Looking to apply for residence in New Zealand?
In late 2025, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced two new pathways to residence under the Skilled Migrant Category – the Trades and Technician and Skilled Work Experience pathway. Further details have just been released on the Trades and Technicians pathway. There are important limitations that applicants need to be aware of.
What are the requirements under the Trades and Technician pathway?
To apply for residence under this pathway, a migrant worker must be working in a role specified on the Trades and Technician pathway list. The list is at Trades & Technicians. To be eligible, the applicant must be in an occupation on that list and have a relevant Level 4 qualification and at least 4 years of directly relevant work experience, including 18 months in New Zealand earning at least the median wage.
What about the Skilled Work Experience pathway?
A migrant worker will be eligible for residence if they are in a skilled role, which means it matches with an occupation at Levels 1, 2 or 3 in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), and they have at least five years of directly relevant work experience, including two years in New Zealand where they earned at least 1.1 times the median wage.
What are the Red and Amber lists?
Individuals working in occupations on the Red list, cannot apply for residence under the two new pathways. They will only be able to apply for residence if they meet the existing criteria (they can claim six points under an existing pathway).
Those working in an occupation on the Amber list can apply for residence under the Skilled Work Experience pathway. However, they must meet additional eligibility requirements, including having at least five years relevant eligible New Zealand work experience, including two years skilled earning at least 1.2 times the SMC median wage.
How do I calculate 1.1 or 1.2 times the median wage?
A migrant can start counting their work experience when they start earning the required 1.1/1.2 times the median wage. This is based on the median wage at the time of that work experience For example, if a migrant started working in March 2023, when the median wage was $29.66, they needed to have been earning at least $32.63 per hour to have that work experience count. The migrant does not need a wage increase when the median wage next increased, in February 2024, to continue counting the work experience. However, they must have been earning at the required rate for the work experience to start.
There will be a special arrangement for migrants who obtained a work visa, but before they were able to travel to New Zealand to start work, the median wage increased.
What is the current median wage?
On 9 March 2026, the median wage increased to $35.00 per hour. The increase in the median wage will be relevant to those intending to claim points for income based on it being paid at or above 1.5 or two times the median wage.
Has there been any change in the English language requirements.
No. However, from late August 2026, the tests will be valid for five years for applicants who hold a recognised occupational registration, such as Nurses or medical practitioners.
What happens if an AEWV holder does not yet have the five years’ work experience needed?
If an AEWV holders needs further skilled work experience up to 12 months, in order to meet the SMC requirements, they will be able to apply for an extension to their AEWV. However, this will not be introduced until 2027.
Only general information on the upcoming changes has been released at this time. It will only be when the actual immigration instructions are released that the specific detail will be confirmed. The Duncan Cotterill immigration team will continue to monitor announcements and provide updates.
Special thanks to Partner Nicola Tiffen and Special Counsel Nicky Robertson for preparing this article.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose.
