Qualifications exempt from assessment
Immigration New Zealand lists 10 qualifications from the Netherlands that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 10, awarded by 13 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 of Arts (speciality stated) | BA | 7 |
| Bachelor of Science (speciality stated) | BS | 7 |
| Doctorandus / doctoral (doctoraal examen / examination) | DX | 8 |
| Ingenieur (doctoraal examen / examination) | IR | 8 |
| Master of Arts (speciality stated) | MA | 8 |
| Master of Science (speciality stated) | MS | 8 |
| Meester in de Rechten / Meester (doctoraal examen / examination) | MR | 8 |
| Doctoraat (with title of doctor)** | D | 10 |
| Doctor of Philosophy | PhD | 10 |
| Professional Doctorate in Engineering | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
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 |
|---|---|
| Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1986–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1980–2006 |
| Maastricht University / Universiteit Maastricht (Rijksuniversiteit Limburg 1985–1996) | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1985–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1985–2006 |
| Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen / Radboud University Nijmegen (Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen 1980–2004) | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1980–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1980–2006 |
| Rijksuniversiteit Groningen | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1980–2006 IR and MR: 1996–2006 MA and MS: 2004 D: 1980–2006 |
| Technische Universiteit Delft / Delft University of Technology | BS and PhD: 2005 IR: 1996–2006 DX: 1990–2006 MS: 2004 D: 1990–2006 |
| Technische Universiteit Eindhoven / Eindhoven University of Technology | BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1986–2006 IR: 1996–2006 MS: 2004 D: 1986–2006 |
| Universiteit Leiden / Academia Lvgdvno-Batava (Rijksuniversiteit Te Leiden/Academia Lvgdvno-Batava 1980–2000) | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1980–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1980–2006 |
| Universiteit Twente | BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1986–2006 IR: 1996–2006 MS: 2004 D: 1986–2006 |
| Universiteit Utrecht (Rijksuniversiteit Te Utrecht 1980–1992) | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1980–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1980–2006 |
| Universiteit van Amsterdam / University of Amsterdam | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1980–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1980–2006 |
| Universiteit van Tilburg / Tilburg University (Katholieke Universiteit Brabant 1990–2001) | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1990–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1990–2006 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | BA, BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1980–2006 MA and MS: 2004 MR: 1996–2006 D: 1980–2006 |
| Wageningen University / Wageningen Universiteit (Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen 1990–1998) | BS and PhD: 2005 DX: 1990–2006 IR: 1996–2006 MS: 2004 D: 1990–2006 |
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).