The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Wage Threshold

What is a wage threshold?

A wage threshold is the minimum hourly pay rate someone must earn to meet the requirements of a particular visa category. There are different thresholds for different visas. Wage thresholds for the SMC are based on the median wage and are updated annually.

What SMC wage threshold do I need to meet?

You must be paid at least the SMC wage threshold:

  • in your current job or job offer, and
  • during your skilled work experience in New Zealand (if your pathway requires this).

The SMC wage threshold that relates to you depends on the pathway you are applying under. For some pathways, it also depends on when you started gaining skilled work experience in New Zealand.

If your pathway does not require skilled work experience in New Zealand

If you are claiming 6 points under the Points-based pathway and do not need skilled work experience in New Zealand, your current job or job offer must meet the SMC wage threshold that is in place when you are invited to apply for residence.

If your pathway requires skilled work experience in New Zealand

If you are applying under an SMC pathway that requires you to have skilled work experience in New Zealand, you must meet the SMC wage threshold that was in place when you started gaining this work experience.

Timeframe for setting your SMC wage threshold

There is a limit on how far back you can go when setting your SMC wage threshold. The skilled work experience used to set your threshold must be within the eligible timeframe for your pathway. This timeframe is twice the amount of skilled work experience you need, counted back from the date you submit your SMC Expression of Interest (EOI).

If you change jobs

For most people, you will not need to meet a higher SMC wage threshold if you change jobs during your skilled work experience. You must continue to meet the threshold that was set when your skilled work experience first became eligible to count. If your pay drops below the threshold that applies to you, that work experience cannot count towards your SMC application.

Grace period

In some cases, the SMC wage threshold may have increased between the date you received your work visa and the date you started gaining your skilled work experience. In these instances, there is a ‘grace period’ that may allow you to meet the lower threshold that was in place when you received your work visa.