From 24 August 2026, New Zealand study will become more valuable under the Skilled Migrant Category because a qualification completed in New Zealand will earn one more residence point than the equivalent overseas qualification. A New Zealand bachelor’s degree will be worth 5 of the 6 points required, while a New Zealand master’s degree held together with a bachelor’s degree will be worth the full 6 points.
How the study-to-residence pathway works
There is no separate “study to residence visa.” The pathway works by combining a New Zealand qualification, post-study work rights, skilled employment, and Skilled Migrant Category residence points.
| Stage | Visa | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Study | Student visa | A New Zealand qualification worth 4 to 6 residence points under SR3.25.15 |
| 2. Work | Post Study Work Visa | Up to 3 years of open work rights to secure skilled employment and gain New Zealand skilled work experience |
| 3. Residence | Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | Residence once the applicant has 6 points and qualifying skilled employment at or above the SMC wage threshold |
SMC points for qualifications from 24 August 2026
The Skilled Migrant Category requires 6 points. Applicants can claim 3 to 6 points from one main skill category, such as qualification, income, or New Zealand occupational registration, plus up to 3 points from skilled work experience in New Zealand.
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Level 10 doctoral degree, New Zealand or overseas | 6 |
| Level 9 New Zealand master’s degree + bachelor’s degree from any country | 6 |
| Level 9 New Zealand master’s degree on its own | 5 |
| Level 8 New Zealand honours / postgraduate diploma or certificate + bachelor’s degree | 5 |
| Level 7 New Zealand bachelor’s degree | 5 |
| Level 9 overseas master’s + bachelor’s degree | 5 |
| Level 8 overseas honours / postgraduate diploma or certificate + bachelor’s degree | 4 |
| Level 7 overseas bachelor’s degree | 4 |
The one-point difference can materially shorten the pathway.
A graduate with a New Zealand bachelor’s degree receives 5 points and needs only 1 year of skilled work in New Zealand to reach 6 points. A person with an overseas bachelor’s degree receives 4 points and needs 1 year and 6 months of New Zealand skilled work.
A New Zealand master’s degree can provide the full 6 points when held together with a bachelor’s degree and studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks. In that case, the applicant does not need New Zealand skilled work experience before applying for residence, but still needs qualifying skilled employment.
Skilled work experience points
| New Zealand skilled work experience | Points | Must be completed within |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1 | Last 2 years |
| 1 year 6 months | 2 | Last 3 years |
| 2 years | 3 | Last 4 years |
The maximum New Zealand skilled work experience most applicants need has dropped from 3 years to 2 years.
Post Study Work Visa as the bridge to residence
A degree-level qualification at Level 7 or above, studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks, can lead to a Post Study Work Visa with open work rights.
Master’s and doctoral graduates receive 3 years. Bachelor’s and Level 8 graduates receive a visa matching the length of their study, meaning a standard 3-year bachelor’s degree can lead to a 3-year work visa.
Open work rights allow graduates to work for any employer while searching for the skilled role needed for residence. Once the graduate secures qualifying employment with an accredited employer, each month worked at or above the required wage can count toward SMC skilled work experience points.
Two further changes are scheduled for 16 November 2026:
- a new Short-term Graduate Work Visa giving eligible Level 5 to 7 graduates 6 months of open work rights to find employment;
- extended Post Study Work Visa eligibility for Level 7 graduate diploma holders who also hold a bachelor’s degree.
A further planned change in 2027 would allow some Accredited Employer Work Visa holders to extend that visa by up to 12 months to finish the skilled work experience needed for the SMC.
Example: New Zealand bachelor’s degree route
A typical bachelor’s degree route may look like this:
- Years 1 to 3: complete a Level 7 bachelor’s degree in New Zealand, worth 5 points.
- Year 4: hold a 3-year Post Study Work Visa, secure skilled employment with an accredited employer, and complete 12 months of skilled work for 1 additional point.
- Early year 5: lodge the SMC application with 6 points.
The skilled role should be ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 and paid at least the SMC wage threshold, currently the median wage of $35.00 per hour.
Straightforward, complete applications are currently decided in 6 to 8 weeks.
Example: New Zealand master’s degree route
A typical master’s route may look like this:
- Years 1 to 2: complete a bachelor’s degree overseas, then complete a New Zealand master’s degree studied full-time for at least 30 weeks.
- After graduation: use the 3-year Post Study Work Visa to secure skilled employment with an accredited employer.
- Once the job offer meets SMC requirements, apply for residence with 6 points already secured.
This route does not require New Zealand skilled work experience first, provided the applicant has the full 6 qualification points and qualifying skilled employment.
Wage rules
For ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupations, the SMC wage threshold is the median wage, currently $35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026.
Two 2026 changes reduce the risk of wage thresholds changing mid-pathway:
- The wage threshold is locked at the rate that applied when the applicant started accruing qualifying skilled work experience.
- A 5-month grace period applies: if the applicant begins skilled work within 5 months of the work visa being granted, the threshold from the visa grant date is used, even if the median wage has increased since.
Skilled employment must be:
- full-time, with at least 30 guaranteed hours per week;
- permanent or fixed-term for at least 12 months;
- genuine;
- with an accredited employer whose accreditation is not suspended.
Family and temporary status considerations
Post Study Work Visa holders can support a partner for a work visa and dependent children as domestic students. The family can also be included in the eventual resident visa application.
Depending on the chosen programme, family members may also be able to accompany the student during the study stage.
If a temporary visa expires while an SMC application is being processed, an SMC Interim Visa valid for up to 24 months can keep the applicant lawfully in New Zealand.
Planning before enrolment
Course selection is critical. A qualification below degree Level 7, or one studied for fewer than 30 weeks full-time, may not unlock a Post Study Work Visa.
Only one Post Study Work Visa is granted per person, so the qualification used for that visa needs to support the applicant’s long-term residence plan.
Before paying a deposit to an education provider, applicants should check:
- whether the course delivers the SMC points expected;
- whether the course supports a Post Study Work Visa;
- whether the intended occupation is ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3;
- whether the likely job can meet the $35.00 per hour median wage threshold;
- whether the employer will need to be accredited;
- whether the timeline provides enough time to reach 6 SMC points.
The pathway is strongest where the qualification, post-study work rights, intended occupation, wage level, and residence points are planned together before enrolment.
Source article: www.newzealandshores.com
