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13 Jan 2020On 24 February 2020, the remuneration or pay rate thresholds for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (SMC) and the Essential Skills Work Visa will increase. Based on the New Zealand median salary and wage rate (which has increased 2% since last year from NZD $25 per hour to NZD $25.50 per hour), the thresholds are updated annually.
The following tables, based on information released by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) on 19 December 2019, set out the changes and the relevant dates.
Hourly rates for SMC applicants, in order to be awarded points for skilled employment:
| ANZSCO Level | From 24 February 2020
| Between 6 ovember 2018 and 23 February 2020 |
| 1, 2 or 3 | NZD $25.50 or more per hour (NZD $53,040 per year) | NZD $25.00 or ore per hour (NZD $52,000 per year) |
| 4 or 5 | NZD $38.25 or more per hour (NZD $79,560 per year) | NZD $37.50 or more er hour (NZD $78,000 per year) |
| 4 or 5 *occupations treated as exceptions (read more about the ANZSCO changes) | NZD $25.50 per hour (NZD $53,040 per year) |
| High Salary Bonus points | NZD $51.00 or more per hour (NZD $106,080 per year) | NZD $50.00 r more per hour (NZD $104,000 per year) |
Hourly rates for Essential Skills applicants:
| Skill band | ANZSCO Level | From 24 February 2020
| Between 26 November 2018 and 23 February 2020 |
| Mid-skilled | 1, 2 or 3 | NZD $21.68 or more per hour (NZD $45,094 per ear) | NZD $21.25 or more per hour (NZD $44,200 per year) |
| Mid-skilled | 4 or 5 *occupations treated as exceptions | NZD $25.50 per hour (NZD $53,040 per year) | |
| Higher-skilled | any | NZD $38.25 or more per hour NZD $79,560 per year) | NZD $37.50 or more per hour (NZD $78,000 per year) |
| Lower-skilled | any | NZD $21.67 r ess per hour (NZD $45,074 per year), will be lower-skilled | NZD $21.24 or less per hour (NZD $44,179 per year) |
| Lower-skilled | 4 or | NZD $38.24 or less per hour (NZD $79,539 per year) | NZD $37.49 or less per hour (NZD $77,979 per year) |
All work visa applications received on or after 24 February will be assessed using the new threshold. If your application for an Essential Skills Work Visa is received before 24 February 2020, it will be assessed using the old thresholds. However, if you already hold a visa and are applying for a further visa, the conditions or duration of your next visa could be different.
If your Expression of Interest (EOI) was selected before 24 February 2020 and you were invited to apply after 24 February 2020, the old remuneration thresholds apply when you apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category.
To discuss these changes and how they may relate to your personal circumstances, contact Pathways NZ to speak with a licensed immigration adviser.