Final details about changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and work to residence visas
Immigration New Zealand has announced final details on changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) taking effect on 24 August 2026, including wage threshold clarifications, updated qualification requirements, and aligned Work to Residence visa settings.
Key points
- ✓Most SMC applicants will only need to meet one wage threshold — the rate in effect when they started accruing skilled work experience, not a higher rate at residence stage.
- ✓A 5-month grace period applies if the SMC wage threshold increases before a migrant starts work.
- ✓Work to Residence, Care Workforce, and Transport Work to Residence visas are aligned with the new SMC wage settings.
- ✓Applicants claiming points for Level 8 or 9 qualifications must also hold a supporting bachelor’s degree (except NZ master’s claiming 5 points).
- ✓Self-employment cannot be used as evidence of directly relevant work experience under the Trades and Technician or Skilled Work Experience pathways.
- ✓New Zealand qualifications for the Trades and Technician pathway must have at least 120 credits, which can be made up of more than one qualification.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced final details on changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) ahead of these changes taking effect on 24 August 2026. Changes to wage rate rules for Work to Residence visas are also being announced.
From 24 August 2026, most SMC applicants will only need to meet one wage threshold — the rate in effect when they started accruing skilled work experience. They will not have to meet a higher SMC wage threshold at the time they are invited to apply for residence.
A grace period will apply where the SMC wage threshold increases before a migrant starts work. If a migrant begins skilled work experience within 5 months of their work visa being granted, the wage threshold that applied on the day the visa was granted will be used.
Changes are also being made to the Work to Residence Visa, Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, and Transport Work to Residence Visa to align with the updated SMC wage settings.
Applicants claiming points for Level 8 or Level 9 qualifications must now also hold a supporting bachelor’s degree or equivalent undergraduate degree. Evidence for a bachelor’s degree must include the qualification certificate and academic transcript.
Under the Trades and Technician pathway, New Zealand qualifications must have at least 120 credits. This requirement can be made up of more than one qualification where lower qualifications are a prerequisite for higher. The 120-credit requirement does not apply to overseas qualifications.
Self-employment cannot be counted as directly relevant work experience under the Trades and Technician and Skilled Work Experience pathways to ensure pathway integrity.
Immigration instructions have been updated to provide a clearer definition of genuine employment for all skilled residence visas, requiring offers of employment to be ‘available and ongoing’ with a genuine need to be based in New Zealand.
Information on this page is for general guidance only. Always refer to Immigration New Zealand for authoritative requirements.
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