On September 23, 2025, the government announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa that will help employers retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth.
Two new residence pathways will be introduced under the SMC Resident Visa.
- Skilled work experience pathway — for migrants in skilled roles (ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3) with at least five years of directly relevant work experience, including two years in New Zealand earning at least 1.1 times the median wage.
- Trades and technician pathway — for migrants in specified trades or technician roles who hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification and have at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 18 months in New Zealand paid at or above the median wage.
The changes also include increased points for New Zealand university-level qualifications, making it easier for graduates to transition to residence.
The New Zealand work experience requirements will be modestly reduced for some current pathways, from a maximum of three years to a maximum of two years. This helps improve the international competitiveness of the SMC settings to better attract and retain skilled and talented migrants.
Other changes also include removing the requirement to have an increased wage rate when applying for residence. Instead, migrants will only need to maintain the same median wage rate throughout their required period of New Zealand work experience.
These changes come into effect in August 2026.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.