New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category: pathways and points explained

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is not a single visa but a set of pathways that recognise different types of skill. Immigration New Zealand describes three SMC pathways: a points-based pathway for people with high pay, a recognised qualification, or occupational registration; a Skilled Work Experience pathway for people with relevant skilled work experience; and a Trades and Technician pathway for people in an eligible trade or technician job with a relevant qualification. Each pathway has its own requirements, and more than one pathway can apply to you. Your first step is to identify which pathway fits your situation, then check the detailed visa page for that option, because the points you can claim and the work experience you need will vary.

What the SMC pathways recognise

The SMC is designed to grant residence to people whose skills are needed in New Zealand. Your skills may include your job or job offer, your pay, your work experience, your qualifications such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and occupational registration — for example if you are a registered accountant, electrician, or plumber. Immigration New Zealand groups these into three SMC pathways, each with a different main skill recognised.

SMC pathway	Main skill recognised	What to check next
Points-based pathway	Pay, qualifications, or occupational registration	Whether you can claim 6 points, and whether you need New Zealand skilled work experience
Skilled Work Experience pathway	Relevant skilled work experience, including New Zealand skilled work experience	Whether your job is eligible, whether your work experience counts, and whether Red or Amber List rules apply
Trades and Technician pathway	Eligible trade or technician job, with a relevant qualification	Whether your job is on the Trades and Technician List and whether your work experience meets the requirements

As the table shows, the three pathways are not interchangeable. The points-based pathway is the one most applicants ask about, but it is only one route. If you have significant skilled work experience in a job at skill level 1 to 3, the Skilled Work Experience pathway may fit you better. If you work in an eligible trades or technician job and have a relevant qualification, the Trades and Technician pathway may be the right one.

The points-based pathway

The points-based pathway is for people whose main skill is high pay, a recognised qualification, or occupational registration. Immigration New Zealand states that you need to check whether you can claim 6 points, and whether you need New Zealand skilled work experience. The official guidance does not set out the full points table, the number of points awarded for each factor, or the pay thresholds. To determine whether you can claim 6 points, you must check the detailed Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa page on the Immigration New Zealand website, which lists the specific points for each qualification level, registration, and pay band.

A key point to note is that the points-based pathway may require New Zealand skilled work experience if you need more points. That means you cannot assume that a qualification or a high salary alone will be enough. The requirement depends on how many points you can claim from your main skill and whether that reaches the 6-point threshold. If it does not, you may need to work in New Zealand in a skilled job first to earn additional points.

The Skilled Work Experience pathway

The Skilled Work Experience pathway recognises relevant skilled work experience, including New Zealand skilled work experience. It is aimed at people who have significant skilled work experience in a job at skill level 1 to 3. Immigration New Zealand advises you to check whether your job is eligible, whether your work experience counts, and whether Red or Amber List rules apply. The Red and Amber Lists are separate from the Green List; they affect which skilled work experience counts toward this pathway. If your occupation is on the Red List, your work experience may not count at all, while Amber List occupations may have different rules. You must verify your occupation against these lists on the official SMC Resident Visa page before you apply.

This pathway is not for people with a job offer alone. It requires you to have already accumulated skilled work experience, and the experience must be in a job that is eligible under the SMC. If you have not yet worked in New Zealand, this pathway may not be available to you unless your overseas experience is recognised as meeting the requirements.

The Trades and Technician pathway

The Trades and Technician pathway is for people who work in an eligible trade or technician job and hold a relevant qualification. Immigration New Zealand states that you need to check whether your job is on the Trades and Technician List and whether your work experience meets the requirements. This pathway is distinct from the Green List, which covers occupations that are in-demand and have their own residence visas. The Trades and Technician List is specific to the SMC and includes jobs that may not appear on the Green List. If your occupation is on the Trades and Technician List, you must also hold a qualification relevant to that job and meet any work experience requirements. The official guidance does not list the occupations on the Trades and Technician List, so you must check the SMC Resident Visa page for the current list and the specific requirements for your occupation.

Common requirements across all SMC pathways

Regardless of which SMC pathway you apply under, most skilled residence visas require you to meet a common set of conditions. Immigration New Zealand lists these as: having a job or job offer in New Zealand with an accredited employer; being paid at least the required amount, which can differ depending on the visa; meeting any qualification, registration, or work experience requirements; being in good health; passing a character check; and being able to speak and understand English. The accredited employer requirement is significant — the SMC Resident Visa is one of the visas that requires you to work for an accredited employer. Your employer must be on the accredited employer list, and you must have a job offer from them before you apply. The pay requirement is not a single figure; it varies by visa and by your circumstances, so you must check the specific amount for the pathway you are applying under.

How the SMC compares to other skilled residence pathways

The SMC is only one of several skilled residence pathways in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand provides a comparison table that helps you narrow down which pathway may be worth exploring. If your job or job offer is on the Green List as a Tier 1 role, the Straight to Residence Visa may fit you, and it does not require New Zealand work experience first. If your job is on the Green List as a Tier 2 role, the Work to Residence Visa applies, and it does require New Zealand work experience. There are also dedicated pathways for care workforce roles and transport sector roles, both of which usually require about 2 years of New Zealand work experience. The SMC is the pathway for people whose skills are recognised through pay, qualifications, registration, or skilled work experience rather than through a specific Green List occupation. It is common for more than one pathway to apply to your situation, so you should read the summary of each pathway and then check the detailed visa page for the option that sounds closest to your circumstances.

What to do next

Start by identifying which SMC pathway matches your main skill. If your skill is high pay, a qualification, or occupational registration, check the points-based pathway requirements on the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa page. If your skill is skilled work experience, check whether your occupation is affected by the Red or Amber Lists. If you work in a trade or technician role, check the Trades and Technician List. In all cases, verify the current points table, pay thresholds, and accredited employer requirements on the official Immigration New Zealand SMC Resident Visa page, because the official guidance used here does not contain those specific numbers. Do not rely on this article alone to determine your eligibility — the official page is the authoritative reference, and requirements can change.