New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Changes Take Effect

24 August 2026. New Zealand. Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) residence visa are now in effect.

Main changes

• New Zealand qualifications get 1 more point than equivalent overseas qualifications.
• Claiming points for a Level 8–9 qualification requires a bachelor’s degree, and claiming 6 points for a New Zealand master’s needs at least 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand.
• Trades and Technician pathway: at least 4 years of relevant post-qualification experience, including 1.5 years in New Zealand.
• Skilled Work Experience pathway: 5 years in total, including 2 years in New Zealand.
• Wage rule: you only need to keep the median wage threshold that applied when you started skilled work.

What it means for you

Studying in New Zealand now carries a clearer advantage for residence points, but only for full-time, in-country study.

Sources

• Immigration New Zealand: Further SMC changes from August 2026

News summary published 28 September 2026. Policies can change quickly after publication. Check the linked sources for the latest position. This is general information, not legal advice.