Permanent Residence
Permanent residence is usually the next step after you became a resident. Obtaining permanent residence means your travel conditions will become indefinite, you can live and work in New Zealand indefinitely.
To be eligible for a permanent resident visa, a person normally must:
- Demonstrate a commitment to New Zealand by meeting one of the five following requirements:
- Be in New Zealand as a resident for a total of 184 days or more in each of the two 12-month portions of the 24 months immediately preceding the date of your application lodged;
- Be a tax resident in New Zealand, or
- You have maintained an investment in New Zealand of NZD $1,000,000 or more for a period of 24 months or more after the date you became a resident;
- You have bought or established an ongoing business in New Zealand, and that business has been trading successfully for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date the application lodged;
- You have established a base in New Zealand, either by owning a home there or working full-time for at least 9 months in the previous 2 years;
A Permanent Resident Visa Application also requires you to be of good character.
Variation of Resident Visa Travel Conditions
You can remain in New Zealand indefinitely on a resident visa, but you need travel conditions to leave and return as a resident.
If your travel conditions expire and you have not yet obtained your Permanent Resident Visa, you can apply for a variation of travel conditions to travel overseas.
Contact us
Contact us today for legal advice on your eligibility for a Permanent Resident Visa for a variation of travel conditions.
Immigration instructions and rules regularly change and applied differently in every case. The above general information was up to date as it February 2025: contact our office for most up-to-date information.
Citizenship
Once you have settled in New Zealand, you may decide you would like to become a citizen. Along with all the benefits New Zealand residents enjoy, New Zealand citizenship adds free access to Australia, and an ability to stand for Parliament to your permanent residence.
To be eligible for New Zealand citizenship, a person normally must:
- Have held a New Zealand resident visa and lived in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days during the five years immediately prior to their citizenship application; and
- Have lived in New Zealand for at least 240 days in each of the five years immediately preceding the date of their application.
A Citizenship Application requires you to be of good character.
You are also required to intend to live in New Zealand
Citizenship applications are processed by the Citizenship Office which is part of the Department of Internal Affairs.
Samoan clients
Different rules apply to Samaon clients. As soon as they are granted residence they are eligible to apply for citizenship. Those born before 1 January 1949 are eligible to apply directly. If you think this could apply to you contact our office for assistance.
Contact us
Contact us today for legal advice on your eligibility for New Zealand citizenship. We would be happy to assist you in completing the final step of your immigration journey.
Immigration instructions and rules regularly change and applied differently in every case. The above general information was up to date as it February 2025: contact our office for most up-to-date information.
