two woman and a man sitting at work table working

2026 has recently seen more updates and clarifications regarding the changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) announced by Immigration New Zealand.

The introduction of 2 new pathways:
- the Skilled Work Experience Pathway
- the Trades and Technician Pathway
more points for New Zealand qualifications
shorter New Zealand skilled work experience required under the Points-based pathway

These changes are set to come into effect in late August 2026.

Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Explained

The Trades and Technician Pathway list
- Migrants employed in these occupations are eligible for this pathway if they hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification and 4 years of directly relevant skilled work experience obtained after qualification, including 1.5 years in New Zealand earning the SMC median wage.
The Amber list
- Migrants working in these occupations are not eligible for the Trades and Technician Pathway and can only apply for the Skilled Work Experience Pathway if they have at least 5 years of relevant work experience in New Zealand, including 2 years of skilled work experience earning at least 1.2 times the SMC median wage. They can still access the current SMC category.
The Red list
- Migrants working in these occupations cannot use these new pathways.
- They will only be able to apply for residence under the SMC if they can claim 6 points under the existing pathway. This may be achieved by:
  - earning at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage
  - holding a bachelor’s Level 7 qualification or higher
  - or having a recognised occupational registration.
  - They must also meet the required skilled work experience in New Zealand.

The following Changes will apply to all SMC pathways from late August 2026, including:

Median wage requirements simplified
Migrants applying based on their work experience will not need to meet the latest SMC median wage when they apply for residence.
Instead, they must meet the SMC median wage rate (or the rate for their pathway) in effect at the time they began to gain their New Zealand skilled work experience.

This means that an applicant applying for residence based on their work experience will need to earn the median wage that was in place at the time they started working in New Zealand.
Grace period for some median wage calculations:
If a migrant starts skilled work within five months of their work visa being issued, the wage threshold in effect on the visa’s grant date will apply, even if the median wage has since risen.
Clarification of qualification requirements:
Migrants who claim points for Level 8 or 9 qualifications must also possess a bachelor’s degree (which may be earned in any country).

Those claiming 5 points for a New Zealand Level 9 master’s degree are not subject to this requirement, whereas applicants claiming 6 points for a New Zealand master’s degree must hold a bachelor’s degree.
Longer English test validity for some migrants:
English language test results will remain valid for five years for applicants with current occupational registration.
New occupational registration recognised:
Statutory Accountants in New Zealand who are qualified and hold membership with Certified Practising Accountants Australia are awarded 6 points under the SMC.
Another Notable Change:
From 2027, migrants who need up to an additional 12 months of skilled work experience will be able to apply for another Accredited Employer Work Visa so they can complete the skilled work experience required to apply for residence.

{Original Source: Immigration New Zealand}

Overall, these changes open additional residence pathways for migrants who may not currently have a pathway, so a positive move by the Immigration Minister.

For more information about your individual Residence application, please contact us.