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New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Calculator (2026): 6-Point System
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1. How many points can you score (qualification + occupation + income + NZ experience)?
2. Do you have a job offer with an accredited NZ employer ≥ median wage?
3. IELTS 6.5+ or equivalent?
4. Years of NZ work experience?
How the new 6-point SMC works
New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Calculator (2026): 6-Point System is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to New Zealand
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
SMC eligibility criteria (2026)
6-Point System (post-2023 reform)
Need 6 points across qualifications, occupation registration, income, and NZ work experience — no general expression-of-interest pool.
Skilled NZ Job Offer
Job with accredited employer at or above median wage (NZD 33.56/hr from Feb 2026 = NZD 69,805/yr full-time) and on Tier 1 Green List or qualifying for AEWV.
Points Earnable
PhD = 6 pts; master's/bachelor's = 5 pts; level 7 qualification = 4 pts; occupational registration = 3–6 pts; income multiples of median wage = up to 6 pts; NZ work experience 1 pt/yr (max 3).
Language
IELTS 6.5+ (overall) or equivalent unless from English-speaking country.
Health + Character
Standard NZ health requirement; police certificates from every country lived 12+ months since age 17.
Verify with Immigration New Zealand
Skilled Migrant Category FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Counting qualification points without NZQA assessment (where required).
Job offer with employer not on accredited employer list.
Income at exactly median (gives 0 income points — need 1.5× for 3 pts).
Missing police certificates from short-stay countries (12+ mo rule).
Improve your chances
- 1
Target Green List Tier 1 Straight to Residence pathway if eligible (skip SMC entirely).
- 2
Push offered salary to 1.5× or 2× median wage to bank extra income points.
- 3
Get NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) early.
- 4
Use accredited recruitment partner to ensure employer accreditation is live.
New Zealand vs alternatives
| Country | Verdict | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 189/190/491 points-based, no job offer needed for 189 but cut-offs are 85+ pts. | Younger applicants with high English + experience scores |
| Canada | Express Entry CRS-based, category draws for healthcare/STEM lower cut-offs to 445–490. | Tech, health, French speakers |
| UK | Skilled Worker is employer-sponsored only; £38,700 floor, 5 yrs to ILR. | Anyone with a UK sponsor licence offer |
SMC Resident Visa — 2026 points
| Source | Points |
|---|---|
| PhD | 6 pts |
| Master's | 5 pts |
| Bachelor's / Level 7 | 4 pts |
| Occupational registration (≥2 yrs training) | 3 pts |
| Occupational registration (≥6 yrs training, e.g. medical) | 6 pts |
| Income 1.5× median | 3 pts |
| Income 2× median | 6 pts |
| NZ skilled work (per yr, max 3) | 1 pt |
| Median wage (Feb 2026) | NZD 33.56/hr (~NZD 69,805/yr) |
| Application fee | NZD 6,450 |
Step-by-step application process
- Confirm Accredited Employer + median-wage job offer. Search the public Accredited Employer register on the INZ website. Offer must be 30+ hrs/week, permanent or 12+ months, and pay ≥ NZ$33.56/hr.
- Pick your 6-point category. You can ONLY pick one: registration, qualification, OR income. Most engineers/teachers reach 6 via qualification (Master's 5 pts + Bachelor's Honours 4 pts can't combine — check the table).
- Get an NZQA International Qualification Assessment (IQA). Required for any non-NZ qualification used for points. Costs NZ$884, takes 35 working days. Without it, your degree score is zero.
- Pass IELTS General 6.5 overall (or equivalent). Valid for 2 years. Skip if you hold a passport from UK/IE/US/CA/AU, or completed a 2+ year NZ qualification.
- Get NZ occupational registration where required. Medical Council (doctors), Nursing Council, Engineering NZ (CPEng), Teaching Council, etc. This often takes 3–9 months and is separate from immigration.
- Submit SMC Resident Visa application online. Application fee NZ$5,510 + NZ$340 levy. Median decision time 6 months in 2025–26. Most refusals come from incomplete employment evidence or job not meeting skill criteria.
- After 2 years as Resident → Permanent Resident Visa → citizenship. PRV after 2 years and meeting commitment criteria. NZ citizenship after 5 years residence with 240+ days physically present per year.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This page is editorial research compiled from Immigration New Zealand, NZQA, and DIA publications cited above. It is not legal advice. SMC rules and the median-wage threshold are revised annually — always verify with INZ or a licensed immigration adviser before applying.
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