To live in New Zealand permanently, you need a resident visa. There are a number of pathways to obtaining a resident visa, many of which start with a temporary visa allowing you to work, study or own a business in New Zealand. Some visas, such as those granted under the Skilled Migrant Category, grant you residence right away. You need to comply with any conditions attached to your visa, to ensure your pathway to residence is not interrupted.

Before moving to New Zealand permanently, you need to consider what visas you’re eligible for and whether those visas will enable you to stay in New Zealand permanently. You also need to make sure you are ready to move to New Zealand, because you will need enough time to complete the requirements of your temporary or resident visa conditions.

Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Immigration NZ invite people who have the skills, experience and qualifications New Zealand needs to grow its economy to apply for residence under this category. If your application’s successful, you and your family will be able to live in New Zealand permanently.

Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
If your partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply to become a New Zealand resident. Your partner must support your application.

Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
If you have the qualifications and experience required for an occupation on our Long Term Skill Shortage List and have an offer of employment in that occupation, then you may be eligible for this visa. This visa can help set you on the pathway to New Zealand residence by allowing you to work here.

Long Term Skill Shortage List Resident Visa
If you have worked in New Zealand for more than 2 years while holding a Long Term Skill Shortage Work Visa, you may be eligible for this residence visa.

Parent Retirement Resident Visa
Parents, who have an adult child who is a New Zealand citizen or resident, can apply to live in New Zealand permanently. To apply, 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.

Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
If you have skills or expertise and have been offered full-time work by an accredited employer, then you may be eligible for this visa. This visa can help set you on the pathway to New Zealand residence by allowing you to work here.

Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa
If you have worked in New Zealand for an accredited employer for more than 2 years, you may be eligible for this residence visa. If you held a Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and been employed in New Zealand by an accredited employer for more than 2 years, you may be eligible for this residence visa.

Dependent Child Resident Visa
If you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident and you live here, you can apply for your dependent children to move to New Zealand to live with you. If your children are granted residence, they can live in New Zealand permanently.

Investor 2 Resident Visa
Experienced business people who have a minimum of NZD $3 million in available funds or assets can apply for New Zealand residence, and include their partner and dependent children in their application too.

Entrepreneur Resident Visa
This visa is for people who have been self-employed in their own business in New Zealand for at least 6 months, or have operated a business for two years on another visa that allows self-employment. If you’re granted this visa, you’ll be able to continue living and operating your business in New Zealand on a permanent basis.

Samoan Quota Resident Visa
Each year Immigration NZ invite Samoan citizens to register for a ballot that, if drawn, may result in an invitation to apply for New Zealand residence.

Pacific Access Category Resident Visa
Each year Immigration NZ invite people from Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Tonga to register for a ballot that, if drawn, allows you to apply to live in New Zealand.

Second or Subsequent Resident Visa
If you want to return to New Zealand to live but your New Zealand Resident Visa has expired, you may be eligible for a Second or Subsequent Resident Visa.

Permanent Resident Visa
If you’ve been living as a New Zealand resident for 2 years or more, you may be eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa, which would allow you to travel to and from New Zealand any time you like.

Religious Worker Resident Visa
Religious workers, who’ve been doing religious work in New Zealand on a valid Religious Worker Work Visa for the last 3 years, may be eligible for this resident visa. To apply you’ll need an offer of continuing religious work and sponsorship from the religious organisation that’s sponsoring you now.

Investor 1 Resident Visa
If you have NZ $10 million to invest in New Zealand over a 3-year period, you may be able to come to New Zealand to live.

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. You need to send us an expression of interest explaining how you meet the requirements and be sponsored by your child, or your child and their partner, and Immigration NZ may invite you to apply for residence.

Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
If you have exceptional talent in a field of art, culture or sport, then this visa can provide you with a pathway to residence in New Zealand. To apply, you’ll need to be supported by a New Zealand organisation that’s nationally-recognised in your field.

Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Resident Visa
If you hold a Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa, have been actively engaged in your declared field of talent in New Zealand for 2 years and remain prominent in this field, you may be eligible for this residence visa.

Australian Resident Visa
Australian citizens and permanent residents can visit, work and live in New Zealand. You do not need a visa before you travel to New Zealand.

Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa
This visa helps victims of family violence. You can apply for this visa if you were the partner of a New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder and have experienced family violence.

Community Sponsored Refugee Resident visa
This visa is for applicants who have been recognised as refugees and have sponsorship by an approved community organisation. Successful applicants will be granted permanent residence in New Zealand.

Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa
This visa can help employees who are integral to the success of the business they work for, who aren’t eligible for any other kind of resident visa, relocate to New Zealand. If you meet the conditions of the visa, which include working for your relocating employer for a 24-month period, you may be able stay in New Zealand indefinitely.

Entrepreneur Work Visa
This visa is for experienced business people who want to work in their own business in New Zealand. If you’re granted this visa, you can come to New Zealand to buy or set up your own business in an initial 12-month start-up stage, then work in that business for up to 3 years. If your business is successful, you may be eligible to apply for residence.

Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa
If you’re a New Zealand citizen or resident, you can apply for a child you’ve legally adopted from overseas to move to New Zealand to live with you. If your adopted child is granted residence, they can stay in New Zealand indefinitely.

Pitcairn Islander Resident Visa
Pitcairn Islanders can apply for a resident visa, if they’ve been offered skilled employment in New Zealand.

Refugee Family Support Resident Visa
If you have a family member who was granted New Zealand residence because they were a refugee or protected person, they may be able to sponsor your application for New Zealand residence.

South Island Contribution Resident Visa
If you have been employed in the South Island for 2 years since being granted a South Island Contribution Work Visa you may be eligible for this resident visa.