​​Major Changes Coming to Skilled Migrant Residence - What You Need to Know

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has confirmed the final details of significant reforms to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa, New Zealand’s primary residence pathway for skilled migrants. The changes take effect on 24 August 2026 and will affect how many of our clients plan and pursue their pathway to residence.

If you are currently working in New Zealand on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and considering your residence options, now is the time to understand what is changing and how it may apply to your situation.

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Two New Pathways to Residence

The most significant change is the introduction of two brand-new residence pathways alongside the existing points-based system. For the first time, skilled work experience can serve as the primary basis for a residence application - without needing to separately accumulate six points from qualifications, income, or registration.

​1. Skilled Work Experience Pathway

This pathway is open to migrants working in ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 roles. To be eligible, you must have at least three years of relevant work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, plus an additional two years of skilled work experience in New Zealand paid at least 1.1 times the SMC median wage. Self-employment cannot be counted toward this experience requirement.

2. Trades and Technician Pathway

This pathway is designed for migrants in specified trade and technician occupations. To be eligible, you must hold a relevant level 4 or higher qualification and have at least 2.5 years of directly relevant post-qualification work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, plus a further 1.5 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand at or above the SMC median wage.

For qualifications gained in New Zealand, a minimum of 120 credits is required (which can be accumulated across multiple qualifications where one is a prerequisite for the next). This 120-credit requirement does not apply to qualifications gained overseas.

A full list of eligible occupations for this pathway is published on the INZ website. If your role appears on that list, this pathway may be available to you. We can help you assess whether you meet the requirements.

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For both new pathways, relevant work experience must have been gained within the ten years before you apply. Skilled New Zealand work experience must fall within a timeframe of twice the period required - so if you need two years of New Zealand experience, it must have been gained within the four years immediately prior to your application.

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The Existing Points-Based Pathway Continues

The current points-based system is not being replaced. You still need six skilled resident points to be eligible under that pathway, and the core requirements remain unchanged i.e. aged 55 or under, good health, good character, English language ability, and a skilled job with an accredited employer.

What is changing within the points system is how qualification points are calculated (see below), and the way wage thresholds are applied.

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New Red and Amber Occupation Lists

INZ is introducing two new lists that affect eligibility for the new pathways, based on occupations assessed as carrying higher immigration risk.

1. Red List

Occupations on the Red List cannot use either of the new pathways. Migrants in these roles must rely on the existing points-based pathway, which requires earning at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage, holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or holding a recognised occupational registration. Confirmed Red List roles include hairdresser, beauty therapist, massage therapist, retail manager, and hair and beauty salon manager.

2. Amber List

Amber List occupations are excluded from the Trades and Technician pathway but can access the Skilled Work Experience pathway, subject to a higher bar i.e. at least five years of relevant work experience in New Zealand, including two years at 1.2 times the SMC median wage (rather than 1.1 times). Amber List roles include chef, baker, pastry cook, café and restaurant manager, hotel and motel manager, office manager, and several ICT support roles.

Both lists will be reviewed regularly and may change over time.

For clients in the automotive and mechanical trades, these roles do not currently appear on either list, meaning the new Trades and Technician pathway should generally be accessible, subject to your specific occupation appearing on INZ’s published eligible roles list.

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Qualification Points - What Is Changing

Under current settings, a qualification earns the same number of points whether it was gained in New Zealand or overseas (with confirmed NZ equivalence). From 24 August 2026, New Zealand-completed qualifications will generally earn one point more than an equivalent overseas qualification.

The most notable change is for Bachelor’s degrees and qualifications accredited under the Washington Accord or Sydney Accord - these increase from three points to four.

There is also a new condition for claiming points at Level 8 or Level 9 (such as a Postgraduate Diploma, honours degree, or Master’s degree) - you must also hold a Bachelor’s degree from any country. The exception is applicants claiming five points for a New Zealand Master’s degree, who do not need to provide a Bachelor’s degree.

Applicants claiming the higher six points for a New Zealand Master’s must have studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks and hold a Bachelor’s degree.

If you hold a postgraduate qualification but do not have an underlying Bachelor’s degree, this new requirement may affect your ability to claim points from that qualification. Please speak with us about your specific situation as soon as possible.

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Changes to Work Experience Requirements

The August 2026 reforms bring a meaningful reduction in the work experience required to qualify for residence. Within the updated points-based pathway, INZ has confirmed that applicants will be able to reach the six-point threshold with less New Zealand skilled work experience than is currently required.

Beyond this, the two new pathways create dedicated routes based on work experience alone. Under the Skilled Work Experience pathway, you need at least three years of relevant work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, plus an additional two years of skilled work experience in New Zealand paid at least 1.1 times the SMC median wage. Under the Trades and Technician pathway, the requirement is at least 2.5 years of post-qualification relevant work experience, plus a further 1.5 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand at or above the SMC median wage.

In both cases, self-employment cannot be counted toward the experience requirement. For many skilled migrants who previously found the six-point threshold difficult to reach through qualifications or income alone, these lower thresholds represent a significant and practical improvement.

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Wage Threshold Rules Are Simplified

Under current settings, applicants must meet the relevant SMC wage threshold both during their qualifying work experience period and again when they apply for residence, meaning a wage increase in the intervening period could create a problem at the application stage.

From 24 August 2026, two changes apply across all SMC pathways:

1. Single wage test: you will only need to meet the wage threshold that was in effect when you started gaining your skilled work experience, and maintain at least that rate. You will not be required to meet a higher threshold introduced later.

2. Five-month grace period: if you start skilled work experience within five months of your work visa being granted, the wage rate that applied on the day your visa was issued will be used, even if the median wage increased before you began work.

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English Language Test Validity

Currently, English language test results must be no more than two years old when you apply. From 24 August 2026, this extends to five years, but only for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration. If you are not relying on occupational registration, the two-year validity continues to apply.

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Looking Ahead - AEWV Extension for Residence Purposes

INZ has signalled a further change scheduled for 2027, which is not yet in force. Migrants who need up to 12 additional months of skilled work experience to meet SMC requirements will be able to apply to extend their AEWV for that purpose. Full details of eligibility and process have not yet been released.

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What This Means for You

The August 2026 reforms open genuine new pathways for skilled migrants, particularly those in the trades and technical sectors, who may not have had a realistic route to residence under previous settings.

Whether you are just starting your New Zealand journey, mid-way through your work experience, or already thinking about an application, the best step you can take right now is to get a clear assessment of which pathway applies to you under the new settings.

At Jobcorp, we are here to help you navigate these changes. If you would like to discuss how the August 2026 reforms affect your specific situation, please get in touch with our Licensed Immigration Adviser, Vanessa Godbaz