Two New Skilled Resident Visas and Changes To SMC Visa NZ

PUBLISHED: 20-Jun-2026 

Effective from 24 August 2026, the following two new resident visas will open for application.

Details of the New Residence Visas for New Zealand

Skilled Work Experience Visa	Trades and Technicians Visa
Occupational Level: Work in an occupation at ANZSCO skill level 1-3.	Occupational Level: Work in one of the specified trades and technician roles at ANZSCO skill level 1-3.
Qualification Baseline: No specific qualification tier is mandatory for this experience-only route.	Qualification Baseline: Must possess a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification. • NZ Qualifications: Must be at least 120 credits (can be combined if lower courses are prerequisites). • Overseas Qualifications: Must be at NZ Level 4+ but do not have any minimum credits requirement.
Total Work Experience: At least five years of directly relevant skilled work experience including minimum of two years work experience gained in New Zealand.	Total Work Experience: At least four years of directly relevant skilled work experience including minimum of 18 months work experience gained in New Zealand.
Standard Wage Threshold: Paid at or above 1.1 times the standard median wage.	Standard Wage Threshold: Paid at or above the SMC median wage.
Pre-requisites: Meet the Health, Character, and English language requirements.	Pre-requisites: Meet the standardized Health, Character, and English language requirements.

Occupational Risk Lists (Amber vs. Red List)

Amber List Occupations	Red List Occupations
Requirements: Eligible for the Skilled Work Experience Pathway only (excluded from the Trades and Technician Pathway). Requires at least 5 years of relevant eligible work experience explicitly completed within New Zealand. Minimum wage: at least 2 years of that experience must be paid at or above 1.2 times the median wage.	Policy Rules & Restrictions: Completely excluded from both new pathways (Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician frameworks). Migrants in these occupations can only seek New Zealand residence by applying under the standard Points-based Skilled Migrant Category visa. Must clear traditional point thresholds through alternative assets like high qualification levels, high standard income ratios, or professional registrations.
Example Occupations Include: Chef, Café or Restaurant Manager, Baker, Pastrycook, Customer Service Manager, Hotel or Motel Manager, Accommodation and Hospitality Manager nec, Office Manager, Web Administrator, ICT Customer Support Officer, and ICT Support Technicians nec.	Example Occupations Include: Retail Manager (General), Beauty Therapist, Hairdresser, Massage Therapist, Hair or Beauty Salon Manager, and Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager nec.

Additional Clarifications and Policy Changes

Wage Assessment Timing and Grace Period Rule

Applicants will not be required to meet an increased wage rate when applying for residence; they only need to maintain the required median wage rate that was active when they started gaining their skilled work experience. Furthermore, INZ has introduced a 5-month grace period rule: if the SMC median wage rises between when your temporary work visa is granted and the day you start your skilled role, you may still lock in the previous rate.

Points-Based SMC Adjustments

• Increased Qualification Points: Points for New Zealand university-level qualifications will be increased to make it easier for graduates to transition to residence. Additionally, overseas bachelor's degrees and postgraduate certificates will grant 4 points (up from 3).
• Reduced Work Experience Tiers: Work experience requirements will be reduced from 3 years to 2 years for some existing point combinations under the Skilled Migrant Category.
• New Accountant Pathways: Applicants can now claim a full 6 points under the Points-based pathway if they hold membership with Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia and can perform the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant.
• Extended English Test Validity: From late August 2026, English language test results will be accepted as valid for up to 5 years (extended from 2 years) for applicants who hold a recognized professional occupational registration.

Contact Us

The proposed changes, including the introduction of two new resident visa pathways, are expected to enhance the prospects of skilled migrants securing residence under the Skilled Migrant Category. Contact us if you wish to apply for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category, under the existing or new pathways.