Qualifications exempt from assessment
Immigration New Zealand lists 3 qualifications from Iran that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 8, awarded by 14 listed institutions. One more is named specifically as still requiring assessment by NZQA.
If your qualification is on this list, was awarded by a listed institution within the listed years, and is not excluded by the notes, Immigration New Zealand accepts its level without an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA.
All of the conditions below have to be met together. Meeting one of them is not enough, and this is where most people go wrong: the qualification and the awarding institution are two separate checks.
Immigration New Zealand exempts a qualification from assessment only when every one of these conditions is met. Meeting some of them is not enough.
If any condition fails, you need an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA before you claim points for the qualification. Our guide to the IQA and NZQA assessment explains that process, and the SMC points system explainer covers what a qualification is worth once its level is confirmed.
These appear on INZ's list specifically to say they are not exempt. They require assessment by NZQA even when the awarding institution is listed below.
The NZQF level is the New Zealand framework level Immigration New Zealand accepts for the qualification. It is not a points score.
| Qualification | Abbrev. | NZQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor degree / Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science Karshenasi ( کارشناسی) ** | B | 7 |
| Integrated / Continuous Masters degree / Karshenasi-Arshad Payvasteh (کارشناسیارشد پیوسته) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Discontinuous Master degree / Master of Arts / Master of Science / Karshenasi Arshad- napayvasteh (کارشناسیارشد ناپیوسته)*** | M | 8 |
Notes on this table
Your qualification is only exempt if it was awarded by one of these institutions, the abbreviation appears against that institution, and the award year falls in the range shown.
| Institution | Qualifications and years |
|---|---|
| Allameh Tabataba'i University / Allameh Tabatabai University | B and M: 2000 |
| Amirkabir University of Technology | B and M: 1997 |
| Ferdowsi University of Mashhad | B and M: 1997 |
| Iran University of Science and Technology | B and M: 1997 |
| Isfahan University of Technology | B and M: 1997 |
| Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology | B and M: 1997 |
| Shahid Beheshti University | B and M: 2000 |
| Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz / Shahid Chamran University | B and M: 2000 |
| Sharif University of Technology | B and M: 1997 |
| Shiraz University | B and M: 1997 |
| Tarbiat Modares University | M: 1997 |
| University of Isfahan / Isfahan University | B and M: 2000 |
| University of Tabriz / Tabriz University | B and M: 1997 |
| University of Tehran / Tehran University | B and M: 1997 |
Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual . Synced 13 September 2026.
Matching an award certificate against this list is fiddlier than it looks: institutions get renamed, award years narrow the exemption, and the notes can rule a qualification out. Talk it through with us and we will listen to your situation and match you with the right IAA-licensed adviser.
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 linked source page before you rely on it. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).