New Zealand Skilled Migrant Visa 2026 — Do You Have 160 Points? Full Calculator
New Zealand Skilled Migrant requires 160 points to lodge an Expression of Interest. Age, job, salary, qualification, and partner's skills all count. Calculate your score here before applying.
New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) visa is a points-based permanent residence pathway. You submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), New Zealand Immigration (INZ) selects candidates above the points cut-off, and if selected, you apply for residence.
The cut-off is not published in advance — INZ selects periodically from EOIs scoring above a threshold that fluctuates. Historically, EOIs with 160+ points have been consistently selected. Some selection rounds have taken candidates at lower scores during high-demand periods, but 160 is the safe target.
This guide walks through every points factor so you know exactly where you stand before spending time on an application.
Who This Visa Is For
The SMC is for skilled workers who want permanent residence in New Zealand — not a temporary work visa. It is one of the few direct pathways from outside New Zealand to permanent residency.
You do not need a job offer to submit an EOI, but having one significantly boosts your score. Most successful Pakistani applicants have:
- A bachelor's degree or higher in a skilled field
- Several years of professional experience
- English proficiency (IELTS 6.5+ generally)
- Either a New Zealand job offer or very high-demand skills
The Points Grid — Calculate Your Score
Skilled Employment (maximum 70 points — the most critical factor)
Current skilled employment in New Zealand:
| Salary | Points |
|---|---|
| NZD $27.76/hour or NZD $57,744/year | 50 |
| NZD $41.64/hour or NZD $86,611/year | 60 |
| NZD $55.52/hour or NZD $115,482/year | 70 |
Skilled employment offer in New Zealand (not yet in NZ):
| Salary offered | Points |
|---|---|
| NZD $27.76/hour+ (basic offer) | 50 |
| NZD $41.64/hour+ | 60 |
| NZD $55.52/hour+ | 70 |
Work experience outside New Zealand in a skilled occupation:
| Years outside NZ in skilled work | Points |
|---|---|
| 2–5 years | 10 |
| 6–9 years | 15 |
| 10+ years | 20 |
Pakistani reality check: Most Pakistani IT engineers and civil engineers applying from Pakistan (without a NZ job offer) can claim 10–20 points from offshore skilled work experience. To score 50+ from employment, you need a New Zealand job offer meeting the salary threshold.
Qualifications (maximum 70 points)
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| NZ bachelor's degree or recognised overseas equivalent in a востребованной field | 50 |
| NZ master's degree or doctorate, or recognised overseas equivalent | 70 |
| NZ diploma (level 7) or recognised overseas equivalent | 40 |
| NZ trade qualification or recognised overseas equivalent | 40 |
"Востребованная" (востребованной) = demanded/scarce field. INZ defines this as qualifications in fields where New Zealand has documented shortages. Currently includes: health, teaching, engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical), IT, construction, and primary industries.
Degree recognition: Your Pakistani degree must be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to determine its New Zealand equivalence. NZQA charges NZD $723 for an International Qualification Assessment. Processing takes 20 working days. Start this process early — NZQA assessment is required before you can claim qualification points.
NUST, LUMS, GIKI, UET Lahore: These universities are generally recognised by NZQA as producing degrees equivalent to New Zealand bachelor's degrees. A master's from a well-ranked Pakistani university typically assesses as equivalent to a New Zealand master's.
Age (maximum 30 points)
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 20–39 | 30 |
| 40–44 | 20 |
| 45–49 | 10 |
| 50–55 | 5 |
| Over 55 | 0 |
Partner/Spouse Bonus Points (maximum 20 points)
If your partner meets specific criteria, you earn additional points:
| Partner's qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Recognised skilled qualification + skilled job offer or current skilled employment in NZ | 20 |
| Recognised skilled qualification only | 10 |
New Zealand Work Experience Bonus (maximum 30 extra points)
If you have previous work experience in New Zealand (on a work visa), you earn bonus points:
| Years of NZ work experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 10 |
| 2 years | 15 |
| 3+ years | 20 |
In a skilled occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List: +15 points on top of the above.
Additional Bonus Points
Close family in New Zealand (New Zealand citizen or resident sibling, parent, or adult child): +10 points.
Qualification studied or work experience in a region outside Auckland: New Zealand actively encourages settlement outside Auckland (which has the highest population concentration). Points for regional study or regional job offers: +10 points.
Real Score Example — Pakistani IT Professional
Profile: 32-year-old software engineer, 6 years experience in Lahore and Dubai, MSc Computer Science from NUST, no New Zealand job offer, IELTS 7.0, no New Zealand experience.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age 32 | 30 |
| MSc Computer Science (NZQA-assessed) | 70 |
| Offshore skilled work 6–9 years | 15 |
| No NZ job offer | 0 |
| No NZ work experience | 0 |
| **Total** | **115** |
115 points — below the 160 threshold. What would get this profile to 160?
Option A — Get a New Zealand job offer at NZD $57,744+: +50 points → 165 points ✅
Option B — Include a qualified spouse/partner: +10–20 points → 125–135 points (still not enough alone)
Option C — Get a NZ job offer + regional bonus: +50 + 10 = 175 points ✅
The honest conclusion: Without a New Zealand job offer, most Pakistani applicants cannot reach 160 points. The points system is designed to reward people who are already connected to the New Zealand labour market. Getting an NZ job offer while in Pakistan is the key — and is achievable through the same strategies covered in the how to get a job in Canada from Pakistan guide (which applies equally to NZ with local adaptations).
How the EOI Process Works
Step 1 — Submit your EOI online
EOIs are submitted through INZ's Immigration Online portal at immigration.govt.nz. You enter your personal details, qualifications, employment history, and claimed points. There is no fee to submit an EOI.
Step 2 — INZ selects EOIs
INZ runs selection rounds periodically — approximately every 2 weeks. EOIs above the points threshold are selected. You receive a notification if selected.
Step 3 — Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If selected, you receive an ITA and have 4 months to submit a full Skilled Migrant Category residence application with all supporting documents.
Step 4 — Residence application
Submit your full application with documents: NZQA qualification assessment, IELTS results, employment reference letters, police clearances (including Pakistan police clearance certificate), medical certificates, and your job offer documents if applicable.
Processing time: INZ targets 6 months for SMC residence applications. With a complete, well-prepared application, this is generally achievable.
The Occupation Shortage List — Your Field May Get Bonus Points
New Zealand maintains a Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) and a Construction and Infrastructure Skill Shortage List. Professionals in listed occupations receive bonus points and some additional processing benefits.
Current shortage occupations relevant to Pakistani professionals include: civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, registered nurses, midwives, medical radiation technologists, veterinarians, secondary school teachers, and certain construction roles.
Check the current shortage lists at immigration.govt.nz — these are updated and occupations are added and removed based on labour market conditions.
English Language Requirements
For SMC, you must meet English language requirements — IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, or equivalent scores on other accepted tests. The IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo comparison covers which test is most practical for Pakistani applicants.
Internal links: Australia PR Points Test 2026 · Canada Express Entry CRS Score Breakdown 2026 · How to Get a Job in Canada from Pakistan 2026 · Pakistan Police Clearance Certificate for Visa 2026 · IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo 2026 · HEC Attestation & MOFA Process 2026 · Australia Student Visa Pakistan 2026
New Zealand SMC points cut-offs, salary thresholds, and shortage occupation lists are updated by INZ. Always verify current requirements at immigration.govt.nz. This article reflects March 2026 data.