Gain credit for recognised qualifications
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) offers migrants the opportunity to move to New Zealand to work and live permanently.
You may be eligible to claim points toward your EOI on your application for recognised qualifications more points are awarded for postgraduate qualifications.
Bear in mind that the list of recognised qualifications is used for immigration purposes only. According to Immigration New Zealand, “inclusion of a qualification on this list does not have bearing on the status of the qualification for professional registration, further study, salary or employment purposes”.
Points for work recognised qualifications are allocated as follows, and you may claim only one, not both:
| Qualification | Points allocated |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate qualification | 50 |
| Postgraduate qualification | 55 |
Bonus points
In addition to points earned for work experience, you may also be eligible for bonus points based on whether your qualification is considered to be particularly valuable.
Bonus points are allocated as follows:
| Qualification | Points allocated |
|---|---|
| Two years of full-time study in New Zealand toward a recognised qualification | Five |
| Recognised basic New Zealand qualification (i.e. trade qualification, diploma, bachelor’s degree, bachelor’s degree with honours) | Five |
| Recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification (Master’s degree or Doctorate) | 10 |
| Qualification in an identified future growth area (you must also have a job offer in that area and the qualification must be a requirement for the job) | 10 |
| Qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage (or possibly if the qualification is listed on the Long Term Skill Shortage List) | 10 |
| Partner with a recognised qualification | 20 |
If invited to apply, you will be expected to provide evidence of your qualification in the form of the qualification itself.
