New Zealand – Residency

What types of residency are available to foreign nationals in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s residency framework is administered by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and operates under the Immigration Act 2009. There is no standalone “temporary residency” permit comparable to those issued in parts of Europe; instead, overseas nationals typically hold a temporary work or study visa while building toward a resident visa, before eventually upgrading to a Permanent Resident Visa once they satisfy the relevant conditions. The principal categories are described below.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa

The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is New Zealand’s flagship skilled residence pathway. Its purpose is to strengthen economic performance by granting residence to people who can address medium to long-term skill gaps that the local labour market cannot readily fill. The programme operates on a points basis, requiring candidates to accumulate at least 6 points alongside mandatory health and character standards.

This route is open to those with a skilled job who hold occupational registration, a Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification, or who earn at least 1.5 times the median wage. In practice, this means being employed in an ANZSCO Level 1 to 3 occupation and earning a minimum of NZD $35.00 per hour (the 2025 median wage), or in an ANZSCO Level 4 to 5 occupation and earning at least NZD $52.50 per hour (equivalent to 1.5 times the 2025 median wage). The current median wage figure is updated periodically, so the INZ website should always be consulted for the latest figures.

Substantial reforms are scheduled for August 2026, when two new pathways will be added under the SMC — a “skilled work experience” stream for migrants in ANZSCO skill levels 1 to 3, and a “trades and technician” stream for those in relevant trades or technician roles holding a level 4 or higher qualification. These changes will ease work experience and wage requirements, widening access to the SMC for a broader pool of talent across sectors experiencing skills shortages.

Green List Resident Visa (Straight to Residence and Work to Residence)

The Green List identifies occupations facing acute demand in New Zealand and provides employer-backed residence options for eligible migrants. It covers a diverse range of roles, including healthcare professionals, veterinarians, engineers, ICT specialists, teachers, and certain trades workers.

Applicants with a job offer in a Tier 1 occupation who satisfy the associated qualification, registration, and wage criteria may apply directly for the Straight to Residence Visa. Those with a job offer in a Tier 2 occupation must first complete two years of qualifying work in New Zealand on an appropriate work visa before becoming eligible for the Work to Residence Visa.

Active Investor Plus Visa

A notable development in New Zealand’s 2025 immigration landscape was the launch of the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa — New Zealand’s residency-by-investment programme, widely described as a “Golden Visa.” The government overhauled this scheme in April 2025. Eligibility requires a minimum investment of NZD $5 million under the Growth category or NZD $10 million under the Balanced category in qualifying New Zealand investments.

Invested funds must remain in acceptable investments within New Zealand for at least 36 months under the Growth category and at least 60 months under the Balanced category. A significant draw of this visa is its low physical presence requirement: Growth category investors need to spend just 21 days in New Zealand across the three-year investment period, while Balanced category investors must be present for a minimum of 105 days across the five-year period. No English language requirement applies to this visa.

Business Investor Visa

New Zealand has launched a new Business Investor Visa (BIV), replacing the earlier entrepreneur immigration stream. Introduced in November 2025, the programme requires minimum investments starting from NZD $1 million and forms part of a wider overhaul of the country’s business visa settings. It offers a temporary residence permit with a three-year pathway to permanent residency. The Immigration New Zealand website should be consulted for the most current details, as this programme continues to develop.

Family (Partnership) Resident Visa

Foreign nationals may gain residence by virtue of a genuine and enduring relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident. The partner must be in a bona fide and stable relationship with the applicant — whether through marriage or an established partnership — and the couple must demonstrate that they have been living together for a minimum of 12 months before the application is lodged. Partners and dependent children up to age 24 may also be included as dependants in a principal applicant’s skilled or investor visa application.

Pacific Community and Other Pathways

New Zealand maintains close ties with the Pacific nations of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa, and in recognition of these relationships INZ operates two ballot systems that can open a path to residence for eligible citizens of those countries. Additional resident visas exist for specific circumstances, such as for refugees or children subject to adoption proceedings. Citizens and permanent residents of Australia are entitled to receive a resident visa upon arriving in New Zealand.

Care Workforce and Transport Sector Agreements

Individuals with a job offer in a specified care workforce or transport sector role who meet the relevant qualification, registration, and wage requirements must complete two years of qualifying work in New Zealand on a designated work visa. They may then apply for the Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa or the Transport Workforce Work to Residence Visa as appropriate. These sector-specific routes acknowledge the critical contribution these workers make to New Zealand’s social infrastructure.

How does temporary residency work in New Zealand, and how can it lead to permanent residency?

In contrast to countries such as Canada or Germany, where a “temporary residence permit” constitutes a distinct formal status, New Zealand draws a clear line between temporary visas (covering work, study, and visitor stays) and resident visas. Most applicants use a temporary work visa as a stepping stone, building the work experience or points accumulation needed to eventually qualify for a resident visa.

Work experience in New Zealand is a prerequisite for many residence pathways. Once a resident visa is issued, certain conditions can only be satisfied while physically present in the country, so applicants may need an appropriate temporary visa first — enabling them to work, study, or run a business there. The main temporary work option for skilled migrants is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which requires the employing organisation to hold accreditation with Immigration New Zealand.

The maximum continuous stay (MCS) policy caps AEWV holders at five years for ANZSCO skill levels 1–3, or three years for levels 4–5, after which a 12-month overseas period is required before reapplication. This makes it critically important to secure a viable residence pathway within the initial work visa term, especially for those in lower-skilled roles.

From Resident Visa to Permanent Resident Visa

Both a resident visa and a Permanent Resident Visa permit indefinite residence in New Zealand. The essential distinction is that a resident visa carries conditions, while a Permanent Resident Visa is entirely unconditional. This is broadly analogous to the difference between Indefinite Leave to Remain and standard limited leave in the UK — though in New Zealand a resident visa already grants the right to remain indefinitely, subject to travel rules.

Resident visas permit departure from and return to New Zealand only up to a specified date, referred to as the ‘Expiry date travel’ on the visa. Leaving the country after this date will cause the resident visa to lapse, making re-entry on that visa impossible.

An application for a Permanent Resident Visa may be lodged after holding a resident visa for a minimum of two years. Permanent Resident Visa holders may live in New Zealand indefinitely and travel in and out of the country without restriction. This two-year qualifying window is notably shorter than the five-year periods commonly required for permanent residency in many other countries — the majority of EU member states, for instance, require five years of lawful residence before a long-term resident permit can be obtained.

Qualifying for a Permanent Resident Visa requires demonstrating a commitment to living in New Zealand permanently, evidenced through at least one of five recognised means. Physical presence — specifically spending at least 184 days in New Zealand in each of the two years preceding the application — is one option. Others include holding an ongoing employment agreement, being engaged in business activity, owning residential property, or having dependent children enrolled in a New Zealand school. The INZ website contains the full list of qualifying criteria.

How do you apply for residency in New Zealand?

The majority of residency applications are lodged online through Immigration New Zealand’s portal, whether the applicant is already in New Zealand or applying from overseas. While the precise process varies by visa category, the general steps for a skilled residence application are as follows.

1. Assess your eligibility. Use the Immigration New Zealand website to identify which residence pathway aligns with your occupation, qualifications, and employment history. For the SMC, determine whether your qualifications, occupational registration, or income level are sufficient to reach the 6-point threshold.
2. Obtain employment with an accredited employer. Under the Skilled Migrant Category, you must hold a job offer from an Accredited Employer, be guaranteed at least 30 hours of work per week, and have either a permanent employment offer or a fixed-term contract spanning 12 months or more.
3. Compile your supporting documents. Assemble your passport, academic certificates, employment and earnings evidence, medical examination results, police clearance certificates, and any category-specific materials (refer to the Documents section below).
4. Lodge your application through Immigration New Zealand’s online portal. Most resident visa applications are submitted via the INZ online portal. Certain categories — particularly investor visas — may require additional steps involving Invest New Zealand.
5. Pay the applicable fee. For 2024–2025, the published fee per family for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa is NZD $6,450. Other categories carry different fees — for example, the Active Investor Plus Visa has an application fee of NZD $27,470 (as of 2025). Always confirm current fees on the INZ website before submitting your application.
6. Complete a medical examination and provide biometrics where required. All applicants and any dependants aged 15 or over must undergo a chest X-ray and medical examination, conducted by a physician approved by INZ.
7. Wait for a decision. Processing times fluctuate, but in general, prioritised applications are processed within 4–7 weeks, while non-prioritised applications may take between 2 and 18 months (as of 2025). Prioritisation is available to applicants with occupational registration or earnings of at least twice the NZ median wage. Always check the INZ processing times page for current figures, as these change regularly.
8. Receive your resident visa and observe its conditions. Once your visa is granted, familiarise yourself with the travel expiry date and any attached conditions, and begin preparing for your Permanent Resident Visa application after two years.

For investor visa categories, approval in principle triggers a six-month window in which to transfer and deploy your investment funds in New Zealand. INZ carries out compliance checks at various points throughout the investment period to verify that conditions are being honoured.

What documents do you need to apply for residency in New Zealand?

The precise documentation required depends on the residency category being pursued. The following serves as a general guide for skilled residence applications. The specific visa page on the Immigration New Zealand website should always be consulted for a definitive and current document list for your chosen category.

• Valid passport: A clear, high-quality scan of the biographical data page of your passport or certificate of identity is required, along with scans of any pages containing visa records and entry and exit stamps, for yourself and all persons included in the application.
• Evidence of employment: Your signed employment agreement, fixed-term contract, or job offer letter from an accredited employer, clearly showing your role, working hours, duration of employment, and remuneration.
• Proof of income and wage threshold compliance: If invited to apply for residence, you will need an earnings summary or tax statement from Inland Revenue confirming the period of employment and income earned during that time.
• Qualifications evidence: Where an applicant seeks points for an overseas qualification, that qualification must be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) through an International Qualification Assessment (IQA), or appear on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment, confirming equivalence with the applicable New Zealand qualification standard.
• Medical certificate and chest X-ray: Required for all applicants and any dependants aged 15 or over. All medical examinations must be conducted by a physician on INZ’s approved list.
• Police clearance certificates: Character verification from every country where you have resided for 12 months or more, typically within the past decade. All applicants must satisfy character, health, and English language requirements.
• English language evidence: An approved test result (e.g. IELTS, OET) unless an exemption applies. English language test results remain valid for five years for applicants holding a recognised occupational registration.
• Occupational registration: Where relevant, evidence of registration with the appropriate New Zealand professional body (e.g. the Medical Council, Engineering New Zealand).
• Relationship evidence (for partner/family visas): Documentation supporting a genuine and stable partnership of at least 12 months, which may include shared financial records, correspondence, or statutory declarations.
• Investor documentation (for AIP Visa): Evidence of ownership and source of investment funds, together with documents establishing good character and an acceptable health standard. All documents must be certified or apostilled and presented in English, or accompanied by a sworn English translation.

Document requirements are subject to change, and INZ may request further information during the assessment process. For complex cases — particularly investor and employer-sponsored applications — engaging a Licensed Immigration Adviser (LIA) is strongly advisable.

Do you need to register with any government department or authority after arriving in New Zealand?

New Zealand has no municipal registration system of the kind widespread across continental Europe — such as Germany’s Anmeldung or the Netherlands’ BRP registration — where foreign nationals must formally report to a local authority shortly after arrival. That said, there are a number of important steps that resident visa holders should take on settling in the country.

IRD Number (Tax Registration)

Anyone intending to live and work in New Zealand long-term must register with Inland Revenue (IRD) to obtain an IRD number. This number is required for paid employment, opening a bank account, and accessing a range of government services. Registration can be completed online or in person at an IRD office. There is no hard legal deadline, but working without an IRD number will result in employers deducting tax at the higher non-declaration “no-notification rate.”

Enrolling with a General Practitioner (GP)

Residents are entitled to subsidised healthcare and are encouraged to register with a local GP as promptly as possible after arriving. Although there is no formal national obligation to do so, enrolment ensures access to lower-cost primary care consultations. This is broadly comparable to registering with a GP under systems such as Australia’s Medicare, though New Zealand operates its own Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) scheme covering treatment costs for injuries.

Keeping Your Immigration Record Up to Date

Notifying Immigration New Zealand of any change in address, relationship status, or personal circumstances that may affect your visa conditions is important. Updates can be submitted through the INZ online portal. If your resident visa carries a travel expiry condition, monitoring this date closely is essential — you should apply for an extension or upgrade to a Permanent Resident Visa before the condition lapses.

Children’s School Enrolment

Families with school-age children are required to enrol them in school. Children of resident visa holders are entitled to attend state schools, and enrolment is handled directly with individual schools rather than through a central authority.

Electoral Roll

Holders of a Permanent Resident Visa (but not standard resident visa holders) are eligible to enrol on the New Zealand electoral roll and participate in general elections. Registration is administered by the New Zealand Electoral Commission and can be completed online.

What are the rights and restrictions that come with residency in New Zealand?

A resident visa entitles you to live in New Zealand on a permanent basis, and to work and study without restriction. However, certain conditions — particularly around travel — remain in place until you upgrade to a Permanent Resident Visa. Understanding this distinction is essential for anyone planning their long-term future in New Zealand.

Right to Work and Study

Resident visa holders may work for any employer in any capacity without limitation. Unlike programmes such as the EU Blue Card, which may bind a holder to a particular employer or occupational sector, New Zealand’s resident visa is employer-unrestricted from the moment it is granted. Study is equally unrestricted, with access to all institutions including universities and polytechnics, and resident visa holders may qualify for domestic tuition fee rates rather than the considerably higher international rates.

Healthcare

New Zealand residents benefit from partially government-funded healthcare, covering GP consultations, prescriptions, and hospital treatment. This support is available from the outset of residency, unlike in some countries where access to public healthcare is deferred for several years. Particularly distinctive is the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) scheme, which covers treatment costs for injuries sustained anywhere in the world by New Zealand residents, irrespective of fault. It should be noted, however, that full eligibility for all social benefits does not necessarily begin immediately upon arrival.

Social Benefits

Entitlement to benefits such as Jobseeker Support typically commences after two years of residence. Newly arrived residents should be aware that stand-down periods apply to certain social welfare payments, so planning should not assume immediate access to all forms of government support.

Education

Residents have access to free primary and secondary education at state schools and subsidised tertiary fees. This compares favourably with entitlements available in countries such as Australia, though domestic university fees, while substantially lower than international rates, remain a considerable expense.

Travel Conditions and the Permanent Resident Visa

A Permanent Resident Visa carries no conditions whatsoever. It may be applied for after holding a resident visa for a minimum of two years. Holders of a Permanent Resident Visa may reside in New Zealand indefinitely and travel internationally without any restriction. Until this upgrade is made, resident visa holders must keep a close eye on the travel expiry date recorded on their visa to avoid inadvertently losing their status.

Sponsoring Family Members

Permanent resident visa holders are able to sponsor family members for residency. It may be possible to include a partner or dependent children in a Permanent Resident Visa application, subject to whether those individuals were included in the original resident visa application.

Pathway to Citizenship

Following five years of residency, applicants who satisfy presence and language requirements may apply for New Zealand citizenship. New Zealand permits dual citizenship, meaning an existing nationality need not be surrendered upon naturalisation. This stands in marked contrast to countries such as Germany, where renouncing foreign citizenship is generally a prerequisite for naturalisation, subject to limited exceptions.

Purchasing Property

Permanent residents who are habitually resident in New Zealand are generally eligible to purchase residential property. A visa holder must ordinarily be residing in New Zealand to acquire residential real estate; those spending only the minimum required days in the country are likely to need prior approval for a purchase. This requirement falls away once the individual has been physically present in New Zealand for at least 183 days in the preceding 12 months and has established tax residency.

Where can you find reliable, up-to-date information on residency in New Zealand?

Immigration policy in New Zealand is subject to frequent revision — wage thresholds are adjusted annually, new visa categories are created, and existing policies are amended in response to changing conditions. The resources below are the most authoritative available and should be consulted before any immigration decision is made.

• Immigration New Zealand (INZ): The definitive official source for all visa and residency information. Visit immigration.govt.nz for current eligibility criteria, application guides, processing times, and fee schedules. INZ also operates a contact centre and maintains regional offices throughout the country.
• Invest New Zealand (Invest NZ): The government body responsible for approving qualifying investments under the Growth Category of the Active Investor Plus Visa. Visit nzte.govt.nz for information on acceptable investment types and the approved managed funds register.
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA): For overseas qualification assessments. Visit nzqa.govt.nz to determine whether your qualification requires assessment and to apply for an International Qualification Assessment.
• Inland Revenue (IRD): For tax registration and ongoing obligations. Visit ird.govt.nz to apply for an IRD number and understand your tax residency status.
• Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA): Before engaging an immigration adviser, confirm their licensed status at iaa.govt.nz. Providing immigration advice without a licence is a criminal offence in New Zealand.
• New Zealand embassies and consulates: Applicants based outside New Zealand can seek general guidance from their nearest New Zealand diplomatic mission, which can also direct enquiries to INZ. Contact details are available via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
• The Beehive (New Zealand Government): For official policy announcements and changes to immigration settings, visit beehive.govt.nz.

New Zealand’s immigration rules can and do change with relatively little notice. Wage thresholds tied to the national median wage are typically updated each August, and visa categories can be launched, modified, or discontinued in response to economic circumstances. Always verify that any information you consult is current, and take note of the date on which a given guide or article was last reviewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a resident visa in New Zealand?

Processing times fluctuate depending on application volumes and INZ priorities. As a general guide, prioritised SMC applications are typically decided within 4–7 weeks, while non-prioritised applications may take anywhere from 2 to 18 months (as of 2025). Applicants with occupational registration or earning at least twice the NZ median wage may be eligible for prioritisation. The INZ website publishes current processing times, which should be checked directly as figures change regularly.

Can I include my family members in my residency application?

Your partner and dependent children may be included in your residence application. You and your partner must be able to demonstrate a genuine and stable relationship of at least 12 months’ duration, and children may be treated as dependants up to age 24, with additional evidence of dependency potentially required from age 20 onward. Family members included in the application are not required to independently satisfy the ‘commitment to New Zealand’ criterion — that obligation rests solely with the principal applicant.

What happens if my residency application is refused?

A declined application will be accompanied by a written determination from Immigration New Zealand setting out the grounds for refusal. In most instances, applicants have the right to seek a review before the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT), an independent body empowered to reverse INZ decisions. Reapplication may also be possible where circumstances have changed or where the specific reasons for the original refusal can be addressed. Seeking advice from a Licensed Immigration Adviser is strongly recommended when an application is declined.

Can I lose my New Zealand residency through extended absence?

Resident visas include an ‘Expiry date travel’ condition. Departing New Zealand after this date will cause the visa to expire, and re-entry on that visa will not be possible. Holders who prefer to remain on a resident visa rather than upgrading to a Permanent Resident Visa can apply to have their travel expiry date extended, with extensions of 1 year, 2 years, or 14 days available depending on individual circumstances. Holding a Permanent Resident Visa removes all travel restrictions and cannot lapse as a result of time spent abroad.

How does New Zealand residency affect my tax obligations?

Acquiring New Zealand tax resident status — which generally occurs after being present in the country for 183 days or more within any 12-month period, or after establishing a permanent place of abode — means becoming liable for New Zealand tax on worldwide income. New arrivals may be eligible for a transitional residency concession on certain overseas income during the first four years. A qualified New Zealand tax adviser should be consulted, and registration with Inland Revenue should be completed upon arrival. Active Investor Plus Visa holders who spend only the minimum required days in the country can in most cases obtain a visa without triggering New Zealand tax residency.

How long do I need to wait before I can apply for New Zealand citizenship?

You may apply for citizenship after five years of residency, provided you satisfy both presence and language requirements. You must have been physically present in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days within the five years immediately preceding your application, with a minimum of 240 days in each of those five years. New Zealand permits dual citizenship, so surrendering your existing nationality is not required.

Is there a retirement or long-stay visa for older applicants who are not working?

New Zealand does not currently offer a dedicated retirement or passive income visa of the kind available in certain other countries, such as Portugal’s D7 visa or Thailand’s retirement visa. Non-working applicants typically need to qualify through a family route (for example, as the partner of a resident or citizen), through the investment pathway (Active Investor Plus Visa), or through the Parent Category Resident Visa, which carries a substantial financial assurance of support requirement. The INZ website should be checked for the current status of the Parent Category and any newly introduced long-stay options.

Does New Zealand have a digital nomad visa?

As of 2025, New Zealand has not introduced a dedicated digital nomad visa of the type offered by countries such as Portugal, Estonia, or Costa Rica. Remote workers can enter on a standard visitor visa — typically allowing stays of up to nine months for many nationalities — but formally working for overseas employers is not permitted under the conditions of most visitor visas. INZ has been tracking international developments in this space, so the INZ website is worth monitoring for any new visa categories that may emerge.

What is the difference between a Resident Visa and a Permanent Resident Visa in New Zealand?

Both visa types confer the right to live in New Zealand on a permanent basis. The critical difference lies in conditions: a resident visa has conditions attached — most notably travel restrictions — whereas a Permanent Resident Visa is entirely unrestricted. Eligibility to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa arises after holding a resident visa for more than two years, provided the applicant can demonstrate a genuine commitment to making New Zealand their permanent home. Upgrading to a Permanent Resident Visa as soon as eligible is advisable for most people, as it removes travel limitations and consolidates long-term status.