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18 Feb 2026New Zealand offers three key employment-based residence pathways:
Only applicants who score 6 points under the SMC, or who have employment in, and the applicable credentials for, a Green List Tier 1 role, can apply straight for residence.
All other applicants must work in particular qualifying employment roles, either to accrue the required additional SMC work experience points, or to become eligible to apply for residence under the Work to Residence pathway.
Wage Requirements
To be eligible for a skilled residence visa, applicants must have current skilled employment (or an offer of skilled employment) in New Zealand with an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) accredited employer. The job offer must also meet the required wage threshold for their occupation. These thresholds vary depending on the visa category and the skill level of the role.
Effective 9 March 2026, the median wage will increase to $35/hour affecting most skilled residence visa categories. However, some trade roles listed on the Green List have specific pay rates that differ from the median wage indexing.
Assessment of whether any employment is “skilled” is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO 1.3 version) which associates skill levels with each occupation:
- ANZSCO skill level 1, 2 and 3 roles must be paid at or above the median wage rate
- ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 occupations, or in an occupation for which there is no corresponding ANZSCO classification, must be paid at or above 1.5 x median wage rate
Updated Wage Thresholds
| Threshold | Hourly Rate | Annual Pay (based on a 40-hour work week) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Wage | $35.00 | $72,800.00 |
| 1.5× Median Wage | $52.50 | $109,200.00 |
| 2× Median Wage | $70.00 | $145,600.00 |
| 3× Median Wage | $105.00 | $218,400.00 |
Work Experience
If you are already working in New Zealand on a work visa and planning to apply for residence:
- Your work experience counts only if you were paid at or above the wage threshold in effect when you started the job
- You do not need a pay increase if thresholds rise while you remain in the same role
- If you change jobs, your new pay must meet the updated threshold
- You must also meet the current wage threshold at the time of applying for residence
Partnering on Your Immigration Journey
In the past 34 years, Pathways® has assisted thousands of migrants who now call New Zealand home. With over 150 years of combined experience and a team fluent in 10 languages, we are here to partner with you on your immigration journey.
Speak with one of our licensed immigration advisers. Call 0508PATHWAYS today for a free, no-obligation assessment of your eligibility.