How many points do you need for the Skilled Migrant Category?
You need 6 skilled resident points for the points-based pathway, one of the three Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) pathways. You claim points from one of three categories, not all of them added together. This is the NZ immigration points table in force since 24 August 2026:
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree (NZ or overseas) | 6 |
| NZ master's with 30+ weeks of full-time study in NZ (bachelor's also needed) | 6 |
| Other NZ master's | 5 |
| NZ level 8 (honours, postgraduate diploma or certificate, bachelor's also needed) | 5 |
| NZ bachelor's degree | 5 |
| Overseas master's (bachelor's also needed) | 5 |
| Overseas level 8 (bachelor's also needed) or overseas bachelor's | 4 |
| NZ occupational registration needing 6 / 5 / 4 / 2 years of training | 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 |
| Pay of 3 / 2 / 1.5 times the SMC wage threshold | 6 / 4 / 3 |
You can't claim points for a non-degree qualification at level 7 or below. Overseas qualifications need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA unless they are on the exempt list.
What happened to the old NZ points system?
It was replaced on 9 October 2023. Under the old Skilled Migrant Category you added up points for age, work experience, qualifications and a job offer, and needed a total score (such as 160 or, later, 180 points) to be selected. Points calculators from 2016 to 2023 use that old system and no longer apply. Today you need 6 points, worked out as above.
Can NZ work experience add points?
If your best category gives you fewer than 6 points, you can add up to 3 points for skilled work experience in New Zealand: 1 point for 1 year, 2 points for 1.5 years and 3 points for 2 years. So a bachelor's degree from overseas (4 points) plus 1.5 years of skilled work in NZ reaches 6. Work experience can only top up a category. It can't be combined with a second category, and on its own it isn't enough.
If you claim points from a registration, only work experience gained after you were registered counts.
What changed on 24 August 2026?
- NZ qualifications are worth more. NZ bachelor's and level 8 qualifications now earn 5 points, 1 more than overseas ones.
- Less NZ work experience is needed for each top-up point.
- Two new pathways without points: the Skilled Work Experience pathway (at least 5 years of relevant experience, including 2 years of skilled work in NZ at 1.1 times the SMC median wage or more) and the Trades and Technician pathway (a relevant level 4+ qualification and 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 18 months of skilled work in NZ).
Other requirements
For every pathway you must be 55 or younger, have a skilled job or job offer with an accredited employer for at least 30 hours a week, and meet health, character and English language requirements. You first submit an expression of interest, and Immigration New Zealand invites you to apply.