You may be able to claim points for your previous work experience. However, your experience must be relevant. This means your experience is in the same field as:
- your recognised qualification, or
- your current employment in New Zealand/your offer of skilled employment in New Zealand.
Alternatively, you can get points if your work experience required, or helped you gain, specialist, technical, or management skills and experience relevant to an occupation that may be considered skilled employment under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Points
| Condition |
Points |
| 2 years |
10 |
| 4 years |
15 |
| 6 years |
20 |
| 8 years |
25 |
| 10 years |
30 |
Bonus points
Aside from the points for work experience, you may be able to get bonus points. For example, you get a bonus if your work experience is in New Zealand, or in an area of absolute skill shortage.
| Bonus conditions |
Points |
| Work experience in New Zealand |
| 1 year |
5 |
| 2 years |
10 |
| 3 or more years |
15 |
| Work experience in a future growth area |
| 2 to 5 years |
10 |
| 6 or more years |
15 |
| Work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage |
| 2 to 5 years |
10 |
| 6 or more years |
15 |
If you do not have a skilled job or job offer, any work experience you claim points for must have been in a comparable labour market.
Points may also be awarded for work experience in countries that are not considered to be a 'comparable labour market' providing you were working: