From 24 August 2026, Immigration NZ adds two new Skilled Migrant Category residence pathways alongside the existing points system. The Skilled Work Experience pathway needs 5 years of skilled experience including 2 years in NZ paid at least 1.1x the SMC median wage; the Trades & Technician pathway needs a Level 4+ qualification plus 4 years of experience, including 1.5 years in NZ at the median wage. The changes, published 5 March 2026, also introduce Red/Amber occupation lists and extend English test validity to 5 years for some applicants.
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NZ adds work-experience & trades pathways to Skilled Migrant residence, 24 Aug 2026
Why this matters for founders
Migrant founders on Accredited Employer Work Visas, and the skilled staff they employ, get a non-points route to residence from 24 Aug 2026 - build hiring and retention plans around the new experience thresholds now.
Source: Immigration New Zealand
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