Vietnamese workers: could New Zealand's new residence paths fit you?

Visa guide · 2026-08-26 · 4 min read

Do you dream of living and working in New Zealand? There is good news. On 24 August 2026, New Zealand adds two new ways to apply for residence. They sit next to the old Skilled Migrant Category, or SMC. This guide explains them in simple words.

What is changing

The old SMC gave points for qualifications. It did not always help people who have worked well in their job for many years. The two new paths look at your work history instead. They also help skilled workers without a university degree.

Path one: Skilled Work Experience

This path is for people doing skilled work at ANZSCO levels 1–3. ANZSCO is the list New Zealand and Australia use to group jobs by skill level. You need five years of relevant work in total. At least two of those years must be in New Zealand. In those two years, you must be paid at 1.1 times the SMC median wage. The median wage is the middle wage for all workers.

Path two: Trades and Technician

This path is for tradespeople and technicians. You need a qualification at Level 4 or above. You also need four years of experience after you qualified. Of those years, 1.5 years must be in New Zealand, paid at the median wage.

Some jobs are on watch lists

New Zealand has checked which jobs were misused in the past. It made two lists.

Red list. These jobs cannot use either new path. Examples are some accommodation management, general management and health-and-beauty roles. People in these jobs use the old SMC. The bar is higher: 1.5 times the median wage, or a bachelor's degree at Level 7+.
Amber list. Some ICT support and food service jobs are here. They can use Skilled Work Experience only. The wage must be 1.2 times the median, not 1.1.

The lists will be checked again from time to time. A job can move to a different list.

Other changes that help

The wage you must meet is the one from the time your skilled work began. A five-month grace period helps people who need a little time to find skilled work after their visa starts.
Points for a Level 8 or 9 qualification now usually need a bachelor's degree too. A New Zealand master's claimed for 5 points is the main exception. For 6 points, you need 30+ weeks of full-time study in New Zealand and a bachelor's degree.
If you have recognised New Zealand occupational registration, English test results now last five years.
Members of CPA Australia who can do Qualified Statutory Accountant work in New Zealand can now use the SMC.
From 2027, some people who need up to 12 more months of skilled work can extend their Accredited Employer Work Visa. This visa lets you work for an approved employer.

How to prepare from Vietnam

Start with your papers. Keep payslips, work contracts and job descriptions. Vietnamese vocational certificates and degrees are usually checked again in New Zealand. Some trades also need occupational registration there. If a visa asks for certified English translations of your Vietnamese documents, plan time for that.

If a police certificate is requested, Vietnamese citizens usually need the Judicial Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2). If the visa or employer needs an English test, you may take IELTS or PTE.

Please stay safe. Deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker. Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa.

The official Immigration New Zealand work pages show the latest rules. Take it one step at a time. First check your job list. Then choose the path that fits you.

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