If you need the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to assess an overseas qualification, you have until the end of 19 December to submit an application before the summer break.
NZQA says its overseas qualifications recognition online portal will close for maintenance and updates from midnight NZDT on 20 December 2026 until midday NZDT on 11 January 2027. No new applications can be submitted in that time.
New fees for International Qualification Assessments (IQAs) and related services then take effect on 1 January 2027.
Who needs an IQA?
An IQA confirms that NZQA recognises an overseas qualification and sets out its equivalent level and type on the New Zealand qualifications framework.
Migrants often need one for residence. Immigration New Zealand generally asks for an IQA when someone uses an overseas qualification to claim points under the Skilled Migrant Category, unless the qualification is on INZ's list of qualifications exempt from assessment. Overseas-trained teachers also use NZQA's assessments for teacher registration and salary purposes, and the skill shortage add-on checks whether a qualification meets the requirements of an occupation on an INZ list.
What happens during the closure?
According to NZQA:
- you cannot create or submit a new application from 20 December to 11 January
- you can still create an account
- if you start a draft application before 20 December, you can finish it after the portal reopens on 11 January
- recognition outcomes will still be issued during the closure, and you can still access them.
So if your application is already in, the closure should not hold it up. If you are planning to apply for residence early in the new year, the main thing is to get your IQA application in by 19 December, or wait until 11 January.
What do the new fees look like?
All prices include GST. The standard IQA stays the same; the add-ons and appeals change.
| Service | Now | From 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard IQA (one qualification) | $445 | $445 |
| Pre-1998 qualification fee (on top of IQA) | $275 | $275, but waived for skill shortage and teaching add-ons |
| Skill Shortage List assessment add-on | $165 | $150 |
| Teaching assessment add-on | $301 | $150 |
| Review of an outcome | No separate fee listed | $150 (Post Evaluation Review) |
| Appeal | $765 | $445 |
| Overseas Study Assessment | $165 | $165 |
NZQA currently also sells packages: a Skill Shortage List IQA for $610 and a Teaching IQA for $746, which includes two extra standard IQAs. Its announcement lists the new add-ons as charges on top of the $445 IQA, which would make a skill shortage assessment $595 in total. It does not mention whether the Teaching IQA package will continue, so check with NZQA if you were planning to use it.
What is changing with appeals?
The single appeal service is being split in two:
- A Post Evaluation Review ($150) checks whether the evaluation process and outcome were correct, and explains in more detail how NZQA reached its decision. You must ask for it within 20 working days of your recognition statement being issued.
- An Appeal ($445) is a full re-evaluation using your existing information and any new evidence. You must provide evidence to support it. It must be lodged within 20 working days of the recognition statement or the review outcome.
At the moment, an appeal costs $765. NZQA refunds it, less a $55 administration fee, if the outcome changes based on what was in the original application.
Should I apply now or wait?
That depends on what you need.
If you only need a standard IQA, the price is the same either side of 1 January, so the main question is timing around the closure.
If you need a skill shortage or teaching assessment, the new add-on fees are lower than the current ones. Waiting could save some money, but would mean applying after the portal reopens on 11 January, so weigh that against any visa or job deadlines.
NZQA does not refund applications if you cancel, so make sure you have the right documents before you submit.
Where can I find out more?
NZQA's announcement, "Planned maintenance period and fee changes for International Qualifications Assessments", is on its website with an FAQ. Questions can go to its Qualifications Recognition Services team.
Teachers trained in the Philippines and elsewhere can read our earlier piece on registration and jobs for overseas teachers. For other residence changes, see what is changing on the Green List from March 2027.
