Skilled but not a points-scorer? New Zealand opened two new residence routes
Visa guide · 2026-08-26 · 5 min read
New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category was no longer the only way to residence for skilled workers from 24 August 2026. Two extra pathways were set to sit beside it: one built around years of skilled work, the other around trade and technician qualifications. Which one suits you depends on your occupation, your qualification and how long you have already worked in New Zealand.
Two pathways beside the points system
The Skilled Migrant Category rewards qualifications and points. Immigration New Zealand added routes for people whose strength is a proven work record rather than a points score. The official settings are on the Immigration New Zealand website, and they are the final word on every threshold below.
Skilled Work Experience
This route is for people doing skilled work at ANZSCO levels 1–3. The reported test is five years of relevant experience overall, with at least two years in New Zealand paid at 1.1 times the median wage used for the Skilled Migrant Category. Payslips and employment records carry most of the weight.
Trades and Technician
This route is for people with a Level 4+ qualification and four years of experience since qualifying, with 1.5 years of that in New Zealand at the median wage. It opens a door for trained tradespeople and technicians who do not hold a degree.
How the occupation lists change your options
| Occupation group | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Red-listed (for example some accommodation management, generic management and health-and-beauty roles) | Shut out of both new pathways. These workers return to the traditional route and need 1.5 times the median wage or a Level 7+ bachelor's degree. |
| Amber-listed (for example some ICT support and food service roles) | Can use Skilled Work Experience, but with five years of experience, two of them in New Zealand at 1.2 times the median wage. |
| Not listed | Can use either new pathway on the standard settings. |
The lists are expected to be reviewed regularly, so a role that is borderline today could move.
Smaller changes that can matter more than they look
- You only need to meet the median wage that applied when your skilled experience began, with a five-month grace period for people who take time to move into skilled work after their visa is granted.
- Points for a Level 8 or 9 qualification now generally need a bachelor's degree as well. The main exception is a New Zealand master's claimed for 5 points; claiming 6 points needs 30+ weeks of full-time New Zealand study and a bachelor's degree.
- English test results stay valid for five years for applicants with recognised New Zealand occupational registration.
- CPA Australia members able to do Qualified Statutory Accountant work in New Zealand gain eligibility outright.
- From 2027, people needing up to 12 months more skilled experience will be able to extend their Accredited Employer Work Visa instead of restarting their residence clock.
Common mistakes when reading the new settings
- Checking today's median wage instead of the one that applied when your skilled work started.
- Assuming a job title decides your list. Immigration New Zealand looks at the role you actually do, and inflated titles are exactly what the lists target.
- Counting time outside New Zealand towards the New Zealand-only part of each test.
- Leaving evidence until the last week. Payslips, contracts and role descriptions take time to gather. A clear CV that matches those records helps too, and a CV builder such as Build AI CV can help you lay it out.
Steps to take before you commit to a pathway
- Find your occupation and see whether it is red-listed, amber-listed or neither.
- Match your pay history against the wage bar that applied when you started skilled work.
- Ask your employer for documents that prove your duties and hours.
- Compare both new routes with the points route before choosing.
If you are also weighing a trade career in New Zealand, our piece on moving from a trade job to New Zealand covers the wider picture, and graduates may want the changes for master's graduates. You can also browse current jobs on this site.
Questions newcomers ask about the new pathways
Do I need a degree for the Trades and Technician route?
No. It asks for a Level 4+ qualification plus experience since qualifying, which is why it suits trained tradespeople.
Can I use the Skilled Work Experience route if my job is on the amber list?
Yes, but the bar is higher: five years of experience, two of them in New Zealand at 1.2 times the median wage.
What if my occupation is red-listed?
You stay on the traditional route and need 1.5 times the median wage or a Level 7+ bachelor's degree.
Does my overseas experience count?
It counts towards the overall five years. The time in New Zealand has its own wage test.
When was this announced?
The changes were flagged in September 2025 and detailed further in March 2026, with the new pathways set to apply from 24 August 2026.
What to remember before you apply
Two new pathways sit beside the points system, and your occupation list decides which is realistic. Work from your own records, check the official thresholds, and plan your evidence early.
#skilled migrant category #new zealand residence #trades #occupation lists #visa guide
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