Do you plan to live in New Zealand permanently? There are a range of visas that will give you the opportunity to migrate to and live in New Zealand indefinitely. Some of the most common residence pathways include:
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Suitable for people with specific skills or qualifications that are in demand in New Zealand, and who have a job or job offer from an accredited employer. This visa allows holders to live, work and study in New Zealand.
Partner of a New Zealand Resident Visa
Suitable for people who are already living with their partner, who is a citizen or resident of New Zealand. If successful, holders will be entitled to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.
Suitable for people whose adult child is a resident or citizen of New Zealand, and who can sponsor their application. Your child must have a minimum income level in order to act as sponsor for this visa. Successful applicants will be granted the right to live in New Zealand indefinitely.
Since 1 April 2025 investors can choose the Growth category (at least NZD $5 million in higher-growth investments held for 3 years, with 21 days in New Zealand) or the Balanced category (at least NZD $10 million held for 5 years, with 105 days in New Zealand). There is no English language requirement. Once the investment conditions are met, holders can apply for permanent residence.
This visa is only open to people who already hold an Entrepreneur Work Visa and have run their business in New Zealand for the required time. The Entrepreneur Work Visa closed to new applicants in 2025 and was replaced by the Business Investor Work Visa, which requires an investment of at least NZD $1 million in an established New Zealand business and can lead to residence after 3 years (or 12 months with NZD $2 million).
Suitable for people with a job or offer of a job that is on Tier 1 of New Zealand’s Green List. Holders of this visa become eligible to apply for permanent residence after just two years.
If you have a minimum of two years’ work history in New Zealand in a Tier 2 Green List role and intend to remain working in the country, you may be eligible to apply for this resident visa. Holding a Work to Residence Visa for two years is sufficient to meet the visa status requirement of Permanent Resident Visa applications.
Once you have held a resident visa for at least two years, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which gives holders permission to live, work and study in New Zealand on a permanent basis without the travel or other restrictions that can be attached to other resident visas.
Which resident visa fits you? A quick comparison
| Pathway | Best for | Key requirement (as at October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Straight to Residence | Workers in Tier 1 Green List roles | A qualifying full-time job or offer from an accredited employer; no New Zealand work period needed |
| Work to Residence | Workers in Tier 2 Green List roles | 24 months of qualifying work in New Zealand in the role |
| Skilled Migrant Category | Skilled workers not covered by the Green List | 6 points, or the Skilled Work Experience or Trades and Technician pathway (since 24 August 2026); age 55 or under |
| Partner of a New Zealander | Partners of New Zealand citizens and residents | Living together for at least 12 months in a genuine and stable relationship; both partners 18 or over |
| Parent Resident Visa | Parents of adult New Zealand citizens and residents | Expression of Interest selected from the pool (queue and ballot from 5 October 2026); sponsor income from NZD $109,200 |
| Active Investor Plus | Investors | NZD $5 million (Growth) or NZD $10 million (Balanced) invested in New Zealand |
| Business Investor | People buying an established New Zealand business | Work visa first: NZD $1 million (residence after 3 years) or NZD $2 million (residence after 12 months) |
Requirements that apply to most resident visas
- Health: you and your family must have an acceptable standard of health, usually shown with medical and chest X-ray certificates.
- Character: police certificates from countries you have lived in, and you must meet the good character requirements.
- English: many skilled and work-based pathways need the principal applicant to meet an English standard, and partners and children aged 16 or over to show English or prepay English classes.
- Genuine information: giving false or misleading information can lead to a decline and affect future applications.
What a resident visa gives you
A resident visa lets you live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely. Most resident visas come with travel conditions that let you leave and re-enter for a set period, usually 2 years. Before those travel conditions end, check whether you can apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which has no conditions. After 5 years as a resident you may be able to apply for New Zealand citizenship.
Resident visa FAQs
What is the difference between a resident visa and a permanent resident visa?
Both let you live in New Zealand indefinitely. A resident visa usually has travel conditions and sometimes other conditions. A Permanent Resident Visa has no conditions, so you can travel in and out indefinitely. You can usually apply for one after holding a resident visa for 2 years.
Do I need a job offer to get residence?
For the Green List and Skilled Migrant Category pathways, yes, you usually need a current job or job offer with an accredited employer. Partner, parent and investor pathways do not depend on a job offer.
Can I include my family?
Most resident visas let you include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger, as long as they meet health and character requirements and any English requirement.
How long does it take?
Processing times vary by visa type and change through the year. Getting your documents right the first time is the best way to avoid delays, so we check every application before it is lodged.
