Skilled Work Experience Pathway
What You Need to Know (August 2026)
From late August 2026, Immigration New Zealand is launching the Skilled Work Experience pathway. This pathway is designed for experienced professionals working in skilled roles who may not hold a bachelor’s degree or occupational registration, but who have built up significant, directly relevant work experience — including work in New Zealand.
It’s a major shift. For the first time, practical work experience alone (without a degree or high income) can qualify you for residence under the SMC.
Who Is This Pathway For?
The Skilled Work Experience pathway is for migrants already working in ANZSCO skill level 1–3 occupations who have deep, directly relevant experience in their field. It’s particularly relevant for sectors like IT, hospitality management, construction management, and other professional roles where senior practitioners may have progressed through hands-on experience rather than formal university education.
This pathway applies to occupations that are not on the Trades and Technician list. If your role is on that list, you’d apply under the Trades and Technician pathway instead.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify under the Trades and Technician pathway, you must meet all of the following:
- Work in an eligible occupation with an Accredited Employer — Your role must be on the classified at ANZSCO skill level 1–3.
- Have at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience — This experience must be directly relevant to your current skilled job or job offer and must be in an ANZSCO skill level 1–3 occupation.
- At least 2 years of that experience must be in New Zealand — This NZ-based work must be earned at 1.1 times the SMC median wage or above, or 1.2 median wage for occupations on the Amber List
- Meet standard residence requirements — Health, character, and English language.
No specific qualification is required for this pathway. That’s the key distinction — it recognises that years of skilled, paid work experience in New Zealand can demonstrate your value to the economy just as effectively as a formal degree.
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What About Amber and Red List Occupations?
Amber List Occupations
If your occupation is on the Amber list, you can still access the Skilled Work Experience pathway — but with stricter requirements:
- You need at least 5 years of relevant eligible work experience in New Zealand (compared to 5 years total with 2 years in NZ for non-Amber occupations).
- Of those 5 years, at least 2 years must be skilled work experience earning at least 1.2× the SMC median wage (compared to 1.1× for non-Amber occupations).
Red List Occupations
If your occupation is on the Red list, you are not eligible for the Skilled Work Experience pathway (or the Trades and Technician pathway).
You can only apply for residence under the existing Skilled Migrant Category if you can claim 6 points through one of the standard routes
These lists will be reviewed regularly by INZ, with occupations added or removed based on changing risk profiles.
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}Wage Thresholds — How They Work
The Skilled Work Experience pathway requires your NZ work experience to be earned at 1.1× the SMC median wage.
With the median wage increasing to NZ$35.00 per hour from 9 March 2026, the threshold for this pathway would be approximately NZ$38.50 per hour (1.1 × $35.00). For amber list occupations, the threshold rises to 1.2× the median wage — approximately NZ$42.00 per hour.
A major improvement across all SMC pathways is the simplified wage assessment:
- You lock in the median wage that applied when you started your qualifying NZ work experience. You just need to maintain at least that rate through to your residence application. No more being caught out by a wage increase between starting work and applying for residence.
- 5-month grace period: If the median wage increases after your work visa is granted but before you start working, the threshold from the date your visa was granted still applies — as long as you begin skilled work within 5 months.
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Work Experience Requirements — The Detail
All work experience claimed under this pathway must be:
- Directly relevant to your current skilled job or skilled job offer
- In an ANZSCO skill level 1–3 occupation
- Paid at the required wage threshold for the NZ portion (1.1× median, or 1.2× for Amber list roles)
The 5 years of total experience can include time worked overseas, but the 2 years in New Zealand (or 5 years for amber list occupations) must be NZ-based and at the required pay rate.
Skilled work experience must also be paid at the threshold required for the specific pathway. This means your payslips and employment agreements need to clearly and consistently reflect that you’re earning at or above the required rate throughout the qualifying period.
Qualifications — Not Required, But Still Valuable
While this pathway doesn’t require a formal qualification, qualifications still matter in the broader SMC system.
If you do hold qualifications and are also claiming points under other SMC routes, note the August 2026 changes:
- NZ qualifications earn 1 additional point over equivalent overseas qualifications (except doctorates and some master’s degrees).
- If claiming points for a Level 8 or 9 qualification, you must also hold a bachelor’s degree.
- For a NZ master’s degree worth 6 points, you must have studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand.
- Overseas qualifications generally require an International Qualification Assessment (IQA).
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}Get Your Free New Zealand Visa Eligibility Assessment
