SR3.25 Skill categories

SR3.25.1 Income

1. When claiming points for income, the principal applicant must have full-time employment or an offer of full-time employment in New Zealand (employment is full-time if it amounts to at least 30 guaranteed hours per week for every week worked) which pays at least the equivalent of:
   1. 3 times the median wage (currently $94.83 per hour) to qualify for 6 points; or
   2. 2 times the median wage (currently $63.22 per hour) to qualify for 4 points; or
   3. 1.5 times the median wage (currently $47.41 per hour) to qualify for 3 points.
2. As evidence of income, applicants must provide an employment agreement and job description specifying the occupation, hours and remuneration of the employment.

SR3.25.5 Qualification

1. When claiming points for a qualification, the principal applicant must hold a qualification recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) as a:
   1. level 10 Doctoral degree to qualify for 6 points; or
   2. level 9 Master’s degree to qualify for 5 points; or
   3. level 8 Bachelor honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma to qualify for 4 points; or
   4. level 7 Bachelor’s degree or level 8 Postgraduate Certificate to qualify for 3 points.
2. As evidence of qualifications, applicants must provide their qualification certificate and if the qualification is from outside New Zealand:
   1. an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) from the NZQA; or
   2. the qualification must be included on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 17).
3. If the principal applicant provides an IQA and it does not confirm their qualification is equivalent to a specific New Zealand qualification type listed at (a) above, their IQA must recognise the qualification on the NZQF as:
   1. a level 10 qualification to qualify for 5 points; or
   2. a level 9 qualification to qualify for 4 points; or
   3. a level 8 qualification to qualify for 3 points.
4. Despite the requirements in (a) above to hold the qualification, when claiming points for a level 10 Doctoral degree from a New Zealand University an applicant may instead provide evidence they have met all the requirements to graduate with a Doctoral degree to qualify for 6 points.
5. As evidence of meeting requirements in (d) above, the applicant may provide a ‘letter of eligibility to graduate’ from their New Zealand University stating that they have met all the requirements to graduate with a Doctoral degree.

Note: An IQA:
- assesses an overseas qualification (or group of qualifications) by stating the learning outcomes of the closest equivalent New Zealand qualification; and
- states the NZQF level and qualification type of that equivalent qualification; and
- refers to any verification of the applicant's qualifications undertaken by the NZQA.

SR3.25.10 New Zealand registration, licensing, or certification

1. When claiming points for New Zealand registration, licencing, or certification, the principal applicant must hold a recognised New Zealand registration, license or certification and meet the requirements listed in the table at SR3.30, to qualify for the points listed at SR3.30.
2. Unless specified at SR3.30, any form of provisional, trainee, intern, or limited registration, license, certification or scope of practice does not qualify for points.
3. As evidence of New Zealand registration, licensing or certification, principal applicants must provide documentation confirming:
   1. the registration, licensing, or certification body; and
   2. the name of their registration, license, or certification and/or scope of practice; and
   3. any other requirements listed at SR3.30 to be awarded points.

Effective 1/08/2024