New Zealand replaced its old 180-point system with a simplified 6-point Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) in 2023. You claim points from one base source - a recognised qualification, NZ occupational registration, or income at a multiple of the median wage - and may add skilled work already done in New Zealand. INZ has announced SMC changes effective 24 August 2026, so use the calculator's date branch and confirm current rules with Immigration New Zealand before relying on a points estimate.
New Zealand's immigration system is administered by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE); all official information is at immigration.govt.nz. This de-duplicated catalogue lists individual programmes across the economic/skilled, business/investor, family, study, temporary and humanitarian streams. Many settings are indexed to the immigration median wage, which rose to NZD $35.00/hour on 9 March 2026 (based on June 2025 data, up from NZD $33.56). The median wage anchors Skilled Migrant Category income points and Green List pay rates, and several sponsor-income thresholds for family visas that take effect from 30 April 2026. Note that the general Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) median-wage pay floor was removed on 10 March 2025 and replaced by the New Zealand market rate, with the minimum wage at NZD $23.50/hour from 1 April 2025. Major 2025-26 reforms include the Active Investor Plus split into Growth and Balanced categories (English requirement removed April 2025), the closure of the Entrepreneur Work Visa (replaced by the Business Investor Work Visa, open 24 November 2025), and the new Parent Boost Visitor Visa for long-stay parent visits. Fees and processing times are current 2025-26 figures published by INZ, quoted "from" the base amount; actual fees vary by application channel and may include a separate Immigration Levy.
From skilled-worker and investor visas to family, study and humanitarian routes — each with its real
eligibility requirements, key facts and a link to the official page.
Points-based residence for skilled workers, scored against the NZ median wage.
Who it's for
Skilled migrants with NZ registration, a recognised qualification, or income at or above median-wage multiples who can claim 6 points and have a skilled job or job offer.
Key requirements
Claim a total of 6 points from a single mix of registration, qualification, NZ occupational registration, or income (e.g. 6 points for a PhD or income at 3x the median wage)
Be paid at least the median wage (NZD $35.00/hour) for ANZSCO level 1-3 roles, or NZD $52.50/hour (1.5x) for level 4-5 roles
Be aged 55 or younger when you apply
Meet health, character and English language requirements
Points required
6 points (single qualifying combination)
Income points anchor
1.5x = $52.50/hr; 2x = $70/hr; 3x = $105/hr
Age limit
55 or younger
Fee
From NZD $6,450
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Open work visa for the partner of a NZ citizen or resident, up to 3 years.
Who it's for
Partners in a genuine and stable relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident who want to live and work in NZ while building toward residence eligibility.
Key requirements
Have a NZ citizen or resident partner who can sponsor and support the application
Be living together in a genuine and stable relationship
Be of good health and good character with genuine intentions to come to New Zealand
The supporting partner must not have supported more than one successful partner-based resident visa application in the previous 5 years
Fee
From NZD $1,630
Processing time
80% within about 5 weeks
Duration
1 year (<12 months together) or up to 3 years (12+ months)
Work rights
Almost any job, including self-employment (cannot employ others)
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Sponsorship-based residence for parents of adult New Zealanders, allocated by queue and ballot.
Who it's for
Parents (or grandparents/legal guardians) of an adult NZ citizen or resident who can sponsor them and meet a median-wage-indexed income threshold.
Key requirements
Have a sponsoring adult child (18+) who is a NZ citizen or resident, has held residence 3+ years, lives in NZ at least 184 days a year, and commits to 10 years of support
Sponsor must meet a median-wage-indexed income threshold (e.g. 1.5x the median wage for one parent with a single sponsor, plus 0.5x for each additional parent), earned for 2 of the past 3 completed NZ tax years
Submit an Expression of Interest, then apply within 4 months if invited
Meet health, character and English requirements (or pre-pay for lessons)
Fee
From NZD $5,810 (EOI plus application)
Annual quota
2,500 places/year (queue plus ballot)
Income anchor
Median wage NZD $35.00/hr (thresholds from 30 April 2026)
Process
2-stage: EOI (valid 2 years), then apply if invited
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Long-stay multi-entry visitor visa letting parents stay up to 5 years (renewable to 10).
Who it's for
Parents of an adult NZ citizen or resident who want an extended, renewable visitor stay without seeking residence.
Key requirements
Be sponsored by an adult child (18+) who is a NZ citizen or resident living in NZ at least 184 days a year
Sponsor must meet a median-wage-indexed income threshold (NZD $72,800/year for one parent, NZD $109,200 for two parents, single sponsor, from 30 April 2026), met for 2 of the past 3 tax years
The parent must meet a funds or income test (e.g. about NZD $170,000 funds, or NZD $260,000 for a couple)
Hold qualifying health insurance for the whole stay (emergency cover at least NZD $250,000/year) and meet health and character requirements
Fee
From NZD $3,100
Duration
Up to 5 years, multi-entry (renewable to 10)
Sponsor income (1 parent)
NZD $72,800/year (single sponsor, from 30 April 2026)
Health insurance
Required for full stay (min $250,000/yr emergency cover)
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Study visa for international students self-funding a course with an approved NZ provider.
Who it's for
International students with an offer of place from an approved New Zealand education provider, funding tuition themselves or via family, loans or partial scholarships.
Key requirements
Have an offer of place on a course from an approved education provider
Show sufficient funds for tuition fees (or scholarship evidence)
Show living-cost funds: NZD $20,000/year for tertiary/language study, or NZD $17,000/year for compulsory schooling
Hold medical and travel insurance and meet health and character requirements
Fee
From NZD $850
Processing time
80% within about 9.5 weeks
Work rights
Up to 25 hours/week during study (full-time in scheduled breaks)
Living funds
$20,000/yr tertiary; $17,000/yr schooling
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Country-specific work-and-travel visas for young people from 40+ partner countries.
Who it's for
Young people (generally 18-30, or 18-35 for some countries) from one of New Zealand's 40+ working holiday partner countries who want to travel and work temporarily.
Key requirements
Be a citizen of an eligible working holiday scheme country (each scheme has its own rules and annual cap)
Be aged 18-30 (or up to 35 for select countries such as Argentina, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, the UK and Uruguay)
Have at least NZD $4,200 for living costs plus a return ticket or funds to buy one
Be of good health and good character and hold or intend to hold medical and travel insurance
Fee
Around NZD $670 (varies by scheme)
Age range
18-30, or 18-35 for select countries
Duration
Usually 12 months; up to 23 (Canada) or 36 (UK)
Schemes
40+ separate country agreements
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Annual residence ballot granting permanent residence to citizens of Samoa.
Who it's for
Citizens of Samoa who register in the annual ballot and meet age, health, character, English and job/income requirements.
Key requirements
Be a citizen of Samoa and register in the annual ballot (1-30 April for the 2026 round)
Be the principal applicant aged 18-45 at registration
Secure an acceptable offer of ongoing employment in New Zealand after selection
Meet the minimum income requirement (NZD $55,404.96/year if including dependent children, from 30 April 2026), plus health, character and English standards; apply within 8 months of an Invitation to Apply
Annual places (2026)
Up to 1,100 Samoan citizens invited
Principal applicant age
18-45 at registration
Income (with children)
NZD $55,404.96/year from 30 April 2026
Status granted
Permanent residence
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
Annual residence ballot for citizens of Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Who it's for
Citizens of Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu who register in the annual ballot and meet age, health, character, English and job/income requirements.
Key requirements
Be a citizen of Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati or Tuvalu and register in the annual ballot (1-30 April for the 2026 round)
Be the principal applicant aged 18-45 at registration
Secure an acceptable offer of ongoing employment in New Zealand after selection
Meet the minimum income requirement (NZD $55,404.96/year if including dependent children, from 30 April 2026), plus health, character and English standards; apply within 8 months of an Invitation to Apply
Annual places (2026)
250 Tonga, 250 Fiji, 75 Kiribati, 75 Tuvalu
Principal applicant age
18-45 at registration
Income (with children)
NZD $55,404.96/year from 30 April 2026
Status granted
Permanent residence
Independent editorial summary. Confirm current rules on the official source before relying on eligibility details.
What is the current New Zealand immigration median wage, and why does it matter?
It rose to NZD $35.00/hour on 9 March 2026 (based on June 2025 data, up from NZD $33.56). It anchors Skilled Migrant Category income points (1.5x = $52.50, 2x = $70, 3x = $105/hour) and Green List pay rates, and drives sponsor-income thresholds for family visas (Parent Resident, Parent Boost, Pacific and Samoan ballots) that step up from 30 April 2026. Note the general AEWV median-wage pay floor was removed on 10 March 2025 and replaced by the NZ market rate, with the minimum wage at NZD $23.50/hour from 1 April 2025.
Do I need a job offer, and which routes are capital-based instead?
Most work and skilled routes need a job or job offer: the AEWV, both Green List tiers, the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, and most Skilled Migrant Category applications. The capital-based routes do not require a job offer: the Active Investor Plus Visa (Growth $5M or Balanced $10M), the Business Investor Work Visa (run an established business), and the Parent Retirement Resident Visa ($1M investment).
What is the difference between Green List Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Tier 1 is the Straight to Residence Visa: with a Tier 1 Green List job offer from an accredited employer you can apply for residence immediately, with no prior NZ work experience. Tier 2 is the Work to Residence Visa: you first work 24 months in a Tier 2 Green List role in New Zealand, then become eligible to apply for residence. Both require age 55 or younger and the fee is from NZD $6,450.
What replaced the Entrepreneur Work Visa?
The Entrepreneur Work Visa closed to new applicants and was replaced by the Business Investor Work Visa, which opened on 24 November 2025. It requires investing at least NZD $1 million in an established business for a 3-year work-to-residence pathway, or NZD $2 million for a 12-month fast-track; the business must employ 5+ full-time-equivalent staff and you must create at least 1 new job, hold NZD $500,000 in reserve funds, and be aged 55 or younger. The fee is from NZD $12,380.
How do the two parent residence visas differ, and what is Parent Boost?
The Parent Resident Visa is sponsorship-based: an adult child sponsors you and must meet a median-wage-indexed income threshold, with 2,500 places a year allocated by queue and ballot. The Parent Retirement Resident Visa is investment-based: you invest NZD $1 million for 4 years plus hold NZD $500,000 settlement funds and NZD $60,000 annual income, with no reliance on a sponsor's income. The Parent Boost Visitor Visa is different again - it is not residence at all, but a renewable multi-entry visitor visa letting parents stay up to 5 years (renewable to 10), with sponsor income from NZD $72,800/year and mandatory health insurance.
How much can international students work, and what comes after study?
On a Fee Paying Student Visa, eligible students can work up to 25 hours/week during study and full-time during scheduled breaks (none under age 16). After completing an eligible qualification, graduates can apply for the Post-Study Work Visa (from NZD $1,670) for up to 3 years: bachelor's (level 7) and higher graduates get an open work visa, while lower-level graduates must work in their field of study. Applicants need at least NZD $5,000 in funds and must apply within 3-12 months of their student visa expiring.
Can someone apply directly to be resettled as a refugee, and how do the Pacific ballots work?
No - the Refugee Quota Programme (1,500 places/year, set for 3 years from 1 July 2025) accepts only UNHCR-mandated refugees referred to New Zealand, who receive permanent residence on arrival. The Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category are separate annual residence ballots: for 2026 up to 1,100 Samoan, 250 Tongan, 250 Fijian, 75 Kiribati and 75 Tuvaluan citizens may be invited. The principal applicant must be aged 18-45, register in April, and after selection secure an acceptable job offer and meet the income requirement (NZD $55,404.96/year with dependent children from 30 April 2026), then apply within 8 months. Registration is free and can include a family.