Skilled Migrant Category Visa: New Pathways and Updates for 2026

Last updated: 11 March 2026

This page shares the latest updates to the Immigration New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. If you have questions about how these changes may affect your plans, talk to IDP’s migration experts for personalised guidance.

New pathway details

• Occupation lists are now confirmed for the two new Skilled Migrant Category pathways.

• The Trades and Technician pathway now has specific qualification, work experience, and wage requirements.

New wage rules

• The SMC median wage increased to NZD $35.00 per hour.

• Skill level 4 and 5 jobs now require NZD $52.50 per hour.

• From late August 2026, applicants can use the wage threshold that applied when they started skilled work, even if wage rates increase later.

Income points changes

• You must earn NZD $70.00 per hour to claim 4 income points.

Eligibility updates

• New Zealand qualifications will receive stronger points recognition from August 2026.

• Red and amber occupation lists now affect who can use some SMC pathways.

Other confirmed changes

• English test results will stay valid for 5 years for applicants with recognised occupational registration.

• Accountants with CPA Australia membership will have a new recognised registration pathway.

• A future Accredited Employer Work Visa extension is planned for eligible workers still completing SMC work requirements.

Occupation lists for the new SMC pathways are now confirmed

More details have now been released for the two new Skilled Migrant Category pathways first announced in September 2025.

This includes the confirmed occupation list for the Trades and Technician pathway, plus new red and amber lists that affect who can use the new pathways.

This means the September 2025 announcement is now more specific, because eligible occupations are no longer just proposed but identified more clearly.

Trades and Technician pathway now has confirmed occupation rules

The Trades and Technician pathway will apply to selected ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupations.

To qualify, you must:

• work in an eligible trade or technician occupation.

• hold a Level 4 or higher qualification.

• have 4 years of directly relevant post-qualification experience.

• include 1.5 years in New Zealand paid at the SMC median wage.

This is slightly more specific than the September 2025 announcement, which referred more broadly to 18 months of New Zealand work experience.

Red and amber lists will affect who can use the new pathways

Some occupations will have extra restrictions under the new SMC system.

• Red list occupations cannot use the two new pathways.

• Amber list occupations can use the Skilled Work Experience pathway, but with extra conditions..

If your job is on the amber list, you must also have:

• 5 years of relevant work experience in New Zealand

• including 2 years paid at 1.2 times the SMC median wage.

These lists were added to manage immigration risk and may change over time.

Wage rates increased 

The SMC median wage increased on 9 March 2026, so some applicants now need a higher pay rate to qualify.

Your job or job offer must meet the wage requirement when you submit your EOI and residence application. The same wage level also applies if you want to claim points for income or skilled work experience.

Current hourly wage thresholds are:

• ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3: NZD $35.00 per hour

• ANZSCO skill levels 4 to 5: NZD $52.50 per hour

• Jobs not listed in ANZSCO: NZD $52.50 per hour

These rates are based on New Zealand’s updated median wage settings.

However, from late August 2026, a new wage rule will make this easier for applicants already building work experience.

If you begin gaining skilled work experience, you only need to meet the wage threshold that applied when that work period started. You must maintain at least that wage when applying for residence, but you will not be required to meet a later higher threshold if the median wage increases again.

A 5-month grace period will also apply if your work visa is granted before a wage increase. If you begin skilled work within 5 months of visa approval, the earlier wage threshold can still be used.

This reduces uncertainty for people planning their residence timeline.

Higher pay is needed if you want to claim income points

If you want to claim SMC points based on your income, you must earn more than the basic wage threshold. The higher the points you want to claim, the higher your pay must be.

From 9 March 2026, the hourly rates are:

• 3 points: at least NZD $52.50 per hour

• 4 points: at least NZD $70.00 per hour

• 6 points: at least NZD $105.00 per hour

For example, if you want to claim 4 points for income, your pay must be at least NZD $70.00 an hour.

If you also use New Zealand skilled work experience to claim points, you must keep this pay rate during the full work period you count for your application.

Qualification rules are now more detailed

The qualification changes announced in September 2025 now include clearer evidence rules.

To claim qualification points, you must provide:

• your qualification certificate

• an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if your overseas qualification is not exempt

If you claim points for a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification, you must also hold a bachelor’s degree, unless you are claiming points for a qualifying New Zealand master’s degree that already meets exemption rules.

From August 2026, qualifications completed in New Zealand will also receive stronger recognition under SMC points settings, including one additional point compared with many equivalent overseas qualifications.

English test validity will be extended for some applicants

From late August 2026, English language test results will stay valid for 5 years for applicants with recognised occupational registration.

This may help applicants who already meet registration requirements and want more flexibility when applying.

Accountants will have a new recognised registration pathway

From late August 2026, accountants with membership in CPA Australia will be recognised under the SMC pathway if they can work as a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand.

This adds a new recognised registration option under SMC.

AEWV extension is planned for people still completing SMC work requirements

A future change is planned for 2027.

It will allow some people on an Immigration New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa to extend their visa if they need up to 12 more months of skilled work experience before applying for residence.

_Sources:

Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category to come into effect in August 2026

Pay rates for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa