You may have been living in New Zealand for a while now, but need to leave the country temporarily for business or holiday or to see friends and family.
If you are a permanent resident of New Zealand, and wish to leave temporarily, you need a Returning Resident’s Visa (RRV) to continue your residence status when you return to New Zealand.
Everyone who holds a residence permit can apply for an RRV, but how long the RRV will be issued for will depend on the circumstances of each applicant. Under Returning Resident’s Visa policy, ‘principal applicant’ means the person who was the principal applicant in the original residence application. Everyone else who was included in the original residence application is a ‘non-principal applicant’.
A non-principal applicant’s RRV will be made current for the same period as that of the principal applicant. If a non-principal applicant applies for an RRV, and the principal applicant does not lodge an application, or is declined an RRV, then the non-principal applicant is likely to only be considered for a 14 day RRV. There are some exceptions to this policy (see X4.5).
Were you granted residence after 30 October 1995?
Your first Returning Resident’s Visa is issued to you at the time you are issued your residence visa or permit. It is valid for two years from the date the first residence permit is granted.
After your first Returning Resident’s Visa expires you must apply for a second Returning Resident’s Visa. Your second or subsequent visa may be valid indefinitely (enabling multiple trips in and out of New Zealand indefinitely) or may be valid for 12 months or 14 days. An indefinite visa is granted provided you were the principal applicant in the original residence application, or you are included in the RRV application lodged by the original principal applicant, and you are able to meet the requirements that show commitment to New Zealand, e.g. spent most of your time in New Zealand. If you are unable to meet those requirements you may be eligible for a 12 month or 14 day Returning Resident’s Visa.
Note: If you hold a resident permit, but you are a person who would otherwise be prohibited for entry (for instance, because you would be subject to travel sanctions), you may only be eligible for a 14-day Returning Resident’s Visa. If you think this might apply to you, you should contact your nearest branch of Immigration New Zealand to discuss your situation.
Were you granted residence before 30 October 1995?
If you were granted residence before 30 October 1995, you must apply for a Returning Resident’s Visa.
Are you a New Zealand citizen?
If you are a New Zealand citizen, you don’t need a Returning Resident’s Visa. A current New Zealand passport is all you need on arrival. Want to find out how you can become a New Zealand citizen?
Find out …
- Can I return to New Zealand?
- How do I go about applying to return to New Zealand?
Maybe you already have a Returning Resident’s Visa or have left New Zealand without a one...
How is my visa or permit affected?