Date

2026/03/09

Upcoming Changes to New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) in 2026

New Zealand continues to refine its immigration system to ensure it attracts and retains skilled migrants who can contribute to the country’s long-term economic growth. The Government has now released further details about upcoming changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa, which will take effect from late August 2026.

These changes are designed to simplify the system, create new pathways to residence, and make it easier for skilled workers already contributing to New Zealand’s economy to secure long-term residency.

Below is an overview of the key changes and what they may mean for prospective migrants.

The Skilled Migrant Category: New Zealand’s Main Residency Pathway

The Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa remains the primary pathway to permanent residency for skilled migrants in New Zealand. In September 2025, the Government announced several reforms aimed at helping employers retain skilled workers and ensuring immigration settings better reflect the country’s labour market needs.

The changes include:

New residence pathways for skilled migrants
Updates to qualification points
Simplified wage threshold settings
New occupation lists determining eligibility for certain pathways

These updates are intended to create a more transparent and practical immigration framework for skilled professionals.

New Trades and Technician Residence Pathway

One of the most significant updates is the introduction of a Trades and Technician residence pathway. This pathway is aimed at migrants working in skilled trades and technical roles that are critical to New Zealand’s economy.

To qualify for this pathway, applicants must:

Be working in a specified occupation classified as ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3
Hold a relevant Level 4 qualification or higher
Have at least 4 years of directly relevant work experience gained after completing their qualification
Have at least 1.5 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand, earning at least the Skilled Migrant Category median wage

Many skilled workers in trades and technical roles previously struggled to meet residency requirements under earlier SMC settings. This new pathway is designed to provide a clearer route to residence for these essential workers.

Introduction of Red and Amber Occupation Lists

As part of the reforms, Immigration New Zealand will introduce red and amber occupation lists to help manage immigration risk and ensure pathways remain focused on genuine skill shortages.

Red List Occupations

Migrants working in occupations on the red list will not be eligible for the new residence pathways. Instead, they will only be able to apply for residency through the standard SMC points system.

To qualify, they must meet one of the following:

Earn at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage, or
Hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or
Have recognised occupational registration and the required skilled work experience in New Zealand

Examples of occupations on the red list include:

Retail Manager
Hairdresser
Beauty Therapist
Massage Therapist
Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager

Amber List Occupations

Occupations on the amber list can still qualify for the new Skilled Work Experience pathway, but additional requirements apply.

Applicants must 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

Examples of amber list occupations include:

Café or Restaurant Manager
Chef
Baker
Office Manager
ICT Support Technician
Hotel or Motel Manager

These lists will be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain aligned with labour market needs.

Skilled Work Experience Pathway Requirements

Migrants applying through the Skilled Work Experience pathway must meet several requirements.

Applicants must:

Work in a skilled occupation classified as ANZSCO level 1–3
Have at least 5 years of relevant work experience
Include 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand earning at least 1.1 times the SMC median wage

All work experience used to qualify must be directly relevant to the applicant’s current skilled role or job offer.

Changes to Qualification Points

From August 2026, qualification points under the Skilled Migrant Category will also change.

The government will introduce a system that recognises the additional value of qualifications obtained in New Zealand. In most cases, qualifications completed in New Zealand will receive one additional point compared to equivalent overseas qualifications.

Applicants claiming points for qualifications must provide:

Their qualification certificate
An International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if the qualification was obtained overseas and is not on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

Additional rules will apply for applicants claiming points for postgraduate qualifications such as Level 8 or Level 9 qualifications.

Simplified Wage Threshold Settings

The government has also simplified how wage thresholds will work.

Under the new system:

Migrants will only need to meet the SMC median wage applicable when they start their skilled work experience, and maintain that wage level when applying for residency. They will no longer be required to meet a higher wage threshold at the time of residence application.

A five-month grace period will also apply if the median wage increases after a work visa is granted but before the migrant starts working. In these cases, the wage threshold that applied when the visa was granted will still be used.

These changes aim to provide greater certainty for migrants planning their pathway to residency.

Extended English Language Test Validity

From late August 2026, English language test results will be valid for five years for applicants who hold recognised occupational registration. This change provides greater flexibility for skilled professionals who may spend several years gaining work experience before applying for residence.

New Recognised Registration for Accountants

Another update includes recognition of a new professional registration pathway for accountants.

From late August 2026, accountants who are able to undertake the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand and who hold membership with CPA Australia will be eligible under the Skilled Migrant Category pathway.

This change will help attract experienced accounting professionals to New Zealand’s workforce.

Future Ability to Extend an Accredited Employer Work Visa

Looking ahead, Immigration New Zealand also plans to introduce a new option in 2027 allowing migrants to extend their Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) for up to 12 additional months.

This extension will help migrants who are close to meeting their skilled work experience requirements for the Skilled Migrant Category residence pathway but need additional time to qualify.

Further details about this process will be released closer to implementation.

What These Changes Mean for Migrants

Overall, the upcoming changes aim to:

Create clearer and more realistic residence pathways
Recognise the value of skilled trades and technicians
Simplify wage and qualification requirements
Provide greater flexibility for migrants already working in New Zealand

For many skilled migrants, particularly those working in technical and trade occupations, these reforms may create new opportunities to secure permanent residency.

Considering Migrating to New Zealand?

Understanding immigration policy changes and selecting the correct visa pathway can be complex. Working with a licensed immigration adviser can help ensure that your migration strategy aligns with the latest immigration settings.

At Network Migration Services, our licensed immigration advisers assist clients with every stage of the migration process, including visa applications, job search strategies, and long-term residency planning.

If you are considering migrating to New Zealand or want to understand how the upcoming Skilled Migrant Category changes may affect you, our team can help guide you through the process.