Residence Visas
There are a range of visas that can allow you to live in New Zealand permanently
Green List, Highly Paid, & Care Workforce
Residence Categories
Further to the Immigration Rebalance announcement that was made in May earlier this year, the Government is opening three new residence categories that will make it easier for employers to hire and attract migrants for specified high-skilled and hard-to-fill occupations.
These are:
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Straight to Residence
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Work to Residence
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Highly Paid
The first two are for the respective Green List occupations, which allow employers to complete a Job Check for the Accredited Employer Work Visa without proof of advertising if the minimum requirements for the role are met.
The new Highly Paid resident visa is for those earning twice the median wage.
Besides the above categories, another category that has been introduced in light of the labor shortages in the care sector is the Care Workforce Work to Residence Category. This visa category is for those who work in an occupation that is on the Care Workforce sector occupations list, are paid at least NZD $28.25 an hour, and have worked in that role for 24 months in New Zealand.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Immigration New Zealand invites people who have the skills to contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth to apply for this visa.
To apply, you will first need to send INZ an Expression of Interest (EOI) telling them about your employment in New Zealand, work experience, and qualifications. INZ uses a points-based system to assess your EOI and if it is successful, they will offer you the opportunity to apply to live and work in New Zealand.
Length of stay
Indefinitely
Age Range
55 years or under
With this visa, you can
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Live, work and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your residence application.
Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa
This visa is for people who have been employed in New Zealand by an accredited employer for more than 2 years.
If you have ongoing employment with an accredited employer and you earn at least the minimum base salary that was in place when you applied for your Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa, you may be eligible for this resident visa.
Length of stay
Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Live, work, and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner and dependent children, aged 24 and under, in your residence application.
Things to note
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To apply for this visa, you must hold a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and have worked for an accredited employer for two years. Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa closes to new applications on 31 October 2021.
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If you changed your employer while on a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa, you must have had your visa conditions varied.
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If you have yet to take up a job offer from an accredited employer, you may consider applying for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa.
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The salary you must meet is higher if you apply for your Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa after 6 October 2019.
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
Length of stay
Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Live, work, and study in New Zealand.
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Include dependent children, aged 24 and under, in your visa application.
Things to note
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If your partner’s New Zealand residence is based on their Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residence or resident return visa, you can only apply for this visa if your partner lives in New Zealand.
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If your partner is a New Zealand citizen and the two of you have been living together outside of New Zealand for 5 years or more, you may be granted a permanent resident visa. Your partner will need to be either overseas when you apply, or have been back in New Zealand for less than 3 months.
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Resident Visa
This visa is for holders of Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visas who have been actively involved in New Zealand in their declared field of exceptional talent for more than 2 years.
If you are still prominent in that field and your continued presence will enhance New Zealand’s accomplishments, you may be eligible for this resident visa.
Length of stay
Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Live, work and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under in your residence application.
Things to note
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To apply for this visa, you must hold a Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa and have been actively involved in your declared field of talent for 2 years.
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You must still be prominent in your declared field of talent and be able to enhance the quality of New Zealand’s accomplishments in that field.
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You must have an acceptable sponsor and support from a New Zealand organisation of national repute in your declared field of talent.
Entrepreneur Resident Visa
This visa is for people who have been self-employed in New Zealand at least 6 months, or have operated a business for two years on another visa that allows self-employment.
Length of stay
Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Continue to operate your own business in New Zealand.
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Live, work and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your visa application.
Parent Retirement Resident Visa
If you have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply to live in New Zealand permanently.
You’ll need an annual income of NZ $60,000 plus NZ $1 million to invest for 4 years, and another NZ $500,000 to live on.
Once you’ve completed the 4-year investment period, you’ll be eligible for permanent residence.
Length of stay
Indefinitely, if you meet the visa requirements
With this visa, you can
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Live, work and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner in your visa application.
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Apply for permanent residence after 4 years of keeping your funds invested in New Zealand.
Parent Resident Visa
If you have an adult New Zealand citizen or resident child who earns enough and agrees to sponsor you, you may be able to live in New Zealand permanently.
Length of stay
Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Live, work and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner in your residence application.
Things to note
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Grandparents and legal guardians may be able to apply for residence under this category.
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If you have any dependent children, you are not eligible for this visa.
Dependent Child Resident Visa
If you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident living in New Zealand, you can bring your dependent children to New Zealand to live with you.
If your children are granted residence, they can live and study in New Zealand, and if they’re old enough, work too.
Length of stay
Indefinitely, if you meet the visa requirements
Age Range
24 years and under
With this visa, you can
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Bring your dependent children to New Zealand to live with you.
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If they’re old enough they can study or work here too.
Things to note
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If your children were eligible for New Zealand residence under the Family Quota, Refugee Family Support Category, Samoa Quota Scheme or Pacific Access Category but weren’t included in your residence application, they’re not eligible for this visa.
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If your children were eligible for New Zealand residence under any other category but weren’t included in your residence application, we may ask you to explain the reason for this.
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Some children of New Zealand citizens or residents are New Zealand citizens by birth or descent. If your child is a citizen, they do not need to apply for residence.
Long Term Skill Shortage List Resident Visa
If you have a Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa and have worked in New Zealand for more than 2 years, you may be able to apply for this resident visa.
Length of stay - Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Live, work and study in New Zealand.
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Include your partner and dependent children aged 24 and under in your residence application.
Things to note
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To apply for this visa, you must hold a Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa and have worked in New Zealand for more than 2 years.
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You must have ongoing, full-time employment in an occupation that was on the Long Term Skill Shortage List LTSSL) at the time you were granted a work visa, or an occupation that is on the LTSSL at the time you apply for residence.
Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa
You can apply for this visa if you are a key employee of a business relocating to New Zealand and you are not eligible for any other resident visa.
Length of stay - Indefinitely
With this visa you can
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Work in the business you’re relocating with.
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Bring your partner and dependent with you.
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Live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely, after you meet the conditions of your visa.
Things to note
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We may grant you a work visa to allow you to relocate the business, before we grant you a resident visa.
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If you include a partner and dependent children in your application, we may grant them visitor or student visas while you relocate the business.