Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category – Recognised Qualifications

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Changes to the recognition and evidence of qualifications under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) will take effect from 25 May 2009.

Details of the upcoming policy changes are available now to enable those people intending to express interest under the SMC, those who have already submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), and those people invited to apply for residence to make informed decisions about their EOI and/or subsequent residence application.

 

If you have any questions, we recommend that you refer to our questions and answers, or Amendment Circular 2009-05 PDF [782KB], which contains all of the policy changes (highlighted for ease of reference).

 

You can also call our contact centre on 0508 55 88 55 (or 09 914 4100 if you are in Auckland). Alternatively you may prefer to visit one of our branches for further information.

 

Summary of Changes

1. The List of Recognised Qualifications will be renamed the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment. 
2. The list will be updated and expanded to include academic qualifications from the countries below:
   • Austria 
   • Belgium 
   • The Czech Republic 
   • Denmark 
   • France 
   • Germany 
   • Hungary 
   • Italy 
   • Netherlands
   • Philippines
   • Poland 
   • South Africa
   • Sweden 
   • United Kingdom
   • United States of America
     
3. Level four trade qualifications and technical qualifications from Germany, South Africa, and the United Kingdom have also been added to this list. To qualify for points on the basis of being on this list, any requirements specified in the list must be met.
4. Level three trade qualifications from Germany, South Africa, and the United Kingdom have been added to the List of Qualifications Recognised as an Exception. To qualify for points on the basis of being on this list, any requirements specified in the list must be met. Note that applicants who hold a qualification on the list do not need to provide a NZQA assessment.
5. A small number of qualifications have been removed:
   • Marine and Aviation lists have been removed, and 
   • Social Worker qualifications have been removed from the United  Kingdom list.