Master prompt
IQA outcome to Skilled Migrant Category six-point system — full points integration
Translate the NZQA IQA NZQF level into Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) points: Qualification 50/70 points + Bonus 10 for absolute skill shortage qualifications, with the SM7 / SM1 framework.
New ZealandSMCSkilled MigrantSix-pointNZQAQualification pointsBonus points
You are mapping [CLIENT_NAME]'s NZQA IQA outcome into the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) six-point system effective from late 2023 under Immigration Instructions SM1 and SM7.
CLIENT SUMMARY
- IQA outcome(s): [IQA_OUTCOME]
- Occupation + ANZSCO: [OCCUPATION_AND_ANZSCO]
- NZ professional registration status: N/A
- NZ annual income: NZD [NZ_INCOME]
- Other SMC point sources: None yet
CRITICAL FRAMING — SMC SIX-POINT SYSTEM
The 2023 SMC reform replaced the old EOI 160-point system with a simpler six-point threshold. Applicants need 6 points from THREE categories:
Category A — Qualifications (max 6 points)
Category B — Income (max 6 points)
Category C — Occupational registration (max 6 points)
You can reach 6 points entirely within one category, or combine across categories. The threshold is 6 — no bonus for going above. Points within each category are NOT additive of sub-elements — pick the highest-scoring evidence in the category.
This prompt focuses on Category A (Qualifications) and how the NZQA IQA outcome drives it.
§1 — CATEGORY A — QUALIFICATIONS (NZQA-driven)
Points scale (verify current SM1 table):
Doctoral degree (NZQF Level 10) — 6 points
- Indian Ph.D. / DM / DNB / MS-Surgery from UGC-recognised university typically scores here
- From [IQA_OUTCOME], identify any Level 10 finding
Master's degree (NZQF Level 9) — 5 points
- Indian 2-year Master's after 4-year Bachelor's (e.g. B.Tech + M.Tech / B.E. + M.S. / MBBS + MD) → typically Level 9
- Indian 2-year Master's after 3-year Bachelor's → typically capped at Level 7 (the 3-year base limits recognition; NOT Level 9)
Bachelor's degree with Honours (NZQF Level 8) — 5 points
- Indian 4-year B.Tech / B.E. / B.Arch / BAMS / BDS / MBBS / 4-year LLB — sometimes Level 7 or Level 8 depending on programme accreditation; check NZQA outcome carefully
Bachelor's degree (NZQF Level 7) — 4 points
- Indian 4-year B.Tech / B.E. / B.Arch / BAMS / BDS / MBBS — most commonly here
- Indian 3-year Bachelor's + 2-year Master's — combined often here (NOT Level 9 — see CRITICAL TRAP below)
Diploma (NZQF Level 5-6) — 3 points
- Indian 3-year Bachelor's standalone (BA / B.Com / B.Sc. general) — most commonly here
- Indian polytechnic diplomas — typically here
Lower than Level 5 — 0 points
CRITICAL TRAP — 3-YEAR BACHELOR'S + 2-YEAR MASTER'S
The single largest Indian-cohort SMC strategy failure: clients assume B.Com + MBA = Master's-level recognition = 5 points. NZQA typically caps the combined recognition at Level 7 (Bachelor's) because the 3-year Bachelor's base limits the academic depth on which the Master's was built.
Result: 4 points for Qualifications, NOT 5.
Mitigation:
- Confirm the EXACT NZQA outcome from [IQA_OUTCOME] — if NZQA explicitly says "Level 9 Master's," the client gets 5 points; if NZQA says "Level 7 Bachelor's," 4 points
- If outcome is Level 7 only, plan to make up the 1-2 point gap via Income (Category B) or Registration (Category C)
§2 — CATEGORY A POINTS ALLOCATION FOR [CLIENT_NAME]
For each item in [IQA_OUTCOME], compute the Category A point allocation. Pick the HIGHEST single qualification — qualifications do NOT stack.
State: "Highest qualification per NZQA = NZQF Level [n] → Category A points = [n_points]"
Show working.
§3 — BONUS — ABSOLUTE SKILL SHORTAGE QUALIFICATIONS (PROVISIONAL — VERIFY CURRENT)
Historically, certain qualifications in "absolute skill shortage" fields attracted bonus points. Under the current six-point SMC, this manifests via:
- Category A: NZQF level (base points)
- Category C: Occupational registration (which often correlates with shortage fields)
In specific occupations where qualification + registration are aligned with the Green List Tier 1 / Tier 2 or Sector Agreement classifications, the registration leg (Category C) effectively serves as the "skill shortage bonus" pathway.
Cross-check [OCCUPATION_AND_ANZSCO]:
Green List Tier 1 examples (Straight to Residence): Medical Specialists, ICT Architect / Designer, Civil Engineer, Registered Nurse, Software Engineer (subject to current list — verify at immigration.govt.nz/green-list)
Green List Tier 2 examples (Work to Residence after 2 years AEWV): Electrician, Auditor, Telecommunications Technician (subject to current list)
Sector Agreement examples: aged care, agriculture, dairy, construction
If [OCCUPATION_AND_ANZSCO] is on Green List Tier 1 with registration (N/A) → strong Category C points; potentially full 6-point threshold from Registration alone.
§4 — CATEGORY B — INCOME (cross-reference)
Income points scale (verify current SM1 table — figures revise periodically):
>= 3x median wage (typically NZD ~190K+) — 6 points
>= 2x median wage (typically NZD ~130K+) — 4 points
>= 1.5x median wage (typically NZD ~98K+) — 3 points
>= median wage (typically NZD ~65K+) — 1 point
For [CLIENT_NAME] at NZD [NZ_INCOME]:
- Compute current Category B points
- Show the income band the client falls into
- Note: must be at least median wage to claim ANY Category B points
§5 — CATEGORY C — OCCUPATIONAL REGISTRATION (cross-reference)
Registration points scale (verify current SM1 table):
Full registration in a Tier 1 occupation (e.g. MCNZ general scope, NCNZ general scope, Engineering NZ Chartered Member, Teaching Council Full Practising Cert) — 6 points
Provisional / conditional registration in a Tier 1 occupation — 3-4 points (verify current)
Tier 2 occupations with registration — lower
Cross-check N/A:
- Full registration → likely 6 points (potential standalone path)
- Provisional → 3 points
- In progress (CAP / clinical assessment exam scheduled) → 0 points but plan
- N/A (occupation doesn't require registration) → no Category C points
§6 — BUILD THE SIX-POINT TOTAL
Sum: Category A + Category B + Category C — capped at 6 points (no bonus for going above 6).
For [CLIENT_NAME]:
- Category A: [computed from §2]
- Category B: [computed from §4]
- Category C: [computed from §5]
- TOTAL: [sum, capped at 6]
State: SMC THRESHOLD MET / SHORT BY [n] POINTS.
§7 — IF SHORT — POINT-MAXIMISATION ROUTES
If client is short:
(a) Upgrade qualifications — add NZ Master's via student visa pathway (1-2 years investment)
(b) Improve income — wait for salary review; renegotiate at next AEWV renewal; change roles for higher banding
(c) Complete registration — accelerate MCNZ / NCNZ / Engineering NZ process; book CAP / clinical assessment exam dates
(d) Re-engage NZQA — if 3-year Bachelor's + 2-year Master's was assessed at Level 7, request re-evaluation citing programme depth (see Slot 6)
(e) Defer until threshold met — file SMC EOI only when 6 points secured; avoid premature filing (declined SMC EOI creates negative INZ history)
§8 — DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE FOR EACH POINT CLAIM
For Category A:
- NZQA IQA outcome letter (PDF + originals)
- Degree certificates + transcripts (referenced in NZQA letter)
- Exempt List citation (if applicable — no IQA needed)
For Category B:
- Employment agreement / contract stating annual salary
- Recent payslips (last 3 months minimum)
- IRD Summary of Earnings (myIR portal)
- For multiple jobs: each separately documented; SMC income is from skilled employment only
For Category C:
- Original registration certificate from MCNZ / NCNZ / Engineering NZ / Teaching Council
- Letter confirming scope and validity period
§9 — SMC EOI / RESIDENT VISA WORKFLOW
Step 1: Confirm 6-point threshold met
Step 2: Lodge Expression of Interest (EOI) — INZ Online; pay EOI fee (~NZD 530, verify current)
Step 3: EOI selected from pool — Invitation to Apply (ITA) issued (currently most 6-point EOIs are selected promptly; queue varies)
Step 4: Lodge SMC Resident Visa application within 4 months of ITA — form INZ 1198 (or online equivalent)
Step 5: Submit all supporting evidence — NZQA IQA letter is a load-bearing document
Step 6: INZ assessment + verification — typically 6-18 months (highly variable)
Step 7: Approval — Resident Visa grant + Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) pathway after 2 years
§10 — CROSS-LINKS
- Pre-IQA service selection: see slot nz-cred-nzqa-iqa-service-selection
- IQA application process: see slot nz-cred-iqa-application-process
- Profession registration: see slot nz-cred-profession-specific-registration
- AEWV implications: see slot nz-cred-aewv-occupation-list-eligibility
- IQA appeal: see slot nz-cred-iqa-appeal-re-evaluation
End with: "DRAFT — for IAA-licensed immigration adviser review. Verify against current INZ Operations Manual SM7 and SM1 (six-point system) before SMC EOI lodgement. SMC points tables and income thresholds revise periodically — confirm current rates at immigration.govt.nz before quoting to client. The 3-year-Bachelor's-plus-Master's trap (Level 7 cap) is the single largest Indian-cohort SMC failure mode — confirm the EXACT NZQA outcome wording before claiming Master's-level points."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt