{"id":10,"date":"2020-01-28T16:57:22","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T15:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/?p=10"},"modified":"2026-09-13T10:59:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:59:46","slug":"how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa: The 6-Point System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>New Zealand skilled migrant visa<\/strong> runs on a points system, and the points work in a way that catches people out. You need <strong>six<\/strong>, and you have to claim them from <strong>one<\/strong> skill category rather than assembling them from everything you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That single rule is the difference between an application that works and one that does not, and it is the opposite of how the old system behaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/#How_the_six_points_actually_work\" >How the six points actually work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/#The_other_requirements\" >The other requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/#Two_new_pathways_both_of_which_widen_the_door\" >Two new pathways, both of which widen the door<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/#Getting_there_first_the_work_visa\" >Getting there first: the work visa<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/#What_to_do\" >What to do<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_the_six_points_actually_work\"><\/span><strong>How the six points actually work<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the Skilled Migrant Category you claim your points from <strong>a single skill category<\/strong>. There are three:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Occupational registration<\/strong>, where your profession is registered in New Zealand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A qualification<\/strong>, recognised at the relevant level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Income<\/strong>, measured against New Zealand pay.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick the strongest of those three and see how far it takes you. If it reaches six, you are there. If it does not, <strong>the balance has to come from skilled work experience gained in New Zealand<\/strong>, and not from a second category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read that last part carefully, because it is where the old advice misleads. A qualification worth four points plus an income worth three does not make seven. Overseas experience does not top up a short qualification. The only permitted top-up is New Zealand work experience, which means for many applicants the realistic sequence is a work visa first and residence second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_other_requirements\"><\/span><strong>The other requirements<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Requirement<\/th><th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Age<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>55 or younger.<\/strong> This is a hard limit, not a scoring factor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Points<\/strong><\/td><td>At least <strong>6<\/strong>, from a single skill category<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>A skilled job<\/strong><\/td><td>A skilled job or a job offer in New Zealand<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>English<\/strong><\/td><td>An acceptable standard of English<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Health and character<\/strong><\/td><td>Both assessed, and both able to end an application on their own<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption>Skilled Migrant Category requirements, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The age limit is worth stating plainly because it is absolute. At 56 there is no version of this route available, whatever your points would have been, and no discretion to apply for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Two_new_pathways_both_of_which_widen_the_door\"><\/span><strong>Two new pathways, both of which widen the door<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New Zealand added two pathways in 2026, and unusually for immigration news in the last two years, both make residence easier rather than harder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Skilled Work Experience Pathway<\/strong>, for roles at ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3. This reaches a considerably wider set of occupations than the qualification route does.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Trades and Technician Pathway<\/strong>, aimed at specific trades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both reduce the work experience and wage barriers that previously shut people out. The practical consequence: <strong>if you looked at this route before and did not qualify, it is worth looking again<\/strong>, particularly if you are in a trade. That is rarely true of an immigration system and it is true of this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_there_first_the_work_visa\"><\/span><strong>Getting there first: the work visa<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the top-up points have to be earned in New Zealand, most people arrive on a work visa and apply for residence afterwards. The main route is the <strong>Accredited Employer Work Visa<\/strong>, and it changed in a way that has been badly under-reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The general median wage requirement was removed in March 2025.<\/strong> There is now no national salary floor on the AEWV at all: your pay has to be the <strong>market rate<\/strong> for that job in that region, and at or above the adult minimum wage. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.immigration.govt.nz\/about-us\/media-centre\/changes-to-the-accredited-employer-work-visa-and-median-wage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Immigration New Zealand sets out what changed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The median wage still exists and still matters, just for other things. It rose to <strong>NZD 35.00 an hour on 9 March 2026<\/strong> and continues to gate the advertising exemption, the five-year stay for some lower-skilled roles, and the income tests for supporting a partner and for residence pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The constraint moved rather than disappeared: you need an <strong>accredited<\/strong> employer, and accreditation is what filters out most small employers. See <a href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/guide-to-new-zealands-accredited-employer-work-visa\/\">our guide to the Accredited Employer Work Visa<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do\"><\/span><strong>What to do<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check your age first.<\/strong> 55 or younger, or this route is closed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Work out your strongest single category<\/strong> and how many of the six points it reaches on its own. Do not add categories together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If it falls short, plan for a work visa first.<\/strong> The only permitted top-up is New Zealand work experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check the two 2026 pathways<\/strong>, especially if you are in a trade or at ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Target accredited employers.<\/strong> On the AEWV, accreditation is a fact about them and it decides whether they can hire you at all.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/new-zealand-recovery-visa-get-a-free-work-visa-in-1-week\/\">New Zealand&#8217;s fast-track work visa<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/work-visa-for-europe-countries-their-programs\/\">how other countries compare<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/jobs\">Browse shortage jobs with visa sponsorship<\/a> on our board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Last checked September 2026. The median wage is reviewed annually and rose on 9 March 2026; the Skilled Migrant Category pathways were added during 2026. Confirm the current requirements with Immigration New Zealand before applying.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New Zealand skilled migrant visa runs on a points system, and the points work in a way that catches people out. You need six,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"2","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"https:\/\/shortagejobs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-skilled-migrant-visa-for-new-zealand\/","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-zealand"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa: The 6-Point System<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The New Zealand skilled migrant visa now runs on six points from a single category, not a portfolio. 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