17/06/2026
📢Immigration New Zealand has announced final changes to the Skilled Migrant Category, taking effect from 24 August 2026.📢
Key updates include:
👉Most SMC applicants will only need to meet the wage threshold that applied when they started their skilled work experience.
👉Work to Residence wage rules will be aligned with the updated SMC wage settings.
👉Qualification evidence requirements have been clarified, especially for Level 8 and 9 qualifications.
👉Overseas Trade and Technician qualifications no longer need to meet the 120-credit requirement.
👉New Zealand Trade and Technician qualifications must still have at least 120 credits.
👉Self-employment cannot be counted as relevant work experience under the new pathways.
👉INZ has strengthened rules to ensure employment is genuine, ongoing, and genuinely based in New Zealand.
These changes aim to simplify residence pathways and provide more certainty for skilled migrants and employers.