Rule change · 24 August 2026
The SMC changes on 24 August 2026, explained
On 24 August 2026 the Skilled Migrant Category gets its biggest reset since 2023. Amendment Circular 2026-16 adds two new residence pathways, changes qualification points, simplifies the wage-threshold rules, and introduces three occupation lists. Here is what changes, and the one deadline that decides which rules apply to you.
The deadline that matters
Which rule set you are assessed under is decided at the start of the process, not the end. INZ has confirmed: submit your EOI before 24 August 2026 and, if it receives an invitation to apply, you can apply under the current rules (invitations stay valid for 4 months). Draft EOIs are deleted at midnight on 23 August 2026; a saved draft does not carry over, and a new EOI form applies from 24 August.
What changes
| Setting | Until 23 August 2026 | From 24 August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Pathways | Points-based only | Points-based + Skilled Work Experience + Trades and Technician |
| NZ bachelor's degree | 3 points | 5 points (NZ qualifications gain a point at most levels) |
| Overseas bachelor's degree | 3 points | 4 points |
| NZ work experience points | 36 / 24 / 12 months for 3 / 2 / 1 points | 24 / 18 / 12 months for 3 / 2 / 1 points |
| Wage threshold timing | Meet the current threshold at EOI, plus historic rates per role | Locked at the rate when your NZ skilled work experience started (5-month grace from visa grant) |
| Level 8 and 9 claims | No underpinning degree required | Underpinning bachelor's required (any country; the 5-point NZ master's is exempt) |
| English test validity | 2 years | 5 years for holders of valid NZ occupational registration |
The current SMC wage threshold
The SMC wage threshold is $35.00 an hour from 9 March 2026 (based on the June 2025 Stats NZ median wage). The new pathways use multiples of it: 1.1x ($38.50) for the Skilled Work Experience pathway, 1.2x ($42.00) for Amber List occupations, and 1x for the Trades and Technician pathway. Because the new rules lock your threshold at the date your NZ skilled work experience began, earlier (lower) published rates can apply to you.
Check where you stand in 3 minutes
The checker runs your situation through the current rules and the 24 August rules at the same time, and tells you whether applying before or after the change works better.
Run the free SMC eligibility checker →Common questions
Figures and rules on this page are sourced from Immigration New Zealand (Amendment Circular 2026-16, the INZ Operational Manual, and INZ's published pay-rate tables), current as at 8 July 2026. The 24 August 2026 settings are provisional until the amended instructions are published on the INZ website. This page is general information about immigration settings, not immigration advice; for advice about your situation, talk to a licensed immigration adviser or lawyer. See the official INZ Skilled Migrant Category pages.