New Zealand, Visitor & Work Visa

12/04/2026

Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category to come into effect in August 2026
Published 05 March 2026

Immigration New Zealand is announcing further detail on changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) ahead of these changes taking effect from late August 2026.

Details of the changes include:

confirmation of key occupation lists, including the Trades and Technician pathway list, and the red and amber lists, which determine eligibility for residence pathways
simplified median wage settings that apply across all Skilled Migrant Category pathways
clarified qualification requirements for claiming points
extended English language test validity for some applicants
a new recognised occupational registration for accountants, and
a future ability to extend an Accredited Employer Work Visa to complete skilled work experience requirements.
The SMC is New Zealand’s main residence pathway for skilled migrants. In September 2025, the Government announced changes to help New Zealand employers retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth. These include:

new residence pathways for skilled migrants
changes to better reflect the value of qualifications completed in New Zealand, and
changes to simplify existing settings.
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa announced

Trades and Technician pathway confirmed
The list of eligible occupations for the Trades and Technician residence pathway has been confirmed.

This pathway is for migrants:

working in specified ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 trades and technician occupations
who hold a relevant Level 4 or above qualification, and
who have at least 4 years of directly relevant experience gained post qualification, including 1.5 years in New Zealand earning at least the SMC median wage.
Pay rates for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

A full list of eligible occupations is available here:

Eligible occupations for the SMC Trades and Technician pathway (August 2026)

These trades and technician occupations were added to the Trades and Technician pathway because they are skilled, have relevant qualification at the appropriate level for the pathway and bring important skills to the economy. Many highly skilled workers in these roles did not have a realistic pathway to residence under the current SMC settings. There is a history of migrant recruitment showing that there is a gap in the labour market.

Recognising these qualifications and providing a more realistic wage threshold for these occupations will help attract and retain migrants with important skills for the economy.

Red and Amber list details
As part of the September 2025 announcement of new residence pathways, the introduction of red and amber lists was announced. These lists are designed to manage immigration risk and ensure the pathways remain targeted to genuine skill needs.

Occupations on the red list are not eligible for the 2 new pathways. People working in these occupations will only be able to apply for residence under the SMC if they can claim 6 points under an existing pathway. For example, migrants must either earn at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage, or hold a Bachelor’s (Level 7) qualification or higher, or hold a recognised occupational registration and have the required length of skilled work experience in New Zealand.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

Occupations on the amber list are eligible for the new Skilled Work Experience pathway, but must meet additional eligibility requirements:

at least 5 years of relevant eligible work experience in New Zealand, including
2 years of skilled work experience earning at least 1.2 times the SMC median wage.
Migrants working in these occupations are still eligible for the existing SMC pathway (if they earn at least 1.5 times the SMC median wage, have a Bachelor’s qualification or above, or hold a recognised occupational registration).

Occupations on the red and amber lists were determined based on evidence of historic immigration risk, including indicators of role inflation and immigration fraud. Immigration risk is not static, and we know it is important that these lists are responsive to changes. Therefore, these lists will be reviewed regularly – to both add new occupations and remove existing occupations from the lists where necessary.

Migrants in occupations that are not on the red or amber lists must meet the standard SMC requirements for their pathway. For example, migrants applying under the Skilled Work Experience pathway must:

Be working in a skilled role (ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3), and
Have at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including 2 years in New Zealand earning at least 1.1 times the SMC median wage.
Skilled work experience requirements

Relevant work experience must be directly relevant to an applicant’s skilled job or skilled job offer and be in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation.

Skilled work experience must be paid at the threshold required for an applicant’s SMC pathway. For the Skilled Work Experience pathway and Trades and Technician pathway skilled work experience must also be in an ANZSCO 1 to 3 skill level occupation and be directly relevant to an applicant’s skilled job or job offer.

Red and amber list occupations

Red and amber list occupations
Role type Occupation Red or Amber list
Accommodation related manager roles Accommodation and hospitality manager Amber
Accommodation related manager roles Hotel or Motel Manager Amber
Accommodation related manager roles Hotel Service Manager Amber
Accommodation related manager roles Bed and Breakfast operator Amber
Accommodation related manager roles Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager Amber
Food service roles Café/restaurant manager Amber
Food service roles Baker Amber
Food service roles Pastrycook Amber
Food service roles Chef Amber
Generic management roles Customer service manager Amber
Generic management roles Hospitality, Retail and Service manager Nec Red
Generic management roles Office manager Amber
Generic management roles Retail manager Red
Health and Beauty roles Beauty therapist Red
Health and Beauty roles Massage therapist Red
Health and Beauty roles Hairdresser Red
Health and Beauty roles Hair and beauty salon manager Red
ICT roles ICT Customer Support Officer Amber
ICT roles ICT Support Technician Amber
ICT roles Web Administrator Amber
Further updates to the SMC
Ability to extend an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Migrants who need up to 12 additional months of skilled work experience to meet SMC requirements will be able to apply to extend their AEWV to complete the skilled work experience they need to apply for residence. This ability to extend an AEWV is scheduled to be introduced in 2027. Further details on eligibility and process for this extension will be provided at a later date.

Qualification points

In September 2025, the Government announced that qualification points will change from August 2026, including to provide 1 point more for qualifications completed in New Zealand, than for those completed overseas (except for doctoral degrees and in some cases master’s degrees).

We are now introducing further detail on how this will work.

For the qualification, for which they are claiming points, applicants must provide:

the qualification certificate, and
an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if the qualification was gained overseas and is not on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA).
Check if you need an International Qualification Assessment

Under the new changes, applicants claiming points for a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification (on the NZQCF framework) must also hold a bachelor’s degree (except for applicants claiming 5 points for an New Zealand master’s degrees). A level 8 or Level 9 qualification includes:

master's degree (level 9)
postgraduate diploma (level 😎
postgraduate certificate (level 😎
honour's degree (level 😎
Applicants claiming 6 points for a New Zealand master’s degree must have studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand, and must have a bachelor’s degree (this can be gained in any country).

Wage assessment settings

The Government has implemented 2 changes to wage settings.

Migrants will only need to meet the SMC median wage (specific to their pathway) in effect when they start gaining skilled work experience and maintain at least that rate when applying for residence. They will no longer be required to meet a higher wage threshold when they apply for residence.
A grace period will now apply to the situations where the SMC median wage increases before a migrant starts work. If a migrant begins skilled work experience within 5 months of their work visa being granted, the wage threshold that applied on the day the visa was granted will be used, even if the median wage has increased since then.
English language test validity

From late August 2026, English language test results will be valid for 5 years for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration.

New recognised registration for accountants

From late August 2026, accountants who can undertake the work of a Qualified Statutory Accountant in New Zealand and who have membership with Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia will be eligible under the SMC pathway.

12/04/2026

Changes to the Immigration Act introduced
Published 18 March 2026

Amendments to the Immigration Act 2009 announced.

In September 2025, the Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford announced some proposals for the Immigration ‘(Enhanced Risk Management)’ Amendment Bill. The Bill was introduced in Parliament today and is expected to have its first reading in the coming weeks.

The Bill makes 15 amendments to the Immigration Act 2009, with the intention of increasing the effectiveness of the immigration compliance and enforcement system and improving the integrity of the refugee and protection system. A Parliamentary Paper outlining proposed changes to the refugee and protection system was also tabled.

You can read more about the Bill and Parliamentary Paper on the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment website.

Immigration Act 2009 amendments — Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Full details of this announcement are also available on the Beehive website.

Immigration (Enhanced Risk Management) Amendment Bill to hold people to account for serious offending — Beehive

02/10/2025

Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa announced
Published 23 September 2025

The Government has announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa that will help employers retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth.

Two new residence pathways will be introduced under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa.

Skilled work experience pathway — for migrants in skilled roles ( ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3) with at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including 2 years in New Zealand earning at least 1.1 times the median wage.
Trades and technician pathway — for migrants in specified trades or technician roles who hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification and have at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 18 months in New Zealand paid at or above the median wage.
In addition, applicants will still need to meet other requirements for residence such as health, character and the English language requirement.

These pathways are designed to better reflect the value of practical skills and migrants’ contribution to New Zealand’s workforce. Additional eligibility criteria will apply to certain occupations to manage immigration risk and ensure the pathways remain targeted to genuine skill needs.

The changes also include increased points for New Zealand university-level qualifications, making it easier for graduates to transition to residence. This supports the International Education Plan for Growth by recognising the value of local qualifications and encouraging international students to study here. Applicants claiming points for a post-graduate qualification must also hold an under-graduate degree.

The New Zealand work experience requirements will be modestly reduced for some current pathways. This change reduces the amount of New Zealand work experience required for most migrants, from a maximum of 3 years to a maximum of 2 years. This helps improve the international competitiveness of the SMC settings to better attract and retain skilled and talented migrants.

Other changes also include removing the requirement to have an increased wage rate when applying for residence. Instead, migrants will only need to maintain the same median wage rate throughout their required period of New Zealand work experience.

These changes come into effect in August 2026, and we will provide detailed information closer to the time.

The announcement forms part of the Government’s Going for Growth programme, which includes actions to refine the Accredited Employer Work Visa, improve education outcomes, and support young job seekers into employment or training.

10/02/2025

Investor Category Visa

From 1 April 2025, there will be changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa to encourage growth and make investing in New Zealand more attractive. These include:

- introducing 2 simplified investment categories — Growth and Balanced

- a minimum investment amount of NZD$5 million for Growth category investors and NZD$10 million for Balanced category investors

-broadening the scope of acceptable investments for Balanced category to include bond and property (new residential, new/existing commercial or industrial developments) investments

-fewer immigration requirements for migrants who choose more active investments (such as time required to be spent in New Zealand)

-reducing the time Growth and Balanced category visa holders have to make their investments in New Zealand, both categories must make all investments within 6 months of their approval in principle but may apply for a 6 month extension, and

-removing the English language requirement.

Further information will be available in early March, including information on options for current Active Investor Plus Visa applicants.

Investor category update provides attractive investment options

Applications under the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas are no longer accepted. All applications in the current pipeline are continuing to be processed.

08/04/2024

While she is turning the tap down for now, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the reverse might be the case next year.

07/04/2024

Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-the-accredited-employer-work-visa-aewv

What is changing for people with an AEWV

If you currently have an AEWV, these changes could affect how long you can stay before you need to spend time outside New Zealand or your eligibility to be granted a further AEWV.

If you applied for your first AEWV before 21 June 2023 and are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job paying at or above the required AEWV wage rate, and currently hold a three year AEWV, you will no longer be able to access the maximum time of five years.

If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job on a pathway to residence, you will not be affected by these changes.

If you apply for a further AEWV on or after 7 April 2024, you will have to meet the updated criteria. If you are in an ANZSCO level 4 and 5 job you may not be able to stay and work in New Zealand for the maximum time of five years.

How long you can stay on an AEWV

What is changing for new AEWV applications

There are now higher work experience and qualification requirements, a standard of English for people applying to work in roles assessed as ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5, and a shorter stay in New Zealand if you are working in specific roles.

New minimum skill requirement

If you are applying for an AEWV you will need to show evidence of your work experience or qualifications. This is in addition to the skills and qualifications that your employer has identified as necessary for the job and your employer will need to check you meet the skill requirements before they offer you the job.

Unless your role is on the Green List and meets the Green List role requirements, or is paid least twice the median wage, you must now have:

at least 3 years’ relevant work experience, or
a relevant qualification at level 4 or above of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
Evidence of your qualification must be accompanied by an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) if it is below Bachelor’s degree level.

To meet the work experience requirement, you must provide evidence proving you did the work — you cannot include documents that you wrote.

Accredited Employer Work Visa

Minimum standard of English

If the job is ANZSCO level 4 or 5, you need to show that you can speak and understand English.

This requirement will not apply to current applications, or to people travelling as the partner or child of AEWV applicant.

English language requirements for the Accredited Employer Work Visa

Shorter visa length and stay in New Zealand for some jobs

For ANZSCO level 4 and 5 jobs paying at or above the required AEWV wage rate, the maximum visa length for an AEWV is reduced to 2 years, with the ability to apply for one more year with a new Job Check.

The total time you can stay in New Zealand (also called a maximum continuous stay) on one or more AEWVs is reduced to 3 years. When you get to the end of your maximum continuous stay you will need to leave New Zealand for a specified amount of time — normally 12 months — before you can apply for another AEWV.

These changes will apply to anyone who applied for their first AEWV on or after 7 April 2024 or before 21 June 2023.

Some ANZSCO level 4 and 5 jobs will not be affected by these changes, including those:

on the Green List
in transport and care sector agreements, and on a pathway to residence
earning 1.5 times the median wage.
The length of an AEWV and maximum continuous stay for people in ANZSCO level 1 to 3 jobs will remain 5 years.

How long you can stay on an AEWV

What is changing for employers

The requirements employers must meet to hire migrants on the AEWV have changed.

There are now more requirements at the accreditation and Job Check stages and during the accreditation period.

There are also higher work experience and qualification requirements for AEWV applicants, a standard of English for people applying to work in roles assessed as ANZSCO skill level 4 and 5, and a shorter stay in New Zealand for those working in specific roles.

Meeting your AEWV accredited employer obligations

Ensure an applicant is suitably qualified and skilled

Employers must now take reasonable steps to ensure migrants are suitably skilled before sending them a job token. Employers will need to check that the migrant has the skills they have identified as necessary for the job, as well as the new minimum skill requirement being introduced as part of these changes.

These requirements must be met for all Job Check applications.

Employers who are accredited or re-accredited from 7 April 2024 will need to take reasonable steps to ensure migrant workers meet skill requirements as part of their accreditation obligations.

Check your migrant is suitably qualified

Employ migrants for at least 30 hours

From 7 April 2024, new AEWVs will be issued with a condition requiring you to employ migrants for at least 30 hours per week.

If you do not provide at least 30 hours a week's employment we can revoke your accreditation.

Grounds for suspending accreditation being expanded

Employers being actively investigated for any breach of accreditation may have their accreditation suspended. Previously, suspension was only an option for breaches of some accreditation requirements.

Now using ANZSCO skill levels

Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) skill levels are being introduced into the assessment of AEWV applications.

Check the ANZSCO list

Suitable and available New Zealanders

There is now a definition of 'suitable and available New Zealanders'.

Employers will be required to declare that nobody who applied for the job met the definition. If an employer indicates that there were suitable New Zealanders available, the Job Check will be declined.

Advertise a job and engage with Work and Income

Extra rules for ANZSCO level 4 and 5 jobs

Employers wanting to fill jobs at ANZSCO level 4 and 5 now need to:

advertise for 21 days, rather than 14,
engage with Work and Income, and
declare in the Job Check why any New Zealanders who applied were not hired.
Employers must engage with Work and Income before making their Job Check application.

If you did not hire a New Zealand applicant who met the definition of suitable and available, your Job Check will be declined.

Advertise a job and engage with Work and Income

Tell Immigration New Zealand when a migrant leaves their job

A new accreditation requirement is being introduced for employers.

If a worker on an AEWV leaves your employment a month or more before their visa expires, you must tell Immigration New Zealand (INZ) within 10 working days. If you fail to do this we may revoke or suspend your accreditation.

This change will not apply to existing accredited employers until they renew or upgrade their accreditation.

Meeting your AEWV accredited employer obligations

Franchisee accreditation changing late-2024

Franchisee accreditation will end later in 2024. Franchisee employers will be able to apply for standard, high-volume, or triangular employment accreditation, depending on their circumstances.

The Government is making changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Find out what these changes mean for employers and visa applicants.

07/04/2024

7 April 2024 Government responds to unsustainable net migration

06/04/2024

Update

Secondary school teachers moving to the Straight to Residence pathway

From May 2024, secondary school teachers move to the Straight to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand roles.

The Government has announced that secondary school teachers will move to the Straight to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand roles.

This move helps fill the likely shortage of secondary school teachers in the short to medium term.

The change allows eligible overseas secondary school teachers to apply for residence from outside New Zealand:

- when they have an offer of employment with an accredited employer, and
-without needing to work for 2 years in New Zealand first.

This change comes into effect in May.

Other teachers remain on the Work to Residence pathway.

27/01/2024

Update

2024 draw for Parent Resident Visa ballot

The next selection for the Parent Resident Visa Category expressions of interest (EOIs) will take place on 13 February 2024.

EOIs must be in by 31 January 2024 to be eligible for the February draw. There will be 100 people drawn in the February ballot.

People who have submitted their EOIs should make sure they meet the requirements of the category. EOIs may be updated or withdrawn before selection.

23/09/2023

Labour has just announced an amnesty for overstayers who have been in NZ for 10+ years.

Labour makes major pre-election immigration announcement.