SR3.20 Skilled work experience in New Zealand

1. Skilled work experience in New Zealand is time that the applicant worked in full-time employment (employment is full-time if it amounts to at least 30 hours per week for every week worked) in New Zealand where they earned at least the equivalent of the SMC wage threshold required by their chosen pathway.
2. The SMC wage threshold in effect over time (including any applicable multiplier) is specified in SR3.10.5
3. Skilled work experience must have been lawfully obtained and will not be counted if the principal applicant was unlawfully in New Zealand or required authority to undertake employment but did not have such authority.
4. The principal applicant’s employment during skilled work experience in New Zealand must be genuine and not offered as the result of payment (see SR2.1.5).
5. For skilled work experience in New Zealand, work on a contract for services is acceptable.
6. As evidence of skilled work experience in New Zealand, applicants must provide:
   1. employment agreements and job descriptions (previous and current), specifying the name of the applicant, name of the employer (their legal entity), the occupation, hours and remuneration of any employment; and
   2. a summary of earnings or a tax statement (for work on a contract for services) from the Inland Revenue confirming the period of work and income over any period of work.
7. Principal applicants must also meet any pathway-specific skilled work experience in New Zealand requirements as listed at:
   1. SR3.25.25 for the Points-based pathway; or
   2. SR3.35.5.5 for the Skilled Work Experience pathway; or
   3. SR3.40.10.5 for the Trades and Technician pathway.

      Note: Skilled work experience in New Zealand does not have to be completed consecutively and can be a total of different periods, for example two 12-month periods with a gap of six months in between to make up a 24-month period.

SR3.20.1 Determining skilled work experience in New Zealand

1. In determining the ANZSCO skill level of an applicant’s employment an immigration officer:
   1. will determine whether the applicant’s employment is substantially consistent with the ANZSCO ‘Occupation’ (6-digit) level job title and description for that occupation; and
   2. may undertake a substantial match assessment (see SR2.1.1).
2. Skilled work experience in New Zealand will start being counted when the applicant earns at least the wage required by SR3.25.1, SR3.35.1, or SR3.40.1 at that time.
3. Skilled work experience in New Zealand will stop being counted if the applicant's or their income decreases, to below the wage required by SR3.20.1(b) at that time.
4. Any leave consistent with the definition in section 16 of the Holidays Act 2003 (including parental leave and ACC leave) taken during a period of skilled work experience in New Zealand can be counted if the applicant was earning the wage required by SR3.25.1, SR3.35.1, or SR3.40.1, (whichever is applicable) immediately before the period of leave.

Effective 24/08/2026