Immigration New Zealand will implement Amendment Circular 2026‑16 on 24 August 2026, restructuring the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) into three distinct residence pathways:
- Points‑based pathway
- Skilled Work Experience pathway
- Trades & Technician pathway
All pathways require full‑time skilled employment (minimum 30 hours/week) with an accredited employer, on a permanent contract or a fixed‑term of at least 12 months, and the work must be genuine.
Wage thresholds
The SMC median wage, effective from 9 March 2026, is $35.00 / hour. Each pathway applies a multiplier to this base:
| Pathway | Multiplier | Required hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Points‑based (ANZSCO 1‑3) | 1.0× | $35.00 |
| Trades & Technician | 1.0× | $35.00 |
| Skilled Work Experience | 1.1× | $38.50 |
| Skilled Work Experience – Amber List | 1.2× | $42.00 |
| Points‑based – ANZSCO 4‑5 or non‑ANZSCO | 1.5× | $52.50 |
| Income points – 3 points | 1.5× | $52.50 |
| Income points – 4 points | 2.0× | $70.00 |
| Income points – 6 points | 3.0× | $105.00 |
Lock‑in rule – The wage threshold that applies is the one in force when the applicant began accruing the New Zealand skilled work experience counted toward the chosen pathway (or when invited to apply if no experience is required). If the work visa was granted within five months before that start date, the threshold at visa grant applies. The locked‑in rate remains valid as long as the applicant’s pay never falls below it and the experience stays within the look‑back window counted backwards from the residence application lodgement date.
Points‑based pathway – 6‑point requirement
Applicants must reach 6 points from the following categories (points may be combined with up to 3 points from NZ skilled work experience):
| Category | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | 6 | Doctoral degree (Level 10) or NZ master’s + bachelor’s |
| Qualification | 5 | NZ master’s alone; overseas master’s + bachelor’s; NZ bachelor’s (Level 7) |
| Qualification | 4 | Overseas bachelor’s (Level 7) |
| Income | 6 | $105 / hr (3× threshold) |
| Income | 4 | $70 / hr (2× threshold) |
| Income | 3 | $52.50 / hr (1.5× threshold) |
| NZ registration | 3‑6 | Full registration on the points schedule (varies by occupation) |
| NZ skilled work experience | 1‑3 | 1 yr (1 pt), 1.5 yr (2 pts), 2 yr (3 pts) – recent |
Skilled Work Experience pathway
- Core test: 5 points – 5 years total experience (minimum 3 years relevant + 2 years NZ skilled work).
- Wage floor: 1.1× median wage ($38.50 / hr); 1.2× for Amber List occupations ($42.00 / hr).
- NZ experience required: at least 2 years within the last 4 years.
- Overseas experience: up to 3 years (NZ‑only if on Amber List).
Trades & Technician pathway
- Open only to occupations on the Trades & Technician List (Appendix 23).
- Core test: Level 4+ qualification (NZQCF) plus 4 years post‑qualification experience:
- At least 2 years 6 months of directly relevant experience from any country.
- At least 18 months of NZ skilled work experience completed in the last 3 years.
- Wage floor: median wage ($35 / hr).
Occupation list impact
| List | Pathways available | Wage multiplier notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red List (Appendix 22) | Points‑based only | – |
| Amber List (Appendix 21) | Points‑based or Skilled Work Experience | Skilled Work Experience uses 1.2× wage; NZ‑only relevant experience |
| Trades & Technician List (Appendix 23) | All three pathways | – |
| Unlisted – ANZSCO 1‑3 | Points‑based or Skilled Work Experience | – |
| Unlisted – ANZSCO 4‑5 or non‑ANZSCO | Points‑based only (must meet 1.5× wage) | – |
If none of the SMC pathways apply, other Work‑to‑Residence routes (e.g., Green List Tier 1, Green List Tier 2 after 24 months NZ work, Care Workforce and Transport sector agreements) may be available.
Universal eligibility criteria (all pathways)
- Principal applicant must be 55 years or younger at the time of residence application.
- Minimum English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS 6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent).
- Health and character requirements apply to every applicant.
- Employment must be with an accredited employer whose accreditation is not suspended at the time of lodgement or decision.
Effect on applications lodged around 24 August 2026
- Applications submitted before 24 August 2026 are assessed under the outgoing SMC rules.
- Applications lodged on or after that date are assessed under the new three‑pathway structure.
Applicants who are close to meeting eligibility under either the old or new rules should consider the lodgement date strategically, as the newer settings may be more favorable for some occupations (e.g., the addition of the Trades & Technician pathway) while the wage multipliers for Amber List occupations may make the previous rules preferable for others.
Frequently referenced details
-
Income points on the Points‑based pathway:
- 3 points – 1.5× median wage ($52.50 / hr)
- 4 points – 2× median wage ($70.00 / hr)
- 6 points – 3× median wage ($105.00 / hr)
-
Overseas experience counts only in the Skilled Work Experience and Trades & Technician pathways, with the limits noted above. Points‑based applicants can claim points only for NZ skilled work experience.
-
Lock‑in threshold may be lower than $35 / hr if the applicant began accruing qualifying NZ experience before 9 March 2026 and has maintained that rate throughout the look‑back period.
These rules define the eligibility landscape for skilled migrants seeking New Zealand residence from 24 August 2026 onward.
Source article: www.newzealandshores.com
