Skilled Migrant Visa

Yes. One of the main benefits of the skilled migrant residence visa NZ is that you can include your partner and dependent children (aged 24 and under) in your application. If approved, they also gain resident status, allowing them to work and study in New Zealand as domestic students.

Processing times vary, but Immigration New Zealand aims to process the majority of straightforward SMC visa applications within 6 to 10 weeks. However, applications with missing documents or those requiring complex verification (e.g., external qualification assessments) may take several months.

The Green List and the Skilled Migrant Category are separate pathways. The Green List is for specific roles identified as being in high demand (like doctors or engineers) and often offers a “Straight to Residence” option. The SMC resident visa is a broader category for other skilled professionals who may not be on the Green List but can demonstrate their value through high income, qualifications, or professional registration.

Eligibility requires meeting both the point threshold and standard criteria. You are eligible if you:

1. Are 55 years old or younger.
2. Meet the English language requirements (e.g., IELTS 6.5).
3. Have a skilled job offer from an accredited employer that pays at or above median wage rate..
4. Can claim 6 eligibility points through qualifications, income, or registration, plus NZ work experience.

The main “new rule” is the simplified 6-point system, which replaced the old 180-point threshold. It is further being streamlined in August 2026. At present:

• There is no cap on the number of people who can gain residence (no more annual quota).
• You must hold a skilled job or job offer.
• Processing is streamlined for those who clearly meet the 6-point threshold.

No, generally you cannot. Under the current criteria, you must have a valid skilled job or a genuine job offer from an Accredited Employer in New Zealand to apply. Unlike previous versions of the visa, the current SMC visa NZ pathway is designed for those who have already secured employment.

You need exactly 6 points to be eligible for the SMC resident visa. You can claim these points from one skill category (Income, Qualification, or NZ Registration) and combine them with points for skilled work experience in New Zealand (1 point per year, up to 3 years).

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely. It is New Zealand’s primary pathway for experienced professionals. To qualify, you must be 55 or under, meet health and character standards, and earn 6 points under the new points-based system.

Applicants claiming points for any Level 8 or Level 9 qualification must also hold a bachelor’s degree.
The only exception is applicants with a Level 9 master’s degree gained in New Zealand, who do not
need to provide evidence of a bachelor’s degree. Where an applicant provides appropriate evidence
of a bachelor’s degree, they can get 6 points and have a straight to residence pathway. Where an
applicant does not provide evidence of a bachelor’s degree, they can get 5 points and must have 1 year
of skilled work experience in New Zealand.

Yes. Applicants with a New Zealand Level 9 master’s qualification do not need to show evidence of a
bachelor’s degree to claim 5 qualification points. They can claim 6 points if they have a NZ Level 9
master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree (from any country).

Yes. The bachelor’s degree requirement applies to all Level 8 and Level 9 qualifications. The only
exception is people who have gained a Level 9 master’s degree in New Zealand who wish to claim 5
rather than 6 points for their master’s degree.

The new residence pathways are designed to provide a pathway for skilled migrants that support New
Zealand’s economic growth. Where roles have indicators of immigration risk, including role inflation,
wage recycling and migrant exploitation, they have been placed on the red or amber lists. Occupations
were determined based on risk indicator data and frontline experience.
Officials looked at a range of data, including:

• processing data (such as declined Job Checks, AEWV visas and residence applications)
• risk indicators through the Accredited Employer Risk Monitoring and Review
• wage rates for the role
• rates of Migrant Exploitation Protection Visas
• Operational frontline insights.

Immigration risk is dynamic and it’s important that these lists shift to reflect our most up to date
understanding of risk in the system. A regular process will be run for considering what roles are on the
Disclaimer: These answers are accurate as at 5 March 2026.
lists and whether there is a need to add or remove roles. Relevant stakeholders will be consulted for
their input.

Migrants no longer need to meet the current SMC median wage at the time of applying for residence.
They only need to maintain the SMC median wage that was in effect when they began to accrue their
skilled work experience in New Zealand.

If an applicant begins to accrue their skilled work experience in New Zealand within five months of
their work visa being approved. The SMC median wage in effect at the time their work visa was granted
will apply.

Initially, ANZSCO will be used for the new SMC. INZ will introduce the National Occupation List (NOL)
into residence categories once the full transition is complete.

The timeline for when this will happen is not yet confirmed.

Currently, NOL occupations aren’t yet integrated into SMC and therefore will not be on the red or
amber lists. However, as we have not transitioned fully to the NOL, this may change as the transition
progresses.

Transitioning fully to the NOL is a significant change and will take time to complete. INZ will introduce
the NOL gradually, rather than all at once. More information will be shared as the transition
progresses.

This will mean they have two pathways. Officials will be completing the second part of the skilled
residence review in 2026 which will focus on the Green List.