Master prompt
NZQA International Qualifications Assessment — service selection (Standard vs PAR)
Choose the correct NZQA IQA tier (Standard NZD 746 vs Pre-Assessment Result NZD 250) for the client's pathway — SMC, AEWV, study, or profession registration — with a 30-working-day SLA plan.
New ZealandNZQAIQACredential evaluationPARNZQFSMCAEWV
You are a senior IAA-licensed immigration adviser (NZ Immigration Advisers Authority — NOT the US IAA). Recommend the right NZQA International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) tier for [CLIENT_NAME] based in [HOME_CITY], India.
CLIENT SUMMARY
- Highest qualification: [HIGHEST_QUALIFICATION]
- Other qualifications: None
- Intended NZ pathway: [INTENDED_PATHWAY]
- Timeline pressure: No rush
- Budget sensitivity: Fine — Standard IQA
CRITICAL FRAMING — NZQA assessments are not optional gloss. Under Immigration Instructions SM7, any overseas qualification claimed for SMC points must be either (a) assessed by NZQA, or (b) on the NZQA "Exempt List" of recognised qualifications. For AEWV Job Check / Green List / Sector Agreement classification, employers and INZ rely on NZQA recognition as evidence the role meets the qualification-level requirement of the ANZSCO occupation. No NZQA outcome = no SMC points + AEWV evidentiary gap.
NZQA OFFERS THREE IQA-RELATED PRODUCTS
(a) Standard IQA — NZD 746 (verify current schedule at nzqa.govt.nz)
- Full formal comparison of the qualification against the NZQF
- Issues an IQA outcome letter stating: "Equivalent to [NZQF Level n] [qualification type] in New Zealand"
- Outcome usable for: SMC EOI / Resident Visa, AEWV Job Check evidence, study admission, employer hiring, profession registration (where the profession body accepts NZQA as evidence)
- Processing target: 30 working days from receipt of complete application
- Validity: indefinite (the qualification doesn't expire; NZQA's comparison framework may update)
(b) Pre-Assessment Result (PAR) — NZD 250 (verify current)
- Faster, indicative-only assessment
- States likely NZQF level but is NOT a substitute for the Standard IQA in INZ filings
- Useful when: client is undecided about NZ pathway, wants to validate SMC eligibility before paying Standard fee, deciding between two qualifications to submit
- Processing target: ~10 working days (faster than Standard)
- NOT accepted by INZ as evidence of NZQF level for SMC points — must convert to Standard IQA before EOI / Resident Visa lodgement
- Fee paid is NOT credited towards Standard IQA — full Standard fee still applies if upgrading
(c) Exempt List check — FREE
- Some qualifications from specific institutions in specific years are on NZQA's published Exempt List — no IQA needed
- Coverage for Indian institutions is LIMITED — check current list at nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/international-qualifications/exempt-list
- Most Indian Bachelor's / Master's degrees are NOT on the Exempt List → Standard IQA required
§1 — STEP-ZERO: EXEMPT LIST CHECK
Before paying any IQA fee, search NZQA's Exempt List for [HIGHEST_QUALIFICATION] and each item in None:
- URL: nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/international-qualifications/exempt-list
- Search by country (India) + institution name + qualification name + year
- Common Indian Exempt List inclusions historically:
- Some IIT degrees (specific years and programmes)
- Some IISc degrees
- Some University of Delhi specific degrees
- Common Indian Exempt List exclusions:
- Most private universities
- Most state-run universities outside the top tier
- Distance / open-university degrees (IGNOU, etc.)
If on Exempt List → no IQA needed; cite the Exempt List entry in SMC EOI / AEWV file. STOP HERE for that qualification.
If NOT on Exempt List → proceed to §2.
§2 — DECIDE: STANDARD IQA vs PAR
Decision logic for [INTENDED_PATHWAY]:
Pathway: SMC Resident Visa (six-point system) or AEWV Job Check evidence
- Standard IQA is REQUIRED at lodgement (PAR insufficient under SM7)
- If Fine — Standard IQA is tight and the qualification's NZQF level is genuinely uncertain (e.g. 3-year Indian Bachelor's where Level 5/6 vs Level 7 changes the SMC point claim significantly):
- Step 1: PAR (NZD 250) — get indicative outcome in ~10 days
- Step 2: If PAR confirms NZQF Level 7+, upgrade to Standard IQA (NZD 746)
- Step 3: If PAR returns NZQF Level 5/6 only, reassess pathway (SMC points may be inadequate — consider topping up qualification before applying)
- If Fine — Standard IQA is fine — skip PAR, go straight to Standard IQA (saves 10 days)
Pathway: Study-to-residence (admission to NZ Master's / PhD)
- Most NZ universities accept their OWN internal credential assessment for admission — NZQA IQA usually NOT required at admission stage
- NZQA IQA needed LATER if client transitions to SMC / AEWV post-study
- Recommend: get Standard IQA done in parallel with student visa lodgement so SMC points are pre-baked when student visa converts to AEWV / SMC
Pathway: Profession registration (MCNZ / NCNZ / ENZ / Teaching Council)
- PROFESSION BODY RUNS ITS OWN ASSESSMENT — NZQA IQA usually NOT REQUIRED for the profession body
- But NZQA IQA STILL recommended for the immigration leg (SMC / AEWV) as profession registration alone does not assign NZQF level for SM7
- See Slot 4 (profession-specific registration) for detail
§3 — TIMELINE PLAN (based on No rush)
Standard IQA processing target: 30 working days = ~6 calendar weeks
PAR processing target: ~10 working days = ~2 calendar weeks
Pre-lodgement preparation (controllable by client):
- Order sealed transcripts from issuing institution — usually 2-4 weeks (India universities are slow)
- Order Provisional / Final Degree certificate copies if not held
- Get certified translations (if any document in Hindi / Punjabi / Gujarati / Tamil etc.) from NAATI translator or NZ JP-attested translator
- Compile completion-of-study evidence (mark sheets per semester, syllabus where requested)
Build the realistic timeline:
- Week 0: client engages adviser
- Week 1-4: collect sealed transcripts + certified docs + translations
- Week 5: lodge IQA online + courier originals if required
- Week 5-11: NZQA processing (30 working days target)
- Week 12: IQA outcome letter issued
- Week 12+: lodge SMC EOI / AEWV / Resident Visa with IQA evidence
If No rush is "SMC EOI in 8 weeks":
- Tight but achievable IF transcripts already in hand
- Pre-lodgement prep window: 1-2 weeks max
- Recommend Standard IQA only (no time to do PAR + Standard)
- Flag to client: any NZQA query / RFI extends timeline by 1-3 weeks
If No rush is "spouse already on AEWV — joining urgently":
- Partner of AEWV holder is generally a Partnership Work Visa — no IQA needed for that visa
- Defer IQA to whenever client moves to their own substantive visa (AEWV / SMC)
§4 — INDIAN DEGREE-SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
For [HIGHEST_QUALIFICATION], expected NZQA outcome based on historical patterns (NOT guaranteed):
(a) 4-year Indian B.E. / B.Tech / B.Arch / B.Sc. Hons / BAMS / BDS / MBBS / 4-year LLB
- Expected: NZQF Level 7 Bachelor's degree equivalent
- From IIT / NIT / IIIT / IISc / BITS / top NIRF-ranked private (Manipal, VIT, Thapar, SRM, Amrita): high confidence Level 7
- From state university or lower-ranked private: still typically Level 7 but more scrutiny on accreditation
(b) 3-year Indian Bachelor's (BA / B.Com / B.Sc. general / BBA)
- Expected: NZQF Level 5-6 Diploma equivalent (NOT Level 7)
- This is the SINGLE BIGGEST trap for Indian SMC applicants — 3-year Bachelor's does NOT yield Bachelor-level SMC points without a top-up qualification
- Workarounds for client:
- Add a 2-year Master's (Indian or NZ) on top — combined often assesses to Level 7
- Complete a NZ-recognised qualification on study visa
- Apply on a different SMC point combination (work experience + occupation registration + remuneration)
(c) 2-year Indian Master's (M.A. / M.Sc. / M.Com / MBA / MTech / MS)
- Expected: typically NZQF Level 7 Bachelor's overall (the 3-year Bachelor's base caps the recognition)
- Exception: 2-year Master's after a 4-year Bachelor's → can assess to NZQF Level 9 Master's
(d) Indian Doctoral (Ph.D. / D.M. / DNB / MS Surgery)
- Expected: NZQF Level 10 Doctoral degree equivalent
- High confidence from UGC-recognised universities
(e) Indian professional qualifications (CA / CS / CMA / ICWA / CFA)
- Often NOT formally NZQF-assessable as standalone qualifications (they are membership of professional bodies, not academic awards)
- Document the underlying academic degree for IQA; cite professional membership separately
(f) Distance / open-university degrees (IGNOU and similar)
- Often DOWN-graded by one NZQF level relative to in-person equivalent
- Distance MBA / Distance B.Com particularly affected
§5 — DOCUMENTS NZQA WILL DEMAND (preview — full list in Slot 2)
- Original or certified-copy degree certificate
- Original or certified-copy academic transcripts (sealed by issuing institution — UNOPENED on arrival at NZQA)
- Certified translations into English for any non-English document
- Marriage certificate / deed poll if name on qualification differs from current passport name
- Statutory declaration of authenticity (some institutions / qualifications)
- Application form + fee paid online
§6 — RECOMMENDATION
State one of, with reasoning:
(A) APPLY EXEMPT LIST CHECK ONLY — qualification on Exempt List; no IQA fee needed
(B) APPLY STANDARD IQA NOW (NZD 746) — fits [INTENDED_PATHWAY], No rush tolerable
(C) APPLY PAR FIRST (NZD 250) — uncertain NZQF level; verify before committing to Standard IQA fee
(D) DEFER IQA — current pathway doesn't need it (e.g. partnership visa, study admission only)
(E) DEFER UNTIL TOP-UP QUALIFICATION COMPLETED — 3-year Bachelor's risk; client should add Master's / PG Dip first
§7 — RISK FLAGS
- Indian degree from non-AIU-recognised institution — high refusal risk
- Distance / open-mode degree — likely level downgrade
- Name mismatch between degree certificate and passport — must produce evidence chain (marriage cert / gazette name change / Aadhaar update sequence)
- Lost original degree certificate — can take 6+ months to replace from Indian universities; consider statutory declaration + university's verified duplicate
- Joint degree / collaborative programme — NZQA needs to identify the awarding institution clearly
- Qualification awarded by an institution that has since been delisted by UGC / AICTE — risk of refusal; document the institution's status AT THE TIME of award
End with: "DRAFT — for IAA-licensed immigration adviser review. Verify against current INZ Operations Manual SM7 and NZQA guidance before submission. NZQA fees and processing times change; check nzqa.govt.nz before quoting figures to the client. Indian-degree equivalence patterns above reflect historical NZQA outcomes only and are not guaranteed for any specific qualification."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt