A New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa 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.
Applications are generally open to anyone who has held a New Zealand resident visa for at least two years.
Who can apply for a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa?
To be eligible to apply for permanent residence in New Zealand, you should:
- currently hold a New Zealand resident visa
- have held a New Zealand resident visa for at least two years
- provide evidence of your commitment to living permanently in New Zealand by demonstrating one of the following:
- you have spent at least 184 days in New Zealand in each of the last two years;
- you are a tax resident in New Zealand
- you have invested NZD $1,000,000 in New Zealand for at least two years
- you have bought or started an ongoing business in New Zealand, and been involved in its operation for at least one year
- you have established a base in New Zealand, either by owning a home there or working full-time for at least nine months in the previous two years
- meet the standard good character requirements for New Zealand visa applications
If you have been resident in New Zealand for at least five years, you may be eligible to apply instead for New Zealand citizenship.
What does a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa offer?
If granted, a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa gives you the ability to live in New Zealand permanently. This includes the right to work and to study, as well as to travel freely to and from the country.
When applying for a Permanent Resident Visa, you are permitted to include your partner and any dependant children aged 24 or younger in your application.
Individuals who are unsuccessful in their application for a Permanent Resident Visa may, if they are eligible, be offered an alternative resident visa.
How do I apply for a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa?
Applications for Permanent Resident Visas must usually be submitted online. Applicants will be required to ensure they have the evidence and documentation necessary to support their application before submitting.
Citizens of certain countries are exempt from paying application fees for this visa. If a fee is required, it is NZD $315 (there is no immigration levy for this visa).
Permanent Resident Visa applications are usually decided faster than other residence applications, but processing times vary, so we check the current timeframes for you when we lodge your application.
The five ways to show commitment to New Zealand, in detail
You only need to meet one of these. Choose the one your evidence supports most clearly.
You spent at least 184 days in New Zealand as a resident in each of the 2 years immediately before you apply. The days do not need to be consecutive. Immigration New Zealand already holds your travel records, so this is often the simplest option for people who live here full time.
Including your family
You can include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger.
- If they were included in your original resident visa application, they do not have to meet the commitment requirement separately, but they are still assessed for identity and character. They generally cannot be granted permanent residence before you, except in situations such as separation, death, your grant of citizenship or family violence.
- If they were not included in your original application, each family member must have held a resident visa for at least 24 months in a row and meet all the other requirements themselves.
Step by step
- Check your 2 years. The 2 years of holding a resident visa are counted from your first arrival in New Zealand as a resident (if you were granted offshore) or from the date your visa was granted (if you were already here). Do not apply early: applications made before you meet all requirements can be declined.
- Make sure your resident visa is current. It must be current, or have expired no more than 90 days ago, and you must have met any conditions on it.
- Gather documents. Passport details pages for everyone included, evidence for your chosen commitment option, acceptable photos, certified English translations of any documents not in English, and police certificates if requested (less than 6 months old when you submit).
- Apply online and pay the fee (from NZD $315, with no immigration levy).
- Receive your eVisa. Immigration New Zealand says most applications are processed within a few weeks.
A Permanent Resident Visa has no conditions and lets you travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely, as long as it is recorded against a valid passport. If you get a new passport, transfer your visa to it before you travel.
Permanent Resident Visa FAQs
What is the difference between a resident visa and a permanent resident visa?
Both let you live, work and study in New Zealand. A resident visa usually has travel conditions that end after a set period, and may have other conditions. A Permanent Resident Visa has no conditions and no travel expiry, so you can come and go indefinitely.
My resident visa travel conditions are about to expire. What should I do?
If you meet the requirements for a Permanent Resident Visa, apply before you next travel. If you are overseas when your travel conditions expire, you may not be able to return as a resident, so get advice early.
Do I need to show English or a job offer?
No. The main tests are the 2 years on a resident visa, meeting your visa conditions, commitment to New Zealand and good character.
Can I apply for citizenship instead?
Citizenship has its own presence requirements, generally 5 years of living in New Zealand as a resident. Many people hold a Permanent Resident Visa first. See our guide to progressing to citizenship.
What if I do not meet any of the commitment options?
Immigration New Zealand may offer you a further resident visa instead. We can look at your travel history and evidence to see which option fits, or when you will meet one.
