Tools — SMC
SMC 6-Point Calculator
Structured self-review against skilled-employment themes. Outputs are advisory bands until an authoritative policy engine is connected—not official INZ points.
- Structured orientation before advice
- Clear boundaries with licensed filing
- Premium, calm presentation
Review your current Skilled Migrant Category position with a visible 6-point calculator. This page models the live public point structure, keeps the premium RTNZ result layer, and still separates current rules from the future August 2026 pathways.
Confirm the EOI status
A submitted EOI is assessed using its actual submission date.
Choose the rules to assess
The relevant rules depend on the EOI submission period.
Points-based SMC rules effective from 24 August 2026. Read the future rules cluster for those pathways—not as SMC point top-ups.
SMC — illustrative current snapshot Source confidence: medium. Confirm current Immigration New Zealand instructions before any filing — this tool is advisory only.
1. Choose your primary SMC skill category
Current SMC points come from one primary category only: qualification, occupational registration, or income.
3. Add NZ skilled work experience if you need it
Under the active rules, you can add up to 3 points from qualifying NZ skilled work experience.
Experience rule check
Confirm whether the NZ skilled work period you selected actually meets the experience rule for your chosen primary category.
4. Confirm the historical wage facts
The future points and skilled-job checks use the governed historical wage anchor.
Does the work-visa wage grace rule apply?
Did you change between skill-level 1–3 and skill-level 4–5 work?
5. Confirm the rules-effective gate checks
These do not change your point score, but they affect whether a filing under the active rules looks ready.
Do you have an acceptable skilled job or job offer in NZ?
Is the employer accredited for this route?
Do you meet the English requirement?
Will you be 55 or younger when you apply?
Your next step with RTNZ
FAQ
SMC 6-Point Calculator — common questions
Yes. It models the live six-point Skilled Migrant Category as publicly described by Immigration New Zealand, including skilled-job and income, qualification, and registration points. It remains a self-assessment. From 24 August 2026 extra pathways sit on separate pages and are not added inside this score. Confirm current instructions before you file.
No. Those are separate future pathways, not extra points added to the current SMC calculator. RTNZ surfaces them on /skilled-migration/future-rules and linked child pages—read them alongside this tool, not inside the point score.
Because points alone are not enough. Skilled-job fit, accredited-employer status, English, age, wage history, and evidence quality can still change whether a real filing is ready.
Rules-effective score first, strategy second
Use this calculator to see your visible position under the rules from 24 August 2026, then move into the Skilled Migrant Category and evidence pages before treating any case as submission-ready.
Separate SMC pathway
Skilled Work Experience assessor
Preview before 24 August 2026; rules-effective from that date. This assessor never adds points.
Choose an assessment date to resolve preview or rules-effective status.
Separate SMC pathway
Trades & Technician assessor
Preview before 24 August 2026; rules-effective from that date. This assessor does not award points.
Choose an assessment date to resolve preview or rules-effective status.
How this calculator scores
The calculator uses one primary indicator — qualification, occupational registration, or income — and can add New Zealand skilled work experience. The points below are the values this tool applies.
| What the tool checks | Rule this tool uses | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Primary indicator | Qualification | Use one qualification path only: doctorate, master's, honours/PGDip, or bachelor's/PGCert. |
| Primary indicator | Occupational registration | Use recognised New Zealand registration based on the training/experience requirement for that registration. |
| Primary indicator | Income | Use your current NZ job or offer if the hourly pay rate meets the current SMC threshold. |
| Qualification | Doctorate / PhD (Level 10) | 6 points. Current-rule qualification path worth 6 points. |
| Qualification | Master's degree (Level 9) | 5 points. Current-rule qualification path worth 5 points. |
| Qualification | Honours degree or postgraduate diploma (Level 8) | 4 points. Current-rule qualification path worth 4 points. |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree (Level 7) or postgraduate certificate (Level 8) | 3 points. Current-rule qualification path worth 3 points. |
| Occupational registration | Registration requiring at least 6 years | 6 points. Registration path worth 6 points. |
| Occupational registration | Registration requiring at least 5 years | 5 points. Registration path worth 5 points. |
| Occupational registration | Registration requiring at least 4 years | 4 points. Registration path worth 4 points. |
| Occupational registration | Registration requiring at least 2 years | 3 points. Registration path worth 3 points. |
| Income | At least 3x median wage (NZD $105.00/hr from 9 Mar 2026) | 6 points. Current-rule income path worth 6 points. |
| Income | At least 2x median wage (NZD $70.00/hr from 9 Mar 2026) | 4 points. Current-rule income path worth 4 points. |
| Income | At least 1.5x median wage (NZD $52.50/hr from 9 Mar 2026) | 3 points. Current-rule income path worth 3 points. |
| Income | Below 1.5x median wage for SMC points | 0 points. This does not create a valid current SMC points category. |
| New Zealand skilled work experience | No NZ skilled work experience to claim | 0 points. No experience points. |
| New Zealand skilled work experience | At least 1 year in the last 2 years | 1 points. Current-rule skilled work experience worth 1 point. |
| New Zealand skilled work experience | At least 2 years in the last 4 years | 2 points. Current-rule skilled work experience worth 2 points. |
| New Zealand skilled work experience | At least 3 years in the last 5 years | 3 points. Current-rule skilled work experience worth 3 points. |
Your Pathway Passport
This is not a decision on your application. It is a planning snapshot that helps you understand what this tool can tell you, what it cannot decide, and what evidence or next step should come before you spend time or money.
- Where you are now
- You are checking whether the Skilled Migrant Category may be worth comparing against other New Zealand pathways.
- What this tool can help with
- This tool can help you organise your self-reported points position and see whether SMC should stay in the conversation.
- What this tool cannot decide
- It cannot decide eligibility, approval, job-skill match, occupational registration, salary evidence, or whether INZ will accept your documents.
- Your next evidence step
- Prepare qualification evidence, employment evidence, registration evidence where relevant, English evidence where required, and a clear explanation of how your points claim is supported.
- Recommended next tool
- Recommended RTNZ review
- RTNZ can review whether your points story is evidence-ready and whether SMC is the right comparison route for your situation.
Official decisions still depend on the relevant authority, employer, institution, or immigration settings. RTNZ can help you review sequence and evidence readiness, but this tool is not an approval decision.
Tool planning summary
- What this tool does
- This tool can help you organise your self-reported points position and see whether SMC should stay in the conversation.
- Who should use it
- You are checking whether the Skilled Migrant Category may be worth comparing against other New Zealand pathways.
- What this tool cannot decide
- It cannot decide eligibility, approval, job-skill match, occupational registration, salary evidence, or whether INZ will accept your documents.
- What to do next
- Prepare qualification evidence, employment evidence, registration evidence where relevant, English evidence where required, and a clear explanation of how your points claim is supported. RTNZ can review whether your points story is evidence-ready and whether SMC is the right comparison route for your situation.
Recommended next steps
Use the next tool only after the current question is clear. RTNZ Tools are designed as a sequence: first understand the pathway, then organise evidence, then decide whether a personalised review is needed.
- Next stepGreen List CheckerWhy this matters
You are checking the occupation and pathway question before moving into employer targeting or residence planning.
Use this tool: Green List Checker →Caution: Do not rely on this step as a final answer. Your personal facts, evidence, timing, and official requirements still need review.
- Next stepWork to Residence TrackerWhy this matters
You are checking whether a Work to Residence-style plan needs employer, tenure, pay, role, and evidence preparation.
Use this tool: Work to Residence Tracker →Caution: Do not rely on this step as a final answer. Your personal facts, evidence, timing, and official requirements still need review.
- Next stepNZ Green List Job IntelligenceWhy this matters
You are moving from pathway research into employer-facing role-market research.
Use this tool: NZ Green List Job Intelligence →Caution: Do not rely on this step as a final answer. Your personal facts, evidence, timing, and official requirements still need review.