There’s a lot to unpack with the upcoming changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa. We’ve posted extensively about these updates; in this post, we bring everything together. Prepare yourself for some long reading!

There are two new ways to qualify for residence are coming to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa, as well as changes to the existing points-based pathway.

1. Skilled work experience pathway

One of the major changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is the introduction of the new Skilled Work Experience Pathway.

Here's a simplified breakdown of the policy:

Need to work in a skilled role (Level 1 - 3 ANZSCO)
5 years of directly relevant work experience
2 of those years must be gained in NZ at 1.1 times the SMC median wage

Right now, if your income, qualifications or occupational registration don't quite get you to the 6 points you need for residence, you can use your skilled work experience in New Zealand to help top up your points and reach that threshold.

From 24 August 2026, things are changing. A brand new pathway is opening up that lets you qualify for residence based on your work experience alone. This sits completely separate from the existing points-based system, so think of it as a second door into residence.

To qualify, you'll need to tick all three of these boxes:

You're working in (or have a job offer for) a skilled role that sits at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3, and that role pays at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold.

You have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in a skill level 1 to 3 occupation. This experience can be from anywhere, not just New Zealand.

On top of that, you have a further 2 years of skilled work experience here in New Zealand, again in a skill level 1 to 3 occupation, and again paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold.

In short, you're looking at 5 years of skilled experience in total, with at least 2 of those years earned in New Zealand at the required pay rate.

Here's a (very) simple scenario:

Jane is an accountant with 8 years of relevant work experience gained in South Africa.

She doesn't hold a formal qualification (i.e. a degree).

She is working in NZ as a Management Accountant for an accredited NZ employer.

Jane's occupation falls under ANZSCO Level 1 (Management Accountant).

She has worked in New Zealand with the same employer for 2 years and is receiving an annual salary of $75,000.

Based on the above scenario, an applicant like Jane would now qualify under the upcoming SMC instructions in August (provided she meets all other requirements).

Under the current settings, Jane would have had limited pathways to Residence (she would have had to meet much higher income requirements).

A few important things to know

If your job (or job offer) sits on the Amber List, there are some extra requirements you'll need to meet before you're eligible.

If your job is on the Red List or is an ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 occupation, this pathway won't be available to you.

And one more thing worth flagging: self-employment doesn't count as relevant work experience here, so it can't be used towards your years.

2. Trades and technician pathway

Who is this pathway for?

In short, it is for trades professionals. To qualify, you need to tick all four of these boxes:

You work in an eligible trades or technician job, and you are paid at least the SMC wage threshold.
You hold a relevant qualification that is Level 4 or higher (or something comparable to Level 4).
You have at least 2.5 years of relevant work experience, gained after you finished your qualification, in a job that sits at ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 or 3.
On top of that, you have another 1.5 years of skilled work experience here in New Zealand, again paid at the SMC wage threshold.

A couple of quick definitions, because the wording matters here.

Relevant work experience just means experience that connects to your current job or the job you have been offered.

Skilled work experience means the same thing, but it has to be done in New Zealand and paid at the required amount.

One important thing to remember: you cannot count self-employment as relevant work experience.

Click here for a full list of eligible trades and technician occupations

A bit more about qualification requirements

Your qualification needs to be Level 4 or higher and recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF). How that gets checked depends on where you studied.

If your qualification is from New Zealand

It needs to have at least 120 credits. The 120 credits do not have to come from a single qualification. You can combine more than one, as long as the lower qualification was a prerequisite for the higher one.

If your qualification is from overseas

Overseas qualifications need an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) that confirms they are Level 4 or higher. The 120-credit rule does not apply here.

3. Updates to the existing SMC

From 24 August 2026, the points system for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is changing. If you're planning to apply for residence through the SMC, here's what you need to know.

How the points system currently works

Right now, to claim points towards residence, you need to meet at least one of these three requirements:

You hold an occupational registration that requires at least two years of training (think trades like electricians or plumbers, or professions like accountants)
You have a bachelor's degree or higher, at level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualification and Credit Framework (NZQCF)
You're paid at least 1.5 times the median wage

You need a total of 6 points and a skilled job or job offer to apply.

What's changing from 24 August 2026

The good news is that the changes make it easier to reach that 6-point threshold. Here's what's new:

You'll get extra points if you hold a New Zealand qualification
You'll get more points for overseas bachelor's degrees and postgraduate certificates
You'll be able to reach 6 points with less New Zealand work experience required

In practice, this means migrants with overseas qualifications, and those who've studied in New Zealand, may find it easier to qualify for residence than under the current settings.

Questions about how this affects you?

Every situation is different, and these changes may open up new options depending on your qualifications and work history. If you'd like to talk through what this means for you or your business, get in touch with us. We're always happy to help.

Contact us today for a confidential chat or fill in the form below.