New Zealand skilled worker immigration

New Zealand skilled worker immigration is the most popular route to becoming a permanent resident of this South Pacific island nation. The New Zealand immigration system works on a different philosophy from Australia or Canada: most skilled categories require applicants to have a job offer from an Accredited Employer in New Zealand before filing.

This article analyses the three main routes comprising the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) 6-point system, the Green List and the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), updated with the policy changes to the end of 2025 and the adjustments expected from August 2026.

The information in this article is drawn from the official sources of the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) andImmigration New Zealand (INZ), for Vietnamese workers weighing their settlement options in New Zealand.

An overview of the New Zealand skilled worker immigration system

New Zealand skilled worker immigration is structured around three main routes, each suiting a different group. The most popular route is theSkilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa— the residence visa for skilled workers, comprehensively reformed in October 2023 with a 6-point system replacing the old 180-point system.

The second route is the Green List — the list of occupations in serious shortage. Occupations on Green List Tier 1 receive a visa straight to residence (Straight to Residence), while Tier 2 goes through the Work to Residence route. This is the fastest route for occupations such as doctors, specialist nurses, specialist engineers, and mathematics and science teachers.

The third route is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) — a temporary work visa valid for up to 5 years. The AEWV is not a direct residence visa, but is a common stepping stone for building up work experience in New Zealand before moving to the SMC or waiting to qualify for the newly announced routes.

What all three routes have in common is the mandatory requirement of an employer accredited by INZ (an Accredited Employer). The employer accreditation system was introduced in July 2022 to reduce the risk of foreign worker exploitation and ensure employers meet legal compliance standards. As at the end of 2025, New Zealand had more than 30,000 accredited employers nationwide.

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) — the 6-point system

The 6-point SMC system is New Zealand’s principal skilled route today. According to INZ, applicants must score at least 6 points from skills and work to be eligible to apply. Points are awarded on a simple principle: 3–6 points from one of three skill categories (occupational registration, qualification or income), plus up to 3 further points from work experience in New Zealand.

The occupational registration category scores highest for occupations requiring intensive training. Specifically: 6 points where at least 6 years’ training is needed for registration, 5 points for 5 years, 4 points for 4 years, 3 points for 3 years. The typical occupations in this category comprise doctors, dentists, pharmacists, registered specialist engineers, lawyers and architects.

The qualification category is divided by level: 6 points for a doctorate, 5 for a master’s, 4 for a bachelor’s or postgraduate qualification, 3 for a qualification above New Zealand Level 6. Qualifications must be assessed as equivalent to the New Zealand system by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) before an EOI is filed.

The income category scores on the ratio to New Zealand’s median wage. The current median wage from 18/08/2025 is NZD 33.56 an hour (around NZD 69,800 a year full-time). The income points: 3 points for 1.5 times the median (NZD 50.34 an hour), 4 points for 2 times (NZD 67.12 an hour), 6 points for 3 times the median (NZD 100.68 an hour) or above.

A detailed article onsalary requirements.

Besides the 3 to 6 points from a skill category, applicants may accumulate up to 3 further points from skilled work experience in New Zealand: 1 point for each year of work, up to 3 years. This is why many applicants take the AEWV route first to build up time working in New Zealand before filing under the SMC.

The conditions accompanying the SMC

Besides the points requirement, the SMC has mandatory conditions that carry no points but must be met in full. Applicants must be under 55 at the time of filing — a higher age limit than most comparable countries (Australia 45, Canada 47). This is particularly favourable for experienced professionals wanting to change their living environment mid-career.

Applicants must have a formal job offer or be in skilled work with an Accredited Employer. The contract must guarantee at least 30 hours a week and be permanent or for a term of at least 12 months. The salary must be at least the median wage (NZD 33.56 an hour for ANZSCO level 1–3 occupations) or 1.5 times the median (NZD 50.34 an hour for ANZSCO level 4–5 occupations).

The English requirement is at Functional English level. The accepted tests comprise IELTS General Training with an overall score of at least 6.5, PTE Academic 58, TOEFL iBT 79, Cambridge CAE 176, and OET overall B (for healthcare). Citizens of English-speaking countries (Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa) or those who have graduated from university in English are exempt from the test.

The health and criminal record requirements apply to all accompanying family members. Applicants must have a medical examination at a clinic designated by INZ and obtain criminal record certificates from every country lived in for more than 12 months since the age of 17. Chronic conditions with high treatment costs may lead to visa refusal. A serious criminal record usually leads to refusal.

The Green List — the shortage occupation list

The Green List is the list of occupations in serious shortage in New Zealand, divided into two tiers. Tier 1 comprises around 80 occupations granted a visa straight to residence (Straight to Residence), notably general practitioners, specialist doctors, registered nurses, midwives, electrical engineers, structural engineers, chemical engineers, civil engineers, environmental engineers and clinical chemists.

Tier 2 comprises the occupations granted Work to Residence: filing for an AEWV first, then after 2 years working in New Zealand in a Tier 2 occupation being able to apply straight for residence. The typical Tier 2 occupations comprise secondary teachers (mathematics, science, technology), mechanical engineers, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, veterinarians and electricians.

TheNew Zealand Green List and National Occupation List (NOL)are reviewed by INZ every 6 months, reflecting real labour market needs. Occupations may be added, moved between tiers or removed. An occupation removed from the Green List may still qualify under the SMC where the points requirement is met.

Each occupation on the Green List has its own qualification, occupational registration and salary requirements. For example, general practitioners must register with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), nurses with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, and specialist engineers need an assessment from Engineering New Zealand. The registration bodies take from 3 to 12 months to process, with registration fees from NZD 500 to 3,000.

The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) — a stepping stone to permanent residence

The AEWV is a temporary work visa valid for up to 5 years, replacing the old Essential Skills Work Visa system from July 2022. It is not a residence visa but is used by many applicants as a stepping stone to build up work experience in New Zealand before moving to the SMC or qualifying for Work to Residence.

The AEWV process has three checks. The first is that the employer must already be accredited by INZ (an Accredited Employer). The second is that the employer must have a labour market test (Job Check) — proving they advertised publicly and could not find a suitable New Zealand applicant. The third is the applicant’s own visa application (Migrant Check), together with an employment contract meeting the salary requirement.

The AEWV’s basic conditions comprise being under 55 at the time of filing, holding a contract with an accredited employer, a salary meeting the median wage threshold (or 1.5 times the median for ANZSCO level 4–5 occupations), and meeting the health, criminal record and English requirements. The English requirement for the AEWV is lower than for the SMC — most occupations need only proof of basic communication ability.

The AEWV has limitations compared with a residence visa: it is tied to a specific accredited employer, does not allow free movement into other work or additional jobs, and must be renewed as it nears expiry. However, accompanying children under 19 attend state schools free of charge, and a spouse may apply for a Partner of Worker visa allowing them to work freely — a great advantage over the temporary work visas of many other countries.

The new routes expected from August 2026

In September 2025, theNew Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)announced two new routes expected to launch in August 2026, widening skilled settlement opportunities for groups previously “stuck” in the current system.

The first is the Skilled Work Experience Pathway — for workers in ANZSCO level 1–3 occupations with at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including 2 years in New Zealand at 1.1 times the median wage. This route is aimed at experienced professionals who do not reach the SMC points threshold because they lack a qualification or occupational registration.

The second is the Trades and Technician Pathway — for trades and technician occupations. It requires a New Zealand Level 4 qualification or above and at least a period of paid work in New Zealand at the median wage or above. This is the answer to the long-running shortage of trades workers (builders, electricians, installers, technicians) in New Zealand.

Alongside the two new routes, INZ has also announced adjustments to SMC scoring: more points for New Zealand university qualifications, a reduced New Zealand work experience requirement for certain pathways, and a change in the salary assessment so that the required salary level is maintained throughout the period of work rather than only at the time of filing.

The route from residence visa to citizenship

Unlike Australia or Canada, New Zealand draws a clear distinction between two kinds of residence: the Resident Visa (a conditional residence visa) and the Permanent Resident Visa (an unconditional residence visa). Those granted the SMC or Straight to Residence receive a Resident Visa first.

After 2 years holding the Resident Visa and meeting the continuous residence conditions in New Zealand, settlers may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. The main conditions: still being resident in New Zealand, having a commitment to the country (residing for at least 184 days in each 12 months of the most recent 24), and meeting the character requirements.

To apply for New Zealand citizenship, settlers need a Permanent Resident Visa and must meet a residence requirement of 5 years including at least 1,350 days in New Zealand since holding the Resident Visa (240 days in the 12 months before filing). This is a stricter residence requirement than Australia (4 years) but on a par with Canada (3 of 5 years).

New Zealand citizenship permits multiple nationality, visa-free travel to most EU countries, the United States, Canada, Britain and Ireland, and the right to live and work in Australia for life through the Trans-Tasman Arrangement (Special Category Visa 444). This is a particularly great advantage, effectively making New Zealand citizens dual “Australia–New Zealand” citizens economically and for work purposes.

The risks and important points

New Zealand skilled worker immigration has several particular features to note carefully. First, the requirement for an accredited employer before filing under the SMC is a major barrier for applicants abroad. Finding work remotely is not impossible, but demands a carefully prepared application, a CV in the New Zealand format, and regular video interviews across the UTC+12 time zone.

Second, migration costs in New Zealand are among the higher ones. The SMC visa fee for a family is around NZD 6,450, not counting the NZQA credential assessment fee (from NZD 747), occupational registration fees, English test fees and medical examination costs. The all-in cost of an application for a family is usually NZD 15,000 to 25,000 before flying out.

Third, the New Zealand labour market has turned more cautious since 2024. Unemployment has risen and many employers are favouring domestic applicants. Having an occupation on the Green List or in a shortage sector remains a great advantage, but those in sectors off the list need to prepare over a longer horizon.

Fourth, New Zealand immigration policy is in a transitional phase with major reforms taking effect from August 2026. Applicants should consult a Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA) registered with the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) to make sure their application meets the latest requirements.

Applicants should be alert toNew Zealand immigration fraud and scams.

Conclusion

New Zealand skilled worker immigration offers three main routes: the 6-point SMC for skilled workers generally, the Green List for shortage occupations (straight to residence), and the AEWV as a stepping stone for building experience. The age limit of 55, higher than most countries, moderate English requirements, and a clear route to citizenship carrying the special right to live in Australia make New Zealand an attractive choice for Vietnamese professionals and skilled workers.

Success in a New Zealand skilled worker immigration application demands careful preparation on three fronts: finding an accredited employer with a contract meeting the salary threshold, meeting the SMC points requirement or the Green List criteria, and having complete character, health and English documentation. The reforms expected to take effect in August 2026 will widen the opportunities for trades workers and experienced professionals who do not reach the points threshold under the current system.