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New Zealand · Immigration

Immigration, one step clearer.

Explore New Zealand visa pathways, application steps and changes affecting work, study, residence and family.

Start with the part of the journey you are trying to understand. Each guide gives you the main idea first, then explains the conditions, evidence and timing that need a closer look.

Guides

Start with the question closest to yours

Choose the situation you want to understand, then follow the connected pages when your question crosses more than one topic.

Residence and skilled pathways

Understand how skilled residence routes fit together before focusing on points or one occupation list.

Partnership and family

Separate living-together evidence, relationship history and family visa questions.

Work and job changes

Understand the employer, job and visa-condition questions involved in working in New Zealand.

Study, status and next steps

Check post-study options and what status or conditions may apply while a decision is pending.

Changes and dates

Check what is in effect and what is still upcoming

An effective date tells you when a setting applies. The information-checked date tells you when the source behind the summary was reviewed.

Immigration

SMC pathways and skilled-residence changes

The current SMC has three pathways. Start with the pathway that matches the qualification, income, registration, work experience or trade facts before counting points.

Information checked: 27 September 2026

In effect from 24 August 2026

Immigration

Post-study work options announced for November 2026

Current Post Study Work Visa settings and the new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa need to be read as separate options with separate eligibility rules.

Information checked: 27 September 2026

Opens 16 November 2026

Information scope

Know when the general answer is not enough

These guides explain general New Zealand immigration information. Advice about personal circumstances needs an appropriately licensed or exempt immigration adviser.

  • New Zealand context.
    Country-specific rules and processes stay separate from information about other places.
  • Current documents.
    Official pages, policy wording and dated notices can change the answer.
  • Personal circumstances.
    Eligibility, recommendations and individual outcomes sit outside these general guides.

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