New Changes to New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Coming August 2026
Immigration New Zealand has announced more details about changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) that will take effect in late August 2026. The SMC is the main pathway for skilled migrants to gain residence in New Zealand.
These updates are part of wider reforms announced in September 2025 aimed at helping employers retain skilled workers and supporting long-term economic growth.
New Residence Pathways
Trades and Technician Pathway
A new pathway has been confirmed for migrants working in trade and technician roles.
To qualify, migrants must:
Work in an ANZSCO skill level 1–3 trade or technician occupation
Hold a relevant Level 4 qualification or higher
Have at least 4 years of relevant experience after their qualification
Have at least 1.5 years of work experience in NZ earning at least the SMC median wage.
These occupations were added because they represent important skills needed in the NZ labour market.
The full list of eligible occupations is available here.
Red and Amber Occupation Lists
Two new occupation lists will help manage immigration risks and ensure migration targets genuine skill shortages.
Red List
Workers in red list occupations cannot use the new residence pathways. Instead, they must qualify through the existing SMC system by earning 6 points.
This usually requires:
Earning 1.5× the SMC median wage, or
Holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, or
Having recognised occupational registration plus skilled work experience in NZ.
Examples of red list roles include:
Retail manager
Hairdresser
Beauty therapist
Massage therapist.
Amber List
Workers in amber list occupations can apply through the Skilled Work Experience pathway but must meet extra requirements. They must have:
5 years of relevant work experience in NZ
Including 2 years earning at least 1.2x the SMC median wage.
Examples of amber list roles include:
Chef
Baker
Café or restaurant manager
ICT support technician
Hotel manager.
These lists may be updated regularly depending on immigration risk and labour market needs.
Skilled Work Experience Requirements
For SMC pathways that rely on work experience:
The experience must be directly related to the job or job offer
The role must be ANZSCO skill level 1–3
The work must meet the required wage threshold for the pathway.
Work Visa Extensions for Experience (from 2027)
From 2027, migrants on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) may be able to extend their visa by up to 12 months if they need additional skilled work experience to qualify for SMC residence
Changes to Qualification Points
Points awarded for qualifications will change:
NZ qualifications will receive one extra point compared to overseas qualifications (except in some cases such as doctoral degrees).
Applicants must provide proof of their qualification and may need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if it was obtained overseas.
Additional rules will apply for postgraduate qualifications such as Level 8 or Level 9 degrees.
Wage Requirement Changes
The wage rules will be simplified:
Migrants must meet the SMC median wage that applied when they started gaining work experience.
They no longer need to meet a higher wage threshold later when applying for residence.
A grace period will also apply if the median wage increases shortly after a visa is granted.
English Test Validity
From August 2026, English language test results will be valid for five years for applicants who have recognised occupational registration.
New Registration for Accountants
Accountants who can work as Qualified Statutory Accountants in NZ and who are members of CPA Australia will become eligible under the Skilled Migrant Category pathway.
