NZ's 6-Point SMC System, Explained With 3 Worked Examples

Since October 2023, the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa uses a simple rule: you need 6 skilled resident points. You get 3 to 6 points from one skill category — your New Zealand occupational registration, your qualification, or your income — and you can add up to 3 more points from skilled work experience in New Zealand.

Points are necessary but not sufficient. You must also be 55 or younger, meet health, character and English requirements, and — critically — have a skilled job, or a job offer, with an accredited employer. That job must be at least 30 hours a week, permanent or fixed-term for 12+ months (or contracts of 6+ months), and paid at or above the wage threshold for its ANZSCO level.

The three skill categories (choose one)

1. New Zealand occupational registration — 3 to 6 points

If your occupation requires registration that is on INZ’s eligible list, the points depend on how much training or experience the registration requires:

Registration requires	Points
6+ years of training/experience	6
5 years	5
4 years	4
2 years	3

If you top up with NZ work experience, only experience gained after you got the registration counts.

2. Qualification — 3 to 6 points

For a New Zealand qualification, an overseas qualification with an IQA-confirmed NZ equivalent, or one on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA):

Qualification level	Points
Level 10 Doctoral degree	6
Level 9 Master’s degree	5
Level 8 Bachelor Honours or Postgraduate Diploma	4
Level 8 Postgraduate Certificate, or Level 7 Bachelor’s degree	3

If your IQA recognises your qualification on the NZQF but cannot confirm a NZ equivalent, the points drop: level 10 → 5, level 9 → 4, level 8 → 3. Non-degree qualifications at level 7 or below earn nothing.

3. Income — 3 to 6 points

Based on your current NZ job or job offer, measured against the immigration median wage (NZD $35.00/hour since 9 March 2026):

Your pay	Hourly (2026)	Points
3× median wage	$105.00	6
2× median wage	$70.00	4
1.5× median wage	$52.50	3

If you top up with NZ work experience, you must have been paid at that threshold throughout the experience period.

New Zealand skilled work experience — up to 3 points

One point per year of skilled work in New Zealand, maximum 3. Recency windows apply:

• 3 points — 3 years of skilled work within the 5 years before you apply
• 2 points — 2 years within the last 4 years
• 1 point — 1 year within the last 2 years

The work must meet the wage threshold for its ANZSCO level: at or above the median wage for level 1–3 jobs; at or above 1.5× the median wage for level 4–5 jobs.

Three worked examples

Example 1 — the PhD. Amara has a doctoral degree (level 10) and a job offer from an accredited employer. Her qualification alone is worth 6 points. She can apply with no New Zealand work experience at all.

Example 2 — the Master’s graduate. Wei has a Master’s degree (5 points) and works in Auckland in a skilled job. After 1 year of skilled NZ work experience he reaches 5 + 1 = 6 points.

Example 3 — the high earner. Priya’s job pays $72/hour — above 2× the median wage (4 points). She needs 2 more points, so she must complete 2 years of skilled work in NZ, paid at 2× the median wage throughout, to reach 6.

Common misunderstandings

• You cannot mix categories. A Master’s degree (5) plus a 1.5× income (3) is not 8 points — it is still 5, plus whatever NZ experience points you have.
• Your job offer earns no points. It is a prerequisite, not a point source.
• Overseas experience earns no points. Only skilled work in New Zealand counts.
• English, age, health and character are separate gates. Meeting 6 points does not waive them.

Use our SMC Points Calculator to model your own situation — it applies exactly these rules and shows your gap if you are short.