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If you are working towards New Zealand residence, policy updates can feel like a consistently moving goalpost you have to keep up with while also managing work, family, and day-to-day life. At Pathways to New Zealand®, we have supported migrants with visa applications since 1992, and our approach is always people first: clear steps, calm guidance, and a plan that fits your real situation..
Immigration New Zealand has published two key updates about upcoming changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa. The first announcement (published 23 September 2025) outlines what is changing and why. The second update (published 5 March 2026) adds important detail, including new occupation lists and practical rules that will apply from late August 2026.
Two new SMC residence pathways
The Government has announced two new residence pathways under the Skilled Migrant Category, designed to better recognise practical skills and work contribution.
Skilled Work Experience Pathway
This pathway is for people in skilled roles (ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3) who have at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including 2 years in New Zealand paid at least 1.1 times the median wage.
Trades and Technician Pathway
This pathway is for people in specified trades or technician roles (also ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3) who hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification and have at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 18 months (1.5 years) in New Zealand paid at or above the SMC median wage.
What does “ANZSCO” mean, and why does it matter?
ANZSCO, which stands for the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, is a job classification system Immigration New Zealand uses to group roles by skill level, with highest skilled being considered Skill Level 1 and the lowest 5. The new pathways focus on ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3, which are considered higher-skilled roles. A job title alone is not enough; what matters is whether your occupation (the actual duties) and pay align with the role and skill level.
Changes to points, qualifications, and New Zealand work experience
Alongside the new pathways, Immigration New Zealand has confirmed changes that make the system more practical for many applicants:
- More recognition for New Zealand qualifications: points will increase for New Zealand university-level qualifications, helping graduates transition to residence more easily.
- Overseas qualifications still need checking: if you claim points for an overseas qualification, it must usually be assessed by NZQA through an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) (unless it is on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment). [link to Pathways blog on this]
- Extra clarity for postgraduate points: Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that people claiming points for Level 8 or 9 qualifications must also hold a bachelor’s degree, with specific exceptions (for example, some New Zealand master’s degree point claims).
- Less New Zealand work experience for many people in the points pathway: the maximum New Zealand work experience required to reach 6 points reduces from 3 years to 2 years for most migrants.
Wage rules: a simpler (and fairer) approach to the median wage
Wage settings cause a lot of stress for applicants, because people worry that a moving wage threshold will catch them out at the final step.
Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that, from late August 2026, applicants will no longer need to meet a higher wage threshold at the time they apply for residence. Instead, they must meet the SMC median wage rate (or the rate for their pathway) that applied when they started gaining their New Zealand skilled work experience, and maintain at least that rate through to the residence application.
There is also a helpful grace period: if you begin skilled work experience within 5 months of your work visa being granted, the wage threshold from the visa grant date can be used, even if the median wage increases before you start work.
Simple example: imagine you start “counting” your skilled work experience from a particular date. Under the new approach, the wage threshold is tied to that start point, rather than changing again right at the end when you apply for residence.
The Red List and the Amber List: Who can use the new pathways?
The March 2026 update confirms three important occupation lists: the Trades and Technician pathway list, plus the red list and amber list. These lists are designed to manage immigration risk and keep the new pathways targeted.
- Red list: occupations on the red list are not eligible for the two new pathways. People in these roles may still qualify for residence through existing SMC options (for example, by meeting the 6-point pathway through income, qualifications, or recognised occupational registration, plus the required skilled work experience). 26 27
- Amber list: occupations on the amber list can use the Skilled Work Experience Pathway, but with stricter requirements: at least 5 years of eligible work experience in New Zealand, including 2 years paid at least 1.2 times the SMC median wage. Amber list roles are not eligible for the Trades and Technician Pathway.
- Immigration New Zealand has also published examples of red and amber list occupations (including some accommodation-related manager roles, food service roles, health and beauty roles, and ICT support roles). These lists will be reviewed regularly.
Other confirmed updates (August 2026 and beyond)
A few more changes are worth noting:
- Longer English test validity for some people: from late August 2026, English test results will be valid for 5 years for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration.
- New recognised registration for some accountants: from late August 2026, certain accountants who can undertake work as a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand and who hold membership with Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia will be eligible under the SMC pathway.
- Extra time to finish skilled work experience (from 2027): from 2027, migrants who need up to 12 additional months of skilled work experience to meet SMC requirements will be able to apply to extend their Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) to complete that time. Immigration New Zealand has said more process detail will be provided later.
What you can do now
Even though the changes start later, you can prepare in a steady, sensible way:
- Identify your likely pathway: are you aiming for the existing 6-point route, the Skilled Work Experience Pathway, or the Trades and Technician Pathway?
- Get your evidence organised early: job descriptions, payslips, employment agreements, qualification documents, and (if needed) an IQA for overseas qualifications.
- Stay close to the detail: if your occupation could fall on the red or amber list, planning becomes even more important, because the best pathway may differ.