Now you are a resident, you will be busy with daily life in New Zealand. But, you may be thinking of the future and would like to know more. The following topics may be of interest to you at this point.
There may be some aspects of life you would like to understand better or some things you need help with.
Our Living in New Zealand section for migrants has lots of information and there are also many agencies that can help – some especially set up to help you settle in New Zealand.
You may be ready to go for a holiday overseas; or maybe you need to travel to see friends and family? If so, you need to make sure the travel conditions of your resident visa are up to date.
Travel conditions are the conditions of your resident visa which allow you to re-enter New Zealand as a resident. Resident visas are usually issued with travel conditions for two years.
If you have been issued a resident visa under the Immigration Act 2009 (on or after 29 November 2010), the expiry date of your travel conditions is indicated by the 'Expiry date travel' on your visa label. If you were granted a residence visa or permit under the Immigration Act 1987 (before 29 November 2010), your travel conditions expire on the date indicated on your returning resident's visa label.
If your travel conditions have already expired or will expire before you come back to New Zealand, you should make an application to either vary your travel conditions or to obtain a permament resident visa.
See next steps for residents for more information about this process.
Your next step may be to become a New Zealand citizen. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) administers applications for citizenship.
You may wish that some of your closer family members could come to join you. We provide an opportunity for partners, parents, siblings, adult children and dependent children to join you here in New Zealand.
Depending on their circumstances, your relatives wishing to join you in New Zealand might have to meet different requirements – some might need your sponsorship, some might need to find work.
See our list of general questions.
Remember to contact us if you need further help.
