If you're planning to move to New Zealand for work or residence, having your overseas qualification recognised is often a key step in the visa process. To simplify this, Immigration New Zealand maintains a List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA) — a fast-track list that lets eligible applicants skip the formal qualification assessment process.
When your qualification is on the LQEA, you don't need to get it assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), saving you both time and money.
What's New?
From 23 June 2025, the LQEA is getting an important update to include more qualifications and ensure greater clarity across the board. This is part of ongoing efforts to streamline skilled migration and support faster visa processing.
New countries added to the list:
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Updates for consistency and clarity will also be made to existing entries for:
- Australia
- Japan
- Malaysia
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States
These changes make it easier than ever for skilled professionals with overseas qualifications to bring their expertise to Aotearoa New Zealand.
