The New 2021 Resident Visa
Updated: Oct 10, 2021
The Government has announced a new one-off residence visa pathway for some temporary work visa holders currently in New Zealand and some critical purpose visa holders arriving in New Zealand between 30 September 2021 and 31 July 2022 on long-term visas.
Partners and dependents can be included as part of these residence applications.
Applications will be open in two phases from 1 December 2021 for some eligible applicants and from 1 March 2022 for remaining eligible applicants.
All applications must be submitted by 31 July 2022.
Eligibility
Applicants must have met the criteria on 29 September 2021.
To be eligible you must:
have been in New Zealand on 29 September 2021, and
be on an eligible visa or have applied for an eligible visa on or before 29 September 2021 that is later granted.
You must also meet ONE of the three criteria:
have lived in New Zealand for three or more years, OR
earn at or above the median wage ($27 per hour), OR
work in a role on a scarce list.
Eligible Visas
On 29 September all applicants must have been on (or have applied for and later granted) one of the following visas:
Post Study Work Visa
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
Essential Skills Work Visa
Religious Worker Work Visa
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
Silver Fern Practical Experience Work Visa
Trafficking Victim Work Visa
Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa
Victims of Family Violence Work Visa
South Island Contribution Work Visa
Work Visa granted under Section 61 (provided the applicant held another eligible visa type within 6 months before being granted a Section 61 visa)
Some Critical Purpose Visitor Visas (CPVV):
Critical health workers for longer term roles (6 months or longer), and
Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months).
Partners and dependent children, including those currently outside New Zealand, can be included in residence applications.
All applicants must meet the heath and character requirements for the 2021 Resident Visa.
Critical Purpose visitor holders
Two groups of Critical Purpose visitor visa holders will be eligible, as long as you arrive in New Zealand and apply before 31 July 2022.
Critical health workers for longer term roles (6 months or longer), and
Other critical workers for long term roles (more than 6 months).
Applicants who have lived in New Zealand for three or more years
To be eligible under this criteria, you must have lived in New Zealand for the past three or more years and
have arrived in New Zealand on or before 29 September 2018, and
have spent a minimum of 821 days in New Zealand between 29 September 2018 and 29 September 2021 (inclusive).
The time spent in New Zealand does not need to be consecutive. There is no minimum amount within a calendar year.
Applicants earning at or above the median wage
To be eligible under this criteria, you must be paid the median wage of NZD $27 per hour or above on 29 September 2021.
Applicants working in a job on a scarce list
To be eligible under this criteria, on 29 September 2021 you must work in a job that is on a scarce list. These are:
Jobs on the Long Term Skill Shortage List
Jobs requiring occupational registration in the health or education sector
Personal carer and other critical health workers
Visa holders outside New Zealand
Visa holders outside New Zealand are not eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa.
Student visa holders
Student visa holders (including PhD and masters students) are not eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa. There are no plans to broaden eligibility criteria. If you hold a student visa you are able to progress through the normal channels towards residency which will be open to you if you meet the requirements.
If you wish to remain in New Zealand after you complete your studies you will need to apply for, and meet the criteria of the temporary or residence visa types available to you.
Application process
The 2021 Resident visa will be open for applications in two phases, with the first group of people able to apply from 1 December 2021.
From 1 December 2021 you can apply if:
you have already applied for residence under the Skilled Migrant and Residence from Work categories before 29 September 2021, or
you have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest, and have included your dependent child in the Expression of Interest aged 17 years or older on 29 September 2021.
From 1 March 2022 all other eligible applicants can apply, including all others who have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest.
All applications must be made by 31 July 2022.
Those who are eligible to apply from 1 December 2021 will receive an email from Immigration New Zealand by the end of October with further information.
Processing timeframes
It is expected the majority of applications will be processed within 12 months, with most being processed much faster.