Visas & immigration: New Zealand

From the six-point Skilled Migrant Category to the NZD 5 million Active Investor Plus visa — how New Zealand’s reshaped 2026 immigration system actually works.

Skilled Migrant Category: the six-point system

New Zealand overhauled the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) into a much simpler points-based system with a 6-point threshold. Rather than tallying a long list of small factors, you draw your points from one primary source: occupational registration (3–6 points depending on the training length your registered profession requires, up to 6 for roles needing 6+ years of training), a qualification (a Bachelor’s degree = 3 points, a Master’s = 5, a Doctorate = 6), or income measured against the median wage (roughly 1.5× median wage = 3 points, around 3× median wage = 6 points). If your primary category falls short of 6, up to 3 supplementary points are available for skilled work experience already gained in New Zealand. You must also hold a skilled job offer from an accredited employer (or already be working in a skilled role here), and sit under the 55-year age cap.

The Green List fast lanes

Sitting alongside the points system, the Green List names occupations New Zealand has designated as chronically short-staffed — think senior nurses, specialist doctors, engineers, ICT professionals and a range of skilled trades. Tier 1 Green List roles can go straight to residence without needing to accumulate points on the standard scale at all; Tier 2 roles go via a work-to-residence route, typically requiring two years in the job on an Accredited Employer Work Visa before the resident visa application. Both change periodically as labour-market shortages shift, so check your occupation’s current tier before planning around it.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

The AEWV remains the main door into skilled work for most migrants without residence already lined up. Since March 2025, most roles must be paid at least the market rate for the job rather than a single flat threshold, though sector agreements still set specific floors — for example, the care workforce sits at roughly $28.25/hour. The economy-wide median wage — used across SMC income points, the Parent visa, and other settings — rose to $35.00/hour from 9 March 2026, up from $33.56 previously, so anything benchmarked "at median wage" moved with it. AEWV visas typically run up to 5 years, tied to your accredited employer and role.

Working holidays, parents, and big investors