The Trades and Technician Pathway to NZ Residence (August 2026)

From 24 August 2026, the Skilled Migrant Category adds a Trades and Technician pathway to residence. To qualify you work in an eligible trades occupation paid at least the SMC wage threshold (NZD $35.00 per hour), hold a relevant qualification at NZQCF Level 4 or higher, and have about 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 1.5 years skilled experience in New Zealand.

What is the Trades and Technician pathway?

The Trades and Technician pathway is one of two new routes to residence introduced as part of the Skilled Migrant Category changes that take effect on 24 August 2026 (immigration.govt.nz). It sits alongside the existing points-based pathway and the new Skilled Work Experience pathway. It is designed for qualified tradespeople and technicians whose occupations were historically harder to fit into the points framework.

The reform was announced by the Government in September 2025; INZ published the occupation lists and operational detail on 5 March 2026 and confirmed the final details on 18 June 2026 (immigration.govt.nz).

Who is eligible for the Trades and Technician pathway?

To use this pathway, you must meet all of the following criteria (immigration.govt.nz):

• Work in (or hold a job offer for) an eligible trades or technician occupation on INZ’s confirmed list.
• Be paid at least the SMC wage threshold: 1.0x the median, which is NZD $35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026.
• Hold a relevant qualification at NZQCF Level 4, comparable to Level 4, or higher.
• Have at least 2.5 years of relevant post-qualification work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation.
• Have an additional 1.5 years of post-qualification skilled work experience in New Zealand, paid at least the median.

The two experience requirements add up to roughly 4 years of post-qualification experience in total. The 2.5 years can be earned anywhere; the extra 1.5 years must be skilled New Zealand experience.

The wage threshold is reviewed annually, so re-check the current figure on INZ before you lodge. The $35.00 per hour rate has applied since 9 March 2026 (immigration.govt.nz).

How does the 120-credit qualification rule work?

The qualification rule is where most applicants get tripped up, because it depends on whether your qualification is from New Zealand or overseas.

For a New Zealand qualification, you need at least 120 credits at NZQCF Level 4 or higher. You can combine multiple qualifications to reach 120 credits where the lower qualifications are prerequisites for the higher one. Important detail: recognition-of-prior-learning (RPL) credits do not count toward the 120 (immigration.govt.nz).

For an overseas qualification, the 120-credit requirement does not apply. Instead, your qualification must be assessed at Level 4 or higher, which is established through an International Qualifications Assessment (see the next section).

Do I need an IQA for my qualification?

Whether you need an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) from NZQA depends on where your qualification was issued:

• New Zealand qualification: no IQA. You provide your certificate and academic transcript as evidence.
• Overseas qualification: you need an IQA assessing it as Level 4 or higher, unless your qualification appears on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).

The IQA is the dependency that drives most of the timeline on this pathway, because it sits with NZQA rather than INZ. Allow time for it and check the current NZQA processing timeframes before you plan your application (nzqa.govt.nz). For a fuller walkthrough, see our guide to the IQA and NZQA qualification assessment for SMC.

Which occupations are on the Trades and Technician list?

INZ has confirmed a list of over 100 eligible trades and technician occupations. We deliberately avoid stating an exact count here because the published figure has shifted; always confirm your specific ANZSCO code against the current INZ list (immigration.govt.nz).

One detail to watch: under ANZSCO 399999 (Technicians and Trades Workers nec), only 7 named sub-roles qualify, not the whole catch-all category:

If your role is one of these seven, you are eligible under 399999. If it is any other 399999 role, it is not on the pathway. This is exactly the kind of distinction worth checking carefully before you commit to an application.

Some trades roles also appear on the Green List, which can offer a separate residence route. It is worth comparing both before you choose a pathway.

What does not count toward this pathway?

A few exclusions catch applicants out:

• Self-employment cannot count as relevant work experience on this pathway.
• RPL credits are excluded from the 120-credit calculation for New Zealand qualifications.
• The genuine employment definition has been tightened across SMC and the work-to-residence visas. Your job offer must be “available and ongoing” with a “genuine need to be based in New Zealand”, aligned with the AEWV standard (immigration.govt.nz).

If your occupation is on the SMC red or amber list, different rules apply. See our breakdown of the SMC red list and amber list occupations.

How does this compare to the other SMC pathways?

The Trades and Technician pathway has the lowest wage floor of the three, but it is the only one that requires a Level 4+ qualification as a core entry condition. For the wider visa, see the Skilled Migrant Category resident visa.

Current as at 2026-06-29, based on Immigration New Zealand policy. For advice on your own situation, talk to a ProVisas Licensed Immigration Adviser (IAA Licence 201301110).

Frequently asked questions

What is the Trades and Technician pathway to NZ residence?

It is a new Skilled Migrant Category route to residence, live from 24 August 2026, for qualified tradespeople and technicians. You work in an eligible trades occupation paid at least the median ($35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026), hold a Level 4+ qualification, and have about 4 years of post-qualification experience.

How much work experience do I need for the Trades and Technician pathway?

You need at least 2.5 years of relevant post-qualification work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, plus an additional 1.5 years of post-qualification skilled work experience gained in New Zealand and paid at least the median. That is roughly 4 years post-qualification in total.

What is the 120-credit rule for the Trades and Technician pathway?

For a New Zealand qualification you need at least 120 credits on the NZQCF at Level 4 or higher, and you can combine qualifications where lower ones are prerequisites for higher ones. Recognition-of-prior-learning credits do not count. The 120-credit rule was removed for overseas qualifications, which instead need an IQA assessing them at Level 4 or higher.

Do I need an IQA for an overseas qualification?

Yes, unless your qualification is on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA). An overseas qualification needs an International Qualifications Assessment from NZQA confirming it is Level 4 or higher. New Zealand qualifications do not need an IQA; you provide your certificate and transcript instead.

Can self-employment count toward the Trades and Technician pathway?

No. Self-employment cannot count as relevant work experience on the Trades and Technician pathway. The job offer also has to meet the tightened genuine-employment definition, which requires the role to be available and ongoing with a genuine need to be based in New Zealand.

Talk to a ProVisas adviser

Trades qualifications and credit rules are where this pathway gets technical, especially when an overseas qualification and an IQA are involved. We assess your qualification and experience against current INZ policy and prepare your application to meet INZ requirements. Check your eligibility or book a consultation to map out your pathway.