A Straight to Residence Visa allows someone with a job or job offer in a role on Tier 1 of the Green List to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. After two years on this visa, holders may be able to apply for Permanent Residence in New Zealand.
Who can apply for a Straight to Residence Visa?
To be eligible to apply for a Straight to Residence Visa, you must:
- currently hold, or have been offered, a job which is in a role on Tier 1 of the Green List
- meet any specific eligibility criteria for applications based on that particular role, such as:
- holding a qualification that is recognised as meeting an industry-specific national or international standard
- holding or being eligible to hold certain professional registration or membership
- prove that you speak and understand English, either through citizenship, qualifications or an English language test
- meet the standard good health and character requirements for New Zealand visas
- be aged 55 or younger at the time of application
Applications can be submitted from inside or outside New Zealand.
Partners, as well as dependent children aged 24 or younger, can be included in applications for a Straight to Residence Visa. Dependent children must be single, have no children and not be financially supported by a third party. Both your partner and any children over 16 will have to meet the visa’s English language requirement, or commit to paying to learn English when in New Zealand.
What does a Straight to Residence Visa offer?
If you are successful in applying for a Straight to Residence Visa, you will be able to:
- live in New Zealand indefinitely
- NB: this is not a permanent resident visa
- work for any employer in New Zealand and in any role (not just the one which you had when applying for the visa)
- study for any period of time anywhere in New Zealand
- travel to and from New Zealand freely providing that you have a valid travel facility on your visa
- travel facilities are usually issued for two years when the visa is first granted. In order to travel freely to and from New Zealand after this period, you should apply for an extension or variation of the travel facility or a permanent resident visa
How do I apply for a Straight to Residence Visa?
Applications for this visa, as well as any supporting information, must be submitted online.
The application fee for a Straight to Residence Visa varies depending on the nationality of the applicant and where they are when they apply. The fee can be be as little as zero or as much as NZD $6450.
Once received by Immigration New Zealand, Straight to Residence Visa applications usually receive a response within four months.
