A New Zealand qualification is the shortest route to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa. You need 6 points, and a level 9 master's studied on campus in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks, held together with a bachelor's degree, gives all 6 with no New Zealand work experience. A New Zealand bachelor's gives 5 points; the sixth comes from a year of skilled work. Below are the route and the figures from Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Updated 13 November 2026. Figures are taken from the INZ website on that date.
From study to residence
- Study in New Zealand on a student visa, with the right to work up to 25 hours a week (Student visa).
- Post-Study Work Visa: an open work visa for up to 3 years after graduation (Post-study work visa).
- A job or job offer: full-time, with an accredited employer, paid at least the SMC wage threshold.
- Expression of Interest → invitation → application for the SMC Resident Visa.
- After 2 years on the resident visa you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.
How many points a qualification gives
Points come from one skill category only: a qualification, income or New Zealand occupational registration. The categories do not add up (INZ).
| New Zealand qualification | Points | Bachelor's required |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate (level 10) | 6 | no |
| Master's (level 9), at least 30 weeks on campus | 6 | yes, from any country |
| Master's (level 9) without that condition | 5 | no |
| Honours, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate (level 8) | 5 | yes |
| Bachelor's (level 7) | 5 | — |
Overseas qualifications score lower: master's 5, level 8 and bachelor's 4, doctorate 6 (INZ).
Short of points: New Zealand work experience
Up to 3 points can be added for skilled work in New Zealand: 1 year gives 1 point, 1.5 years 2, 2 years 3 (INZ). So a bachelor's graduate needs one year of such work (5 + 1), while a master's graduate with 6 points does not need New Zealand work experience (INZ).
The job and the wage threshold
A job or offer is a requirement, not a source of points. The employer must be accredited by INZ, the job full-time (at least 30 hours a week) and the pay at least the SMC threshold (INZ):
| ANZSCO skill level | Threshold from 9 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | NZD 35.00 an hour |
| 4–5 or an unlisted job | NZD 52.50 an hour (1.5 times) |
The threshold is reviewed every year, so check it with INZ on the date you apply.
Applying
You start with an Expression of Interest; after an invitation to apply (ITA) you have 4 months to submit the visa application. You must be 55 or younger when you apply and meet English, health and character requirements. The fee starts at NZD 6,450 (INZ).
What this means when you choose a programme
If residence is the goal, the deciding condition is set when you choose the programme: a level 9 master's with at least 30 weeks of on-campus study in New Zealand, plus a bachelor's. See Master's in New Zealand and the programme catalogue. On NIU joint programmes the first stage is online, and only on-campus study in New Zealand counts towards the 30 weeks; an adviser will work out how your route counts before you enrol.
We do not promise residence on any programme: INZ decides, and the rules and thresholds change several times a year. Plan the move to a resident visa with a licensed immigration adviser (LIA).
Sources
All links checked on 13 November 2026.
- INZ — Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/skilled-migrant-category-resident-visa/
- INZ — Pay rates for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/live/resident-visas-to-live-in-new-zealand/skilled-residence-pathways-in-new-zealand/skilled-migrant-category-pathway-to-residence/pay-rates-for-the-skilled-migrant-category-resident-visa/