ProVisas Immigration Advisers

Reference

Do you need an NZQA assessment for your overseas qualification?

If your overseas qualification is on Immigration New Zealand's List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA), you do not need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA to have its level accepted. The list covers 35 countries, 498 qualifications and 1318 awarding institutions.

Being on the list is not the whole test. The qualification, the awarding institution, the abbreviation and the award year all have to line up, and the notes under each table can rule a qualification out. Each country page below sets out every condition alongside both tables.

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Choose your country

Thirty-five countries have a published list. Synced from INZ on 13 September 2026.

Countries that are not on the list

A country missing from the list above is not an oversight on our part. INZ has not published an exemption list for it, so qualifications from these countries need an IQA when claimed for points.

  • Nepal Nepal is not on the LQEA. Nepali qualifications claimed for points need an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA.
  • Pakistan Pakistan is not on the LQEA. Pakistani qualifications claimed for points need an IQA.
  • Bangladesh Bangladesh is not on the LQEA. Bangladeshi qualifications claimed for points need an IQA.

Where this fits in your application

The LQEA settles the level of your qualification. What that level is worth depends on which residence pathway you are using.

Points-based pathway

Qualifications are the most common anchor for reaching 6 points under the Skilled Migrant Category.

SMC points system explained

Trades and Technician pathway

Needs a Level 4 or higher qualification, which for an overseas qualification means an IQA unless it is exempt.

Trades and Technician pathway

Green List occupations

Tier 1 roles can lead straight to residence, and most carry their own qualification requirements.

Green List occupations

Frequently asked questions

What is the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment?
The LQEA is Immigration New Zealand's published list of overseas qualifications INZ accepts without a full International Qualification Assessment from NZQA. It is organised by country, and it sets out the New Zealand framework level INZ accepts for each listed qualification.
Does being on the list mean I do not need an IQA?
Only if every condition is met. The qualification must be listed, the awarding institution must be listed, the abbreviation must appear against that institution, the award year must fall in the listed range, and no note may exclude it. If any one of those fails, you need an IQA.
Is my Nepali qualification on the LQEA?
No. Nepal is not on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment. A Nepali qualification claimed for points under the Skilled Migrant Category needs an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA before you rely on its level.
How many points is my exempt qualification worth?
The LQEA confirms the New Zealand framework level of a qualification, not a points score. Points are set by the Skilled Migrant Category rules that took effect on 24 August 2026, which run on a 6-point scale. Our SMC points guide explains what each level is worth.
How often does the list change?
Immigration New Zealand revises the LQEA several times a year, and has updated country lists more than once in a single year. These pages are rebuilt from INZ's published pages on every deployment, and each country page shows the date it was last synced.

This page reproduces Immigration New Zealand's published List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment and is general information, not immigration advice. INZ revises the list, so check the INZ source page before you rely on it. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).