ProVisas Immigration Advisers

Qualifications exempt from assessment

South Pacific (USP) qualifications: do you need an NZQA assessment?

Immigration New Zealand lists 12 qualifications from the South Pacific that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 9.

The South Pacific entry covers qualifications from the University of the South Pacific, which serves Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and the other member countries. It is the route most Pacific applicants use.

This page is laid out differently from the other countries. There is no separate awarding institutions table, because the award years sit directly against each qualification in the table below.

When is a qualification from the South Pacific exempt?

Immigration New Zealand exempts a qualification from assessment only when every one of these conditions is met. Meeting some of them is not enough.

  1. the qualification is listed in the Academic Qualifications Table
  2. the qualification was awarded from or within the year range listed in the in the Academic Qualifications Table
  3. the qualification is not excluded by the notes listed under the Academic Qualifications Table

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.

Qualifications from the South Pacific on the list

The NZQF level is the New Zealand framework level Immigration New Zealand accepts for the qualification. It is not a points score.

Qualification Abbrev. Awarded NZQF level
Bachelor of Agriculture — 1990 7
Bachelor of Arts (speciality may be stated) — 1990 7
Bachelor of Commerce — 2007 7
Bachelor of Engineering — 2015 7
Bachelor of Engineering Technology* — 2002–2014 7
Bachelor of Laws — 1997 7
Bachelor of Science (speciality may be stated) — 1990 7
Bachelor of Technology* — 1999–2003 7
Master of Agriculture — 1990 9
Master of Arts (speciality will be stated) — 1990 9
Master of Education — 2003 9
Master of Science (speciality will be stated) — 1990 9

Notes on this table

  • *The Bachelor of Technology and the Bachelor of Engineering Technology are three year duration technology degrees. They are different to the four year duration Bachelor of Engineering degrees.
  • Note: Award certificates must be provided in their original language. The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment: - All honorary degrees - All listed qualifications where study was completed at any institution outside of the country, including any overseas campuses of any listed awarding institution - All listed qualifications that contain cross-credited courses or papers - All qualifications awarded after 2017

Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual . Synced 13 September 2026.

INZ does not publish a separate awarding institutions table for the South Pacific. The award years sit against each qualification in the table above.

Not sure how yours reads?

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.

Book a free 15-minute call Browse other countries

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).