*Required field
Check if you need an International Qualification Assessment
You may need to provide evidence of a qualification or credential for a visa. Check if you need to include an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) report with your visa application.
Qualifications for work
- Green List roles
- What is ANZSCO and how to find your skill level
- China Special Work Visa — evidence of qualifications
- Qualifications for China skilled work occupations
- Qualifications for Republic of Korea Special Work
- Acceptable qualifications for a Post Study Work Visa (pre 12 May 2022)
- Transport Work to Residence Visa work requirements and roles
- Check if you need an International Qualification Assessment
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa requirements and roles
What is an International Qualification Assessment
An International Qualification Assessment — or IQA — is an evaluation of an overseas qualification or credential to see if it can also be used in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) compares the overseas qualification or credential to the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF). It makes an assessment and writes an IQA report.
Check the requirements of the visa you are applying for to see if you need to get an IQA report for your qualification or credential.
Most overseas qualifications and credentials currently require an IQA report completed by the NZQA.
Note
In 2020, the NZQA changed the name from New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) to New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF). Immigration New Zealand uses both terms.
How to apply for an IQA and a report
You can apply online to NZQA for the type of IQA report that you need.
The NZQA:
- verifies and assesses your overseas qualification or credential
- names the New Zealand qualification or credential that are similar
- sends you an IQA report.
Evaluating international qualifications — NZQA
The types of IQA reports that you can apply for are:
- skill shortage list IQAs: for Green List roles
- standard IQAs: for occupational registrations, or for comparing qualifications
- teaching IQAs: for teacher registrations or to get a teacher salary assessment.
Apply for an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) — NZQA
Qualifications that do not need an IQA
The NZQA works to assess overseas qualifications and credentials and decide if an IQA is needed. Qualifications that do not need an IQA are then added to the list of qualifications exempt from assessment (LQEA).
Note
Currently, the qualifications that do not need an IQA are Washington Accord and Sydney Accord accredited qualifications.
If you are applying for a skilled residence visa and you are an engineer, check the following:
- Washington Accord: List of signatories on the International Engineering Alliance
- Sydney Accord: List of signatories on International Engineering Alliance
If you are applying for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, your qualification may be exempt from an IQA.
You can use the following online tool 'Find out if an IQA is needed' to search the LQEA. You cannot search the title name of a qualification.
If your qualification is on the LQEA
If your type of qualification is exempt, you may not need to apply for an IQA.
When we process your application we let you know if you need to get an IQA report. This may be if the visa requirement is to show credit or knowledge rather than type or level of qualification.