How the Skilled Migrant Category points system works from 24 August 2026: the threshold, the full qualification and income points tables, and worked examples of reaching 6 points.
Written by the ProVisas Editorial Team. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).
You need 6 skilled resident points plus a skilled job or job offer to qualify under the Skilled Migrant Category points-based pathway. You claim those 6 points from one anchor source (your qualification, your income, or an occupational registration), and you can top them up with points for New Zealand skilled work experience (immigration.govt.nz).
The threshold stays at 6 points plus a skilled job or job offer when the changes take effect on 24 August 2026 (immigration.govt.nz). What changes is how you earn those points: qualifications completed in New Zealand are worth more, several overseas qualification bands rose by a point, and you now need less New Zealand work experience to reach the maximum experience points.
The points pathway is one of three routes to residence under the SMC from 24 August 2026. The other two, the Skilled Work Experience pathway and the Trades and Technician pathway, do not use points at all. They are covered at the end of this guide for people who cannot reach 6 points. For the full sweep of what is changing, see our overview of the 24 August 2026 SMC changes.
Qualifications are the most common anchor for reaching 6 points. From 24 August 2026, a qualification completed in New Zealand generally earns 1 more point than the same qualification gained overseas, with the exception of doctoral degrees and (in some cases) master’s degrees (immigration.govt.nz).
| Qualification | New Zealand | Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 6 | 6 |
| Master’s degree (with supporting bachelor’s) | 6 (NZ master’s: 30+ weeks full-time NZ study plus a bachelor’s from any country) | 5 |
| Master’s degree (no bachelor’s evidence) | 5 (NZ master’s) | not claimable at this band |
| Honours / postgraduate diploma / postgraduate certificate | 5 | 4 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5 | 4 |
| Washington or Sydney Accord accredited qualification | n/a | 4 |
A few rules sit behind this table:
If you are weighing an overseas qualification against a New Zealand one, our guide on NZ versus overseas qualification points walks through the trade-offs. For when an overseas qualification needs an NZQA assessment for points, see IQA and NZQA qualification assessment for the SMC.
Income is the second common anchor. The points ladder is tied to multiples of the SMC median wage. From 9 March 2026 the SMC median wage is NZD $35.00 per hour, so the income bands work out as follows (rates are reviewed annually, so confirm current figures with INZ before you rely on them) (immigration.govt.nz).
| Income multiplier | Hourly rate (from 9 March 2026) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5x median | NZD $52.50 | 3 |
| 2x median | NZD $70.00 | 4 |
| 3x median | NZD $105.00 | 6 |
So pay at 3x the median (NZD $105.00 per hour) reaches the full 6 points on income alone. Pay at 1.5x or 2x gets you part of the way and needs topping up with qualification, registration, or work-experience points.
Holding a recognised occupational registration is the third anchor. A registration that lets you do skilled work in a registered occupation contributes toward your 6 points. From 24 August 2026 there is also a specific recognition for accountants: an accountant who can do the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand and holds CPA Australia membership is recognised at 6 points (immigration.govt.nz).
New Zealand skilled work experience is the main top-up. From 24 August 2026 you need less of it to reach the maximum, because the experience bands were compressed (immigration.govt.nz).
| New Zealand skilled work experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 1 |
| 1.5 years | 2 |
| 2 years | 3 (maximum) |
Previously up to 3 years of experience was needed to reach 3 points. The cap is now 3 points at 2 years.
Here are three combinations that reach the 6-point threshold under the rules from 24 August 2026. Each assumes a skilled job or job offer is also in place, which is required on top of the points.
Example 1: New Zealand bachelor’s plus work experience.
Example 2: Overseas bachelor’s plus more work experience.
Example 3: High income, no qualification claim.
A fourth route is a single high-value anchor with no top-up needed at all: a doctoral degree (6), an NZ master’s with a supporting bachelor’s (6), or recognised CPA Australia accountant registration (6) each reaches the threshold on its own. For the visa itself and its requirements, see the SMC resident visa page.
If the points maths does not add up for you, the two non-points pathways introduced on 24 August 2026 are the alternative routes to residence:
Both non-points pathways exclude certain occupations, so check the Red List and Amber List rules before assuming a role qualifies.
Current as at 2026-06-29, based on Immigration New Zealand policy. Wage rates and points settings are reviewed and can change, so confirm current figures with INZ before you rely on them. For advice on your own situation, talk to a ProVisas Licensed Immigration Adviser (IAA Licence 201301110).
You need 6 skilled resident points plus a skilled job or job offer. The 6-point threshold is unchanged from 24 August 2026; what changes is how the points are earned across qualifications, income, registration, and New Zealand work experience.
Yes. A doctoral degree, an NZ master’s with a supporting bachelor’s, recognised CPA Australia accountant registration, or pay at 3x the SMC median (NZD $105.00 per hour from 9 March 2026) each reaches 6 points on its own, provided you also have a skilled job or job offer.
Generally yes. From 24 August 2026 a qualification completed in New Zealand earns 1 more point than the same qualification gained overseas, with the exception of doctoral degrees and, in some cases, master’s degrees. An NZ bachelor’s is 5 points; an overseas bachelor’s is 4.
Two years of New Zealand skilled work experience earns the maximum 3 points (1 year is 1 point, 1.5 years is 2 points). Previously up to 3 years was needed for 3 points.
From 24 August 2026 two non-points pathways are available: the Skilled Work Experience pathway and the Trades and Technician pathway. Both award residence on work experience and qualifications rather than a points score, though each excludes certain occupations.
Yes. Alongside the 6 skilled resident points, you need a skilled job or job offer in New Zealand. Under the system from 24 August 2026 the job is a threshold requirement rather than a source of points. Confirm the current criteria on immigration.govt.nz.
The SMC median wage is NZD $35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026. Some settings reference a multiple of it: for example, pay at 3x the median (NZD $105.00 per hour) reaches the 6-point threshold on its own. Confirm current figures with INZ before relying on them.
Yes. Recognised occupational registration can contribute points, and some registrations reach the threshold on their own. For example, recognised CPA Australia accountant registration is worth 6 points, provided you also hold a skilled job or job offer.
Count the points for your main skill indicator (your highest qualification, your income, or recognised occupational registration), then add points for New Zealand skilled work experience. Your total must reach 6. Confirm the current point values on immigration.govt.nz, as settings can change.
Reaching 6 points often comes down to how your qualification, income, and New Zealand experience stack together. A ProVisas Licensed Immigration Adviser can assess your points position against current INZ policy and prepare your application to meet INZ requirements. Book a consultation or check your eligibility to get started.
Last reviewed . Information may have changed since this article was reviewed. For your specific case, talk to a licensed immigration adviser.
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