On the 24th August 2026, the points system for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (SMC) will be changing, and two new pathways (a skilled work experience pathway and a trades and technicians pathway) will be introduced. 

Changes to the wage threshold rules will also make it easier for migrants to meet SMC criteria. 

Changes to the Points System

Getting points is about to become easier. From the 24th August 2026 migrants will be able to claim more points for their qualifications and New Zealand work experience. 

Table A (below) illustrates the changes in points awarded for qualifications:

Qualification	Current Points Awarded	Points Awarded from the 24th August 2026
Doctoral degree	6	6
New Zealand masters’ degree (30 weeks of full-time study)	5	6
New Zealand masters’ degree	5	5
Master’s degree gained outside New Zealand	5	5
New Zealand honours degree, post-graduate diploma or post-graduate certificate	4 points for an honours degree or post-graduate diploma, 3 points for a post-graduate certificate	5
New Zealand bachelor’s degree	3	5
Honours degree, post-graduate diploma or post-graduate certificate gained outside New Zealand	4 points for an honours degree or post-graduate diploma, 3 points for a post-graduate certificate	4
Bachelor’s degree gained outside New Zealand	3	4

Table B (below) illustrates the changes in points awarded for New Zealand skilled work experience:

New Zealand Work Experience	Points Awarded Currently	Points Awarded from the 24th August 2026
3 years	3	N/A
2 years	2	3
1.5 years	1	2
1 year	1	1

A Specific Change for Qualified Accountants

An addition to the ability to claim points for occupational registration means accountants who:

• can undertake the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand, and 
• are a member of Certified Practising Accountants Australia

will be able to claim 6 points for their occupational registration.

This means accountants who meet this criteria will qualify for SMC residency based on their occupational registration alone. 

Changes to the SMC Wage Threshold Rules

Under the current rules a migrant must meet the current SMC wage threshold for their job or job offer at the time they make their expression of interest, and must have met the SMC wage threshold that was in place when they started gaining work experience and at the start of each new job. 

For example, Charlie is submitting an expression of interest in July 2026, he is currently working in an ANZSCO skill level 2 role. The SMC wage threshold in July 2026 for ANZSCO skill level 1-3 roles is $35.00 an hour. This means that when submitting the expression of interest, Charlie must be earning at least $35.00 an hour. However, Charlie’s skilled work experience started in June 2023 when the SMC wage threshold for ANZSCO skill level 1-3 roles was $29.66. Charlie was employed in June 2023 at a wage of $30 an hour and has not received a pay increase since. This means that to submit his expression of interest in July 2026, Charlie’s employer will need to give him a $5 an hour pay increase for him to be eligible to apply. 

From the 24^th August 2026, the rules will change so that a migrant only needs to meet the SMC wage threshold that was in place when they first started gaining skilled work experience. This means that from the 24^th August 2026, Charlie would be able to submit an expression of interest without requiring a pay increase from his employer. 

New Skilled Work Experience Pathway

Under the current rules you can gain up to 3 points (out of the required 6) for skilled work experience. From the 24^th August 2026, a new pathway will be available for the SMC to allow migrants to gain residence from work experience alone. 

A migrant will be eligible for this pathway if they:

• work in or have a job offer from an ANZSCO skill level 1-3 occupation and are paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold,
• have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1-3 occupation (this work experience needs to be related to the current job or job offer but does not need to have been completed in New Zealand), and
• have an additional 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand in an ANZSCO skill level 1-3 occupation paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold.

Trades and Technicians Pathway

From the 24^th August 2026 a new pathway will be available for people with trades and technician occupations.

A migrant will be eligible for this pathway if they:

• work in an eligible trades and technician occupation paid at least the SMC wage threshold,
• have a relevant qualification that is level 4, comparable to level 4, or higher than level 4 on the NZQCF,
• have at least 2.5 years of relevant, post-qualification work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation (this work experience needs to be related to the current job and cannot be self-employment, but does not need to have been completed in New Zealand), and
• have an additional 1.5 years of post-qualification, skilled work experience in New Zealand paid at least the SMC wage threshold.

If you are considering your eligibility under the new SMC criteria, or would like to speak to one of our experts about residency options, don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

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