You can claim points for qualifications such as trade certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

How many points you can claim depends on what level your qualification occupies on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.

Is your qualification ‘recognised’?

Check if your qualification(s) is included in our lists, and whether you need to meet any additional requirements:

• Appendix 3: List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment
• Appendix 8: Qualifications Recognised as an Exception

What if my qualification is not on the lists?

Registration

We will accept your qualification if you have full or provisional registration and your qualification has been assessed by a New Zealand organisation as being comparable to a New Zealand qualification on Appendix 3: List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment.

NZQA assessment

As well as the qualifications on the lists, we accept qualifications that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) considers equivalent to an acceptable New Zealand qualification. In this situation, you will need to provide an NZQA assessment of your qualification.

If an NZQA assessment is required for an overseas qualification, a Pre-Assessment Result must be undertaken to support your Expression of Interest. If you are invited to apply for residence your qualification will then have to be fully assessed by the NZQA .

If you have a New Zealand qualification which is included on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework you should provide a 'Qualification Overview' report from the NZQF website. If your qualification is not included, you will need a letter from the NZQA to determine whether your qualification will qualify for points.

If your qualification is assessed by the NZQA as Level 4, your qualification must be relevant to an occupation at Part B or Part C of the List of Skilled Occupations.

Qualifications requirements

Points for Qualifications

Bonus points for Qualifications

You may qualify for bonus points if your recognised qualification is in an area in which skills are in demand in New Zealand and which will help build New Zealand’s economy.

* If you want bonus points for an identified future growth area, you must also have a job or job offer in that area. Your qualification must also be a requirement for the job.
** If your job or job offer is not in an area of absolute skill shortage, you will only be able to get these bonus points if your qualification is on the Long Term Skill Shortage List. You must also meet any other requirements on the list.
***To gain bonus points for your partner’s qualification, your partner needs to meet the same English language requirements as you.