Migratio New Zealand · Guides · Find advisers · For advisers

SMC Skilled Work Experience Pathway Explained

INZ's Skilled Work Experience pathway to residence is built on work history, not a degree: a skill level 1 to 3 job paid at 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold, 3 years of relevant experience and a further 2 years of skilled experience in New Zealand. Amber List jobs face higher requirements; Red List jobs are excluded. All rules here are INZ's, read on 9 October 2026.

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa has three pathways, and the Skilled Work Experience pathway is the one INZ describes as being "for people who have developed their skills through work experience rather than through a formal qualification (such as a university degree, diploma, or trade certificate)." It has more moving parts than its short description suggests: a pay multiple, two kinds of experience, two time windows, and two job lists.

This guide explains how the rule works, using Immigration New Zealand's SMC page, SMC overview page, wage threshold page and Red and Amber List page, all read on 9 October 2026. It states INZ's rules in general terms. It does not say whether any reader's job, pay or history meets them, because that is tailored immigration advice, which only a licensed immigration adviser or a lawyer may give in New Zealand.

The requirements in INZ's words

INZ's overview page lists what an applicant on this pathway must have:

  • a job or job offer in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation;
  • pay of at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold;
  • at least 3 years of relevant work experience; and
  • an additional 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand.

The detailed SMC page puts the second and third items more precisely: the applicant must "work in or have a job offer for an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold", have "at least 3 years of relevant work experience in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation", and "have an additional 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold."

The word "additional" is doing real work. The 3 years of relevant experience and the 2 years of New Zealand skilled experience are separate requirements, which is why the SMC page's summary line reads that the applicant must have "at least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, including at least 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand."

Like every SMC applicant, a person on this pathway must also be 55 or younger when they apply, have a skilled job with an accredited employer, be in good health and of good character, and speak and understand English.

Relevant experience versus skilled experience

INZ defines two kinds of work experience and the pathway needs both.

Relevant work experience is "work experience related to your current job or job offer." It can be gained anywhere in the world. INZ states that self-employment cannot be counted as relevant work experience on this pathway, in both the overview and the detailed page.

Skilled work experience is "work experience related to your current job or job offer, completed in New Zealand and paid at the required amount." It has to be in New Zealand, at an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation, and at or above 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold.

The windows differ:

  • Relevant work experience must have been gained within 10 years, counted back from the date the applicant applies for residence. INZ's example: if 3 years of relevant experience are needed, they must fall within the 10 years immediately before the application.
  • Skilled work experience must fall within twice the period required, counted back from the application date. The skilled experience requirement here is 2 years, so it must fall within the 4 years immediately before the application.

If an extended period of leave interrupted the skilled work experience, INZ says it may still be included if it was parental leave, ACC leave or sick leave.

The pay requirement: 1.1 times the threshold, and 1.2 times for Amber List jobs

The SMC wage threshold has been NZD 35.00 an hour since 9 March 2026. INZ's table for the Skilled Work Experience pathway shows 1.1 times the threshold for ordinary jobs and 1.2 times for Amber List jobs, by the date the skilled work experience started:

  • From 9 March 2026: NZD 38.50 (Amber List jobs: NZD 42.00)
  • 18 August 2025 to 8 March 2026: NZD 36.91 (NZD 40.27)
  • 28 February 2024 to 17 August 2025: NZD 34.77 (NZD 37.93)
  • 27 February 2023 to 27 February 2024: NZD 32.62 (NZD 35.59)
  • 24 October 2022 to 26 February 2023: NZD 30.53 (NZD 33.31)
  • 19 July 2021 to 23 October 2022: NZD 29.70 (NZD 32.40)
  • 24 February 2020 to 18 July 2021: NZD 28.05 (NZD 30.60)

Which row governs is the point of INZ's "key rule": the threshold in force when the skilled work experience started counting applies, it does not change, and the current job or job offer must also meet it. INZ gives a timing limit too. The date that sets the threshold has to sit inside an eligible timeframe, which for this pathway is 4 years counted back from the date the expression of interest is submitted. The detail is in the companion guide on the wage threshold.

Because the pathway's rate is the base threshold multiplied by 1.1 or 1.2, INZ's own examples about grace periods, pay cuts and job changes apply here as they do elsewhere. In particular, if pay drops below the set rate, that period cannot be counted.

Amber List and Red List occupations

INZ publishes two lists that change how this pathway works for particular occupations.

Amber List. "If your current job or job offer is on the Amber List, there are additional requirements you must meet." They are: pay of at least 1.2 times the SMC wage threshold, "at least 3 years of relevant work experience in New Zealand in an ANZSCO skill level 1 to 3 occupation", and an additional 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand at 1.2 times. In other words, for Amber List jobs the relevant experience has to be New Zealand experience too. The 14 occupations on INZ's Amber List, with their ANZSCO codes:

  • 141999 Accommodation and Hospitality Manager nec
  • 141311 Hotel or Motel Manager
  • 431411 Hotel Service Manager
  • 351111 Baker
  • 141911 Bed and Breakfast Operator
  • 141111 Cafe or Restaurant Manager
  • 141211 Caravan Park and Camping Ground Manager
  • 351311 Chef
  • 149212 Customer Service Manager
  • 313112 ICT Customer Support Officer
  • 313199 ICT Support Technicians nec
  • 512111 Office Manager
  • 351112 Pastrycook
  • 313113 Web Administrator

Red List. "If your current job or job offer is on the Red List, or is an ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 occupation, you are not eligible for the Skilled Work Experience pathway." The six occupations on INZ's Red List:

  • 451111 Beauty Therapist
  • 142114 Hair or Beauty Salon Manager
  • 391111 Hairdresser
  • 149999 Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager nec
  • 411611 Massage Therapist
  • 142111 Retail Manager (General)

These lists apply only to this pathway. A job being on the Red List here says nothing about other SMC pathways, which have their own conditions; INZ does not publish a Red List for them.

How the job is matched to an ANZSCO occupation

Almost everything on this pathway turns on the ANZSCO skill level of the job, because levels 4 and 5 are excluded outright. INZ uses ANZSCO version 1.3 for all SMC applications. Its guidance says a job "must be matched to a single ANZSCO occupation", using the occupation that is the closest match, which "does not need to be exactly the same" title. The job title and description should mostly match the title and description in ANZSCO.

INZ explains that skill levels run from 1 (most skilled) to 5, and that they describe the usual requirements of the occupation, not the individual. Its example is a bricklayer, assessed as level 3 whatever the worker's experience; an occupation can only be assessed at its own level.

Stats NZ's ANZSCO tool is the reference INZ points to. It is worth noting INZ's own caution that ANZSCO is gradually being replaced by the National Occupation List (NOL) for some visa types, but for "all Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (SMC) and temporary visa applications" INZ says it uses ANZSCO.

The practical risk is a mismatch between the job as the employer describes it and the occupation INZ assesses it as. That is a judgement about particular documents, which is the kind of question a licensed adviser handles.

Evidence INZ asks for

At the expression of interest stage INZ asks for no documents, only details of how the requirements are met. If invited, the applicant has 4 months to apply and must then provide evidence. For this pathway INZ's pages list:

  • an employment agreement for the current job or job offer, showing name, occupation, hours of work, hourly rate or salary and any benefits, with all mandatory clauses required by New Zealand employment law;
  • a job description for the current job, including key tasks and responsibilities;
  • for skilled work experience in New Zealand, an employment agreement and job description for each period, showing name, occupation, employer, hours and pay rate;
  • an IRD summary of earnings or tax statement covering every period of skilled work experience, up to the date of the application, with monthly breakdowns;
  • for relevant work experience, an employment agreement and job description showing occupation, hours and rate of pay, with a summary of earnings or tax statement from the government authority concerned; and
  • if tax records are not available for overseas work, a certificate of service from the employer. INZ is explicit: "Certificates of service cannot be used as evidence of New Zealand work experience."

INZ also says a person who has taken extended leave may include the time if it was parental, ACC or sick leave. Anything not in English needs a certified translation from someone who meets INZ's translation requirements.

Pay evidence matters particularly here, because the threshold is tested month by month. INZ may also ask for bank statements or payslips showing the salary was actually paid.

Fees, timing and what happens after approval

INZ's fee finder showed no fee to submit an expression of interest and an application fee of NZD 6,450 for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, for the passports queried (India and the United Kingdom, each applying from their home country), as read on 9 October 2026. It includes a non-refundable immigration levy and is not refunded if the application is declined. INZ's stated processing time was that 80% of applications under the current criteria are completed within 3.5 months, with a separate figure of 41 months for applications made under the previous visa criteria. Fees and times vary by passport and place, so INZ's finder is the reference.

A person who is in New Zealand when the application is made must have a valid visa. If the current visa expires during processing and no new temporary visa has been applied for, INZ says it will normally grant an SMC Interim Visa automatically, starting the day the current visa expires and valid for 24 months. INZ notes this visa has more restrictions than most temporary visas, including no applying for other temporary visas and no supporting a partner or child for a visa, so INZ suggests considering a new temporary visa application before the old one expires.

Once approved, the SMC Resident Visa lets the holder live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Section 49 conditions may be attached; INZ's example is a requirement to remain in skilled employment, with no more than 3 months' unemployment. After two years in a row on the visa, a Permanent Resident Visa can be applied for.

Finding a licensed immigration adviser

Migratio lists licensed immigration advisers so you can compare them and contact one directly. Every listing shows the adviser's licence number, which you can check on the Immigration Advisers Authority's public register before you book. We don't assess cases and don't tell anyone which visa or pathway fits them; that is the adviser's job.

Questions people ask

What are the requirements for the SMC Skilled Work Experience pathway?

INZ lists a skill level 1 to 3 job or offer paid at least 1.1 times the SMC wage threshold, at least 3 years of relevant work experience, and an additional 2 years of skilled work experience in New Zealand paid at the same rate. Amber List jobs have higher requirements; Red List and skill level 4 or 5 jobs are not eligible.

How much do you need to be paid on the Skilled Work Experience pathway?

1.1 times the SMC wage threshold, which is NZD 38.50 an hour for experience starting from 9 March 2026. Amber List jobs need 1.2 times, NZD 42.00. Earlier start dates have lower figures, listed on INZ's wage threshold page.

Is self-employment counted as relevant work experience?

No. INZ states that self-employment cannot be counted as relevant work experience for this pathway.

Which jobs are on the SMC Red List?

INZ's Red List for the Skilled Work Experience pathway has six occupations: Beauty Therapist, Hair or Beauty Salon Manager, Hairdresser, Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager nec, Massage Therapist and Retail Manager (General). Jobs on it are not eligible for this pathway.

How recent does the work experience have to be?

INZ says relevant work experience must have been gained within 10 years of the date of the residence application, and skilled work experience within twice the required period, which is 4 years for the 2 years of New Zealand skilled experience.

Does the Skilled Work Experience pathway need a degree?

INZ describes it as the pathway for people who developed their skills through work experience rather than a formal qualification. The pathway's own requirements do not include a qualification.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

  • SMC Points in NZ: How the 6-Point System Works — The Skilled Migrant Category points-based pathway needs 6 skilled resident points. INZ lets points come from one category only (qualification, occupational registration or income), topped up by up to 3 points of New Zealand skilled work experience. This guide sets out INZ's published tables as read on 9 October 2026.
  • SMC Wage Threshold 2026: NZD 35 an Hour and the Rate History — From 9 March 2026 the Skilled Migrant Category wage threshold is NZD 35.00 an hour. INZ fixes the rate that applies to a person when their skilled work experience starts counting, and says that once set, it does not change. This guide sets out INZ's published rate history, multiples and worked examples as read on 9 October 2026.
  • SMC Trades and Technician Pathway Explained — INZ's Trades and Technician pathway to residence needs a job in a listed trades or technician occupation paid at least the SMC wage threshold, a level 4 or higher qualification, 2.5 years of post-qualification experience and a further 1.5 years of post-qualification skilled experience in New Zealand. The occupation list has 109 entries. Rules as read on 9 October 2026.
  • SMC EOI and Invitation to Apply: Step by Step — A Skilled Migrant Category application starts with an expression of interest (EOI). INZ charges no fee for it, tells the applicant immediately whether the requirements are met, and, if so, emails an invitation to apply that must be used within 4 months. This guide follows INZ's published steps as read on 9 October 2026.
  • Green List and SMC Rules Side by Side — New Zealand has three main skilled residence routes: Straight to Residence (Green List Tier 1), Work to Residence (Tier 2) and the Skilled Migrant Category. All three need an applicant aged 55 or younger, an accredited employer and English, and all cost from NZD 6,450. They differ in how they start, how much New Zealand work is needed and how pay is measured.