🇳🇿 New Zealand · Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Quick answer
New Zealand’s resident visa becomes a permanent resident visa (PRV) once you have held residence for 2 years and shown a commitment to New Zealand. Both let you live, work and study indefinitely, but the PRV also lets you re-enter freely without travel conditions; citizenship follows after around 5 years.
In New Zealand you first obtain a Resident Visa — commonly through the points-based Skilled Migrant Category or other residence routes — and can later apply for a Permanent Resident Visa once you have held residence and met the travel-conditions commitment. A permanent resident visa removes travel-conditions expiry. Immigration New Zealand decides applications.
- First obtain a Resident Visa (commonly via the points-based Skilled Migrant Category).
- Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after holding residence and meeting the commitment.
- A permanent resident visa removes travel-conditions expiry.
Step-by-step
- 1
Get a resident visa first
Obtain a resident visa via a skilled, family, business or other residence category with Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
- 2
Meet the 2-year commitment
Hold the resident visa for at least 2 years and meet a commitment to NZ (time spent, or a tax-residence/business/investment basis).
- 3
Apply for the PRV
Apply to INZ for the permanent resident visa, showing you met the commitment criteria.
- 4
Provide documents and checks
Provide evidence of residence and commitment; character and identity are re-checked as needed.
- 5
Receive the permanent resident visa
The PRV has no travel conditions, so you can leave and re-enter New Zealand indefinitely without it expiring.
- 6
Understand path to citizenship
You can generally apply for New Zealand citizenship after around 5 years’ residence, meeting presence and character requirements; NZ allows dual citizenship.
Checklist
- Resident visa (skilled / family / business)
- 2 years held + commitment to NZ
- PRV application to INZ
- Evidence of residence + character checks
- PRV (no travel conditions)
- Live/work/study indefinitely
- Citizenship ~5 years (dual allowed)
- Immigration adviser if complex
Official authorities
- Immigration New Zealand — residence
Official residence and permanent-residence information.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a resident visa and a PRV?
A resident visa usually has travel conditions; the permanent resident visa removes them, letting you re-enter freely and indefinitely.
How long until the PRV?
Usually after holding a resident visa for 2 years and meeting a commitment to New Zealand (time, tax residence, business or investment).
Does NZ allow dual citizenship?
Yes — New Zealand allows dual citizenship, and citizenship generally follows about 5 years’ residence.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- govt.nz — New Zealand government services portal
- Immigration New Zealand — Visas, work/student visas, and residence
- Inland Revenue (IRD) — Income tax, GST, and the IRD number
- business.govt.nz — Company registration, employment, and compliance