SMC6
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC6) is New Zealand's points-based residence pathway, scored across registration, qualifications, income, and work experience.
SMC6 requires 6 skilled resident points. You claim 3 to 6 points from ONE of three anchor categories (occupational registration, qualifications, or income) and can top up with 1 to 3 points from skilled work experience in New Zealand. Mix-and-match across anchor categories isn't allowed; pick the strongest anchor and supplement with NZ work experience.
Age cap of 55 or younger at application. You need an offer of skilled employment from an accredited New Zealand employer (the same accreditation framework as AEWV).
If claiming income points, your current pay rate is measured as a multiple of the SMC median wage (NZD $35.00/hr from 9 March 2026). 6 points requires 3× median ($105.00/hr); 4 points requires 2× ($70.00/hr); 3 points requires 1.5× ($52.50/hr). The threshold must be met at the time of application.
Qualifications: NZQCF Level 7 bachelor's = 3 points, postgraduate diploma or honours = 4 points, master's = 5 points, doctoral = 6 points. Foreign qualifications need NZQA International Qualification Assessment unless on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment. Occupational registration alternative: 3 to 6 points based on years of experience required to obtain registration on INZ's eligible-registrations list.
Top-up category. 1 point for 1 year of skilled work experience in NZ in the last 2 years; 2 points for 2 years in the last 4; 3 points for 3 years in the last 5. Work must be at the correct ANZSCO level (1–3 paid at or above median wage; 4–5 paid at 1.5× median) and consistent with your visa conditions. Mid-AEWV employer changes need to have gone through the correct Job Change variation-of-conditions process to count.
English language ability required, through citizenship plus study from a qualifying country, or test results no more than 2 years old (extending to 5 years for occupational-registration applicants from 24 August 2026). Chest X-ray and medical for applicants aged 15 or older. Police certificates less than 6 months old at lodgement for applicants aged 17 or older, from countries of citizenship and any country lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years.
INZ application fee: From NZD $6,450 (SMC6 application). Expression of Interest is free.
ProVisas advisory fee: Fixed-fee per case where the pathway is standard; time-based for complex matters. Specific fees disclosed at consultation and confirmed in your engagement letter.
INZ government fees are passed through at cost. We don't mark up government charges.
Expression of Interest (EOI): submitted online, no fee, immediate confirmation if requirements appear met. After Invitation to Apply: 4 months to lodge the full application. INZ processing time varies; refer to INZ's published wait times for current estimates. Post-grant: 12 months to enter NZ if approved offshore; 2 years on SMC6 before eligibility for Permanent Resident Visa.
Significant restructure. Two new pathways were added: a Trades and Technician pathway and a Skilled Work Experience pathway, both for ANZSCO 1–3 occupations. Red and amber occupation lists determine which pathways certain roles qualify under. Wage assessment was simplified. English test validity extended to 5 years for occupational-registration holders. New qualification points rules favour NZ-completed degrees. If your case interacts with these changes, talk to a licensed adviser about pre- and post-August 2026 strategy.
No. SMC6 has no partner credit. Points come from your own claim across occupational registration, qualifications, income, and NZ skilled work experience. Your partner and dependent children up to age 24 can be included in your residence application, but they benefit from your residence rather than contributing points.
1 to 3 points come from skilled NZ work experience. 1 point for 1 year in the last 2; 2 points for 2 years in the last 4; 3 points for 3 years in the last 5. The work must be at the correct ANZSCO level, paid at the correct wage threshold at the time, and consistent with your AEWV conditions. Employer changes mid-AEWV need to have gone through the correct Job Change process to count toward residence.
You must be able to claim 6 points at the time you submit the EOI. If selected, you have 4 months to lodge the full application with evidence. Submitting an EOI without 6 points results in non-selection. If you're close to 6 points (waiting on qualification recognition, additional experience, or a pay rise), wait until you can claim 6 reliably.
After 2 years holding the SMC6 resident visa, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. The SMC6 itself is a resident visa with travel conditions that expire 2 years from first entry or grant. PR removes those travel conditions. Citizenship eligibility typically follows after 5 years of NZ residence, subject to Department of Internal Affairs requirements.
SMC6 has Section 49 conditions: you cannot be unemployed for more than 3 months. If you lose your job, you must find another skilled job for at least 3 months to maintain compliance. Talk to a licensed adviser if you're at risk of breaching Section 49; remedial options exist, but timing matters.
policy updates
INZ updated SMC points and qualification rules for 2026. Two new pathways, Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician, open in August 2026 for.
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The standalone Highly Paid Resident Visa was discontinued. Highly paid workers now claim residence through the Skilled Migrant Category on points.
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The PRV lets you live, work, and study in NZ indefinitely with no expiry. Eligibility after two years on a resident visa, commitment rules, and the.
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The Green List is a curated set of high-demand occupations. Tier 1 qualifies for fast-track residence; Tier 2 after 24 months of qualifying employment.
Read articleLast reviewed 2026-05-24. Source of truth: Immigration New Zealand →
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