New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category, explained

New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is the main points-based pathway for skilled workers who want to settle permanently. If you are considering a move to Aotearoa for work, the SMC is usually the first route you will read about. Here is how it is structured today, and what you need in place before points start to matter.

A 6-point threshold, not a ranked pool

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) overhauled the SMC in October 2023. The version in use today is a threshold system, not a competition. Meet six points plus the prerequisites and you qualify. You are not ranked against other candidates, and you do not need to push your score as high as possible.

Points come from three main sources, plus a bonus for skilled work experience already in New Zealand.

• Occupational registration. Up to 6 points for being registered in an occupation that requires it, such as a registered engineer, lawyer, or health professional. The level of registration affects the points awarded.
• Recognised qualification. Up to 6 points. As a rough anchor, a bachelor's degree sits around 3 points, a master's around 4, and a doctorate at 6. Some qualifications need an INZ assessment to be recognised.
• Income. Up to 6 points for a job or job offer paid at specific multiples of the New Zealand median wage, which INZ publishes and updates over time.
• Skilled New Zealand work experience. Up to 3 bonus points for skilled work already done in New Zealand.

You can hit six points in two ways. Either a single main category (registration, qualification, or income) gets you to six on its own, or you combine a lower main category with the New Zealand work experience bonus to reach the threshold.

Prerequisites that sit under the points

The points only matter once you meet the entry conditions for the visa:

• A job or job offer in a skilled occupation in New Zealand.
• English language ability at IELTS 6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent.
• Under 56 years old at the time you submit your Expression of Interest.
• Health and character requirements, the same standard framework INZ applies to most residence visas.

How the application flows

The SMC is an EOI-based visa. The steps are:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest to INZ.
2. INZ selects from the pool based on the current criteria.
3. Eligible candidates receive an Invitation to Apply.
4. You submit the full residence application with evidence.

Green List: a faster parallel route

Some occupations do not need to go through the SMC at all. The Green List lets eligible workers apply directly for residence, or move to residence after two years of work in the role, without collecting points. If your occupation is on it, that is usually the quicker door. We cover it in detail in New Zealand's Green List, explained.

A note on numbers

We do not publish specific income thresholds here because they are tied to the New Zealand median wage and are updated by INZ. Always check the current figures on the official SMC pay rates page before making a decision.

Estimate your points

Want a quick read on where you sit? Try our SMC calculator. It walks through each category, shows the subtotals, and tells you whether you clear the six-point threshold. For the full policy, INZ's Skilled Migrant Category pathway is the authoritative source.