualification experience

These new pathways expand eligibility and recognise both professional and trade skills that are valuable to our economy.^[3]

Understanding the Work Experience Component

New Zealand work experience is crucial to your SMC application. It's not just about having a job—your role needs to be in a skilled occupation, and you must be working at least 30 hours per week at the relevant median wage rate.^[4]

The good news is that from August 2026, you'll only need to maintain this wage throughout your work experience period, rather than needing to meet a higher threshold again when you apply for residence. This gives you more financial flexibility during your time in New Zealand.

Key Requirements You'll Need to Meet

Beyond points, there are standard residence requirements that apply to all SMC applicants:^[4]

Good character (police checks may be required)
Health requirements (medical examination)
English language proficiency
Current skilled employment or a job offer at the relevant wage rate

These requirements ensure that migrants can genuinely contribute to New Zealand society and won't place undue burden on our health or social services.

The SMC Application Process

Step 1: Assess Your Points

Before you apply, work out how many points you can claim. Use Immigration New Zealand's online tools to calculate your eligibility based on your qualifications, work experience, and registration status.

Step 2: Secure Skilled Employment

You'll need to be in a skilled job (or have a job offer) at the relevant median wage rate. This is a non-negotiable requirement—you can't apply for SMC residence without current employment in a skilled role.

Step 3: Meet Health and Character Standards

Arrange your medical examination and gather police certificates from any countries where you've lived for more than five years.

Step 4: Lodge Your Application

Submit your application to Immigration New Zealand with all supporting documents. Processing times vary, but having everything organised from the start speeds things up considerably.

Who Benefits Most from These 2026 Changes?

The August 2026 reforms are particularly beneficial for:^[3]

International graduates who studied at New Zealand universities
Skilled workers in trades and technical roles
Experienced professionals who've worked overseas and in New Zealand
Anyone who's been closed out of previous SMC requirements

If you're currently working in New Zealand on a work visa, these changes could significantly accelerate your pathway to permanent residence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the new pathways now?

No—the two new residence pathways start in August 2026.^[4] Until then, the current SMC settings remain in place. However, if you're planning to move to New Zealand, you can start working towards meeting the current requirements now, and you may benefit from the eased requirements when you apply.

Do I still need 6 points?

Yes, the current 6-point system remains in place until August 2026.^[4] From that date, the new pathways will offer alternative routes to residence, but the standard SMC will continue to operate alongside them.

What wage must I meet?

The wage you need to meet depends on your pathway. For the current SMC, you'll need to meet the relevant median-linked wage (such as 1.1× median for certain roles). From August 2026, you'll need to maintain the relevant median wage throughout your New Zealand work experience period.^[4]

Can I combine points from different categories?

No—under the simplified points system, you choose one main pathway (qualification, income, or registration) and can't combine skill points from these categories. However, work experience points can be added on top.^[1]

How long does SMC processing take?

Processing times vary depending on the complexity of your application and how quickly you provide supporting documents. Having everything organised and meeting all requirements from the start significantly reduces processing delays.

What happens if I don't meet 6 points?

If you can't meet the 6-point threshold, the SMC isn't the right pathway for you. However, other residence visas may be available, such as the Green List pathway (for in-demand occupations) or employer-sponsored visas. Consider seeking advice from an Immigration New Zealand-approved advisor.

Preparing for Your SMC Application

If you're thinking about applying, start preparing now. Gather your qualifications, get your work references organised, and ensure your employment meets the skilled occupation requirements. If you've studied in New Zealand, hold onto those transcripts—they'll be valuable from August 2026 onwards.

Consider working with an Immigration New Zealand-approved advisor who can assess your individual circumstances and help you maximise your points. They can also advise on timing—whether it's better to apply under current settings or wait for August 2026 changes.

The pathway to permanent residence in New Zealand is achievable for skilled workers, and the 2026 changes are making it more accessible than ever. Whether you're already working here or planning your move, understanding the SMC points system is your first step towards building a permanent future in Aotearoa.

Sources & References

Simplified points system in depth — mbie.govt.nz
Skilled Migrant Category Residence points systems updates for 2026 — newzealandshores.com
Major Changes Announced for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa — fragomen.com
SMC 2026: 2 New Skilled Migrant Residence Paths + Eased Rules — sharmalaw.co.nz
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa announced — immigration.govt.nz