Permanent Resident Visa

Visa details

You can apply for this visa if you have had a residence visa for more than 2 years. This visa allows you to travel in and out of New Zealand.

Length of stay

Indefinitely

Cost
From
NZD $240
Processing time
90% within
24 days
With this visa you can
  • Live, work, and study in New Zealand.
  • Travel to and from New Zealand any time you like.
  • Include your partner, and dependent children aged 24 and under, in your visa application - if you included them in your original residence application.
Things to note
  • If you want to travel, your Permanent Resident Visa will need to be in a valid passport. You may need to apply to transfer your permanent resident visa to a new passport.
  • Non-principal applicants can’t apply for permanent residence before the principal applicant, unless a non-principal exception applies.
    Non-principal exceptions
  • If we’re unable to grant you a Permanent Resident Visa, we may be able to offer you another resident visa or a variation of your resident visa travel conditions. This would give you more time to travel to and from New Zealand as a resident.
  • People directly affected by the Christchurch terrorist attacks on 15 March 2019 and their New Zealand-based family can apply for permanent residence using a different process.
    Christchurch Response (2019) — permanent residence visa

Who can apply

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to provide to meet the requirements of this visa.

View All Evidence

Identity

You must provide proof of your identity

You must provide proof of your identity:

Acceptable photos

You may provide your original passport, or a certified copy when you submit your application. If you provide a certified copy we may request your original passport to complete your application.

Character

You must be of good character

You may need to provide Police Certificates as proof of your good character.

Good character
How to get a police certificate

Tips

  1. If you need to provide a Police Certificate, we’ll let you know.

Resident visa status

You must have held your resident visa for at least 24 months when you apply

If your visa was issued when you were:

  • in New Zealand, then your 24 months starts from the date your visa was issued
  • outside New Zealand, then your 24 months starts from the date you arrived in New Zealand.

For evidence, provide either:

  • your resident visa, or
  • your residence permit.
Tips

  1. If you are outside New Zealand and your travel conditions expire you must apply for your Permanent Resident Visa within 3 months of them expiring — even if you have returned to New Zealand when you apply.

Resident visa conditions

You must have met any conditions of your current resident visa

You must provide evidence you have met any conditions of your current resident visa.

Tips

  1. Visa conditions are different for resident visas granted under different categories and may include things like:

    • travelling to and from New Zealand only for the time allowed by your resident visa
    • spending a minimum number of days in New Zealand
    • keeping money invested in New Zealand
    • working only in a particular job and/or for a particular employer.

    Check your visa label for your visa conditions.

Commitment to New Zealand

You must be committed to living in New Zealand permanently

The evidence you must provide depends on how you choose to show your commitment to New Zealand.

Commitment to New Zealand

Tips

  1. You meet the time commitment if you have been in New Zealand for at least 184 days in each of the last 2 years. We can use your travel records as evidence.

  2. You must provide English translations of all evidence not in English.

Non-principal applicants

Non-principal applicants must not apply for a permanent resident visa before the principal applicant

If you were a non-principal applicant when you applied for a resident visa, you must apply for your permanent resident visa at the same time or after the principal applicant, unless a non-principal exception applies.

Non-principal exceptions

Process and costs

The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.

Notes

We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

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How to submit

Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.

Notes

We cannot display any receiving centre or payment method information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.

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Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Keep your visa in a valid passport

If you want to travel, your visa must be in a valid passport.

If your passport expires, you must apply to transfer your visa to a new passport before you can travel.

Transferring my visa to a new passport

Notes