Official guidance reviewed November 2, 2026. Written for international readers planning a move to New Zealand.
Use Immigration New Zealand’s current SMC points checker to estimate points for the Points-based Skilled Migrant Category pathway. The target is six skilled resident points, using one skill category and qualifying New Zealand skilled work where needed. This page explains the current calculation with worked examples; GlobalVisora does not operate an official eligibility calculator.
Open the official SMC page and its “Check your points” section →
The numbers below reflect the official page reviewed November 2, 2026, after the August 24 changes. They are a preparation aid. They do not validate your documents, occupation, pay history, job offer, health, character or English eligibility.
For the related next step, see our New Zealand job-search and employer checks. Confirm that the guide’s scope matches your circumstances before using its checklist.
First confirm that you need the points-based pathway
The official SMC pathway overview distinguishes the Points-based pathway from the Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways. A low points estimate does not by itself rule out every SMC pathway, and a high estimate does not establish overall eligibility.
Use our SMC application guide to select the pathway first. The calculation explained here is narrower: one eligible skill category plus any permitted skilled-work points. It is not the old 160-point or 180-point migration model, and it does not award extra points simply for being younger or having a partner.
The formula: one category, not every achievement added together
Choose the category you can actually prove: a recognised qualification, eligible New Zealand occupational registration, or qualifying income. If that category supplies fewer than six points, check whether your New Zealand skilled work supplies the remaining points. Do not combine qualification points with registration or income points.
A practical worksheet has four lines: chosen category; evidence supporting its points; qualifying work period and pay evidence; final total. Keep any unverified assumption next to the number. Writing “assessment pending” is more honest and useful than treating a foreign degree title as already recognised.
Current qualification points: place of study matters
The current INZ qualification table separates New Zealand and overseas awards. Recognition, a required bachelor’s degree for some awards, and study conditions still matter. The table below summarises those distinctions rather than giving points for any certificate with a similar title.
| Qualification basis | NZ award | Overseas award |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised level 10 doctorate | 6 | 6 |
| Eligible level 9 master’s | 6 if the required NZ full-time study and bachelor’s conditions are met; otherwise check the 5-point rule | 5 with the required bachelor’s degree |
| Eligible level 8 honours, postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate | 5 with the required bachelor’s degree | 4 with the required bachelor’s degree |
| Recognised level 7 bachelor’s | 5 | 4 |
INZ specifies at least 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand for the six-point New Zealand master’s option, together with a bachelor’s degree. Do not replace that condition with an assumption that all New Zealand master’s degrees earn six points. Overseas qualifications may require an IQA unless exempt.
The official 2026 change notice gives further context for these settings. If you saved a calculator result before August 24, run the current assessment again rather than comparing two totals without comparing the rules behind them.
Registration and income: check the correct basis
Eligible occupational registrations can provide three to six points according to the recognised registration requirements. Your own total years of employment are not the same as the training requirement attached to a listed registration. Check the specific official registration category before entering a number.
Income points use the relevant SMC wage threshold and the prescribed multiple: 1.5 times for three points, twice for four, and three times for six. The threshold applicable to experience can depend on when it began. Do not apply a current headline wage to every historical period or assume a gross annual salary is already an hourly figure.
If a salary is offered, record guaranteed hours, the pay basis and the official calculation method. A bonus that might be paid later should not be silently treated as guaranteed qualifying income. Keep your calculation traceable to the employment evidence.
Additional New Zealand skilled-work points
| Qualifying New Zealand skilled work | Additional points | Starting skill points needed for six |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 1 | 5 |
| 1.5 years | 2 | 4 |
| 2 years | 3 | 3 |
These are qualifying skilled-work periods, not simply time spent in New Zealand. The role, pay, hours, relevant timeframe and any registration timing must meet the official requirements. A visitor stay, non-qualifying employment or an unsupported gap cannot be added just to reach a total.
Use a timeline to test each period. Record employer, duties, hours, pay, start/end dates and the document supporting them. If the basis is occupational registration, review when experience can begin counting. If the basis is income, check the required multiple throughout the period claimed.
Worked examples: useful arithmetic, not visa decisions
| Illustrative case | Arithmetic | Remaining checks |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised overseas bachelor’s plus qualifying 1.5 years NZ skilled work | 4 + 2 = 6 | Recognition, skilled employment, pay, dates and all applicant requirements |
| Eligible NZ bachelor’s plus qualifying one year NZ skilled work | 5 + 1 = 6 | The award and work must satisfy the current rules |
| Qualifying six-point skill category | 6 + 0 = 6 | A qualifying job and the remaining visa requirements still matter |
| Qualification worth 4 and income worth 3, but no qualifying work | Not 4 + 3 | Choose one skill category; this is not a valid seven-point claim |
These examples deliberately separate the number from the evidence. Two applicants with the same total can have different unresolved requirements. One might need a qualification assessment; another might need proof of pay for the work period. A calculator cannot repair either gap by displaying six.
Why another calculator may show a different result
- It may use pre-August 2026 qualification or work-duration settings.
- It may not distinguish New Zealand and overseas qualifications.
- It may assume an IQA, bachelor’s prerequisite or study-duration condition is satisfied.
- It may use the wrong wage threshold for a historical period.
- It may incorrectly allow multiple skill categories to be added.
- It may describe a different SMC pathway or an old points model.
Do not decide which result is correct by choosing the higher number. Save the assumptions from both tools, compare each with the current official instructions and resolve the difference. A third-party estimate is a prompt to investigate, not an immigration decision.
What to do after reaching an estimated six points
Read the official EOI instructions before making declarations. Confirm the job, pathway and evidence, then use the official process. An invitation and an eventual visa grant are separate outcomes. Our resident visa guide explains the status you are working towards.
If you need lawful temporary work permission while completing the qualifying experience, compare the AEWV requirements. Do not assume a calculator result gives work rights or extends an existing visa.
Save an input audit beside the calculated total
A useful saved result includes the inputs that produced it. Record the date checked, the skill category chosen, the supporting qualification or registration, any study conditions and the NZ work periods included. Keep assumptions visibly separate from facts already supported by documents.
For an income-based calculation, use the actual pay basis and hours from the employment records. If the offer states annual pay, do not type that number into an hourly field. The official SMC page links its hourly-pay calculation guidance and explains why the applicable threshold can depend on the work period.
If two calculators disagree, change only one disputed assumption at a time and compare it with the official rule. Check place of study, award level, prerequisite degrees, registration timing and qualifying work separately. Do not select the higher total simply because it makes the plan look eligible.
Retain the estimate with your evidence log, then return to the SMC application requirements. Employer accreditation is another check, covered in our official employer-list guide; an employer search and a six-point result do not substitute for each other.
November 4, 2026 update: save an input audit beside the calculated total. Current official references checked for this added guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official New Zealand SMC calculator?
No. This is an independent explanation with examples and a link to INZ’s official points-checking section.
Can I add my degree and salary points?
No. Use one eligible skill category, with qualifying New Zealand skilled-work points where permitted.
Does six points guarantee residence?
No. The job, evidence, applicant and application requirements still apply.
Why does an old calculator give my bachelor’s degree three points?
It may reflect older settings. The current table distinguishes New Zealand and overseas qualifications and must be checked with its conditions.
GlobalVisora is an independent information publisher, not Immigration New Zealand or a licensed immigration advisory service. Examples are illustrative. Use the official instructions for your own visa and application date.