Resident versus permanent resident
A Permanent Resident Visa is usually the next step after being granted a Resident Visa.
Resident Visas have travel conditions that only allow a person to re-enter New Zealand as a resident until a certain date, a Permanent Resident Visa allows indefinite re-entry to New Zealand.
Leaving New Zealand on a Resident Visa
If you need to leave the country temporarily on a Resident Visa and your travel conditions have expired, apply for a Permanent Resident Visa or a variation of your travel conditions to return to New Zealand as a resident.
Extending the travel conditions of a resident visa
If you do leave New Zealand without valid travel conditions allowing you to re-enter as a resident, your Resident Visa will expire. However, if you have not been outside of New Zealand for long, you may still be able to get either a Permanent Resident Visa or a new Resident Visa.
Second or Subsequent Resident Visa
Applying for a Permanent Resident Visa
If you were the principal applicant
If you were the principal applicant of the original residence application, you can get a Permanent Resident Visa if you:
- have held your resident visa for at least 2 years
- have met any conditions of your Resident Visa, and
- have shown a commitment to New Zealand in one of the 5 ways that meet our requirements.
Check the criteria to be granted a Permanent Resident Visa.
Permanent Resident Visa details
Your commitment to New Zealand — permanent residence
If you were not the principal applicant for a Residence Visa
You usually cannot apply for a Permanent Resident Visa unless you apply at the same time as or later than the principal applicant.
If you were included in your parent or partner's residence application, you can sometimes be granted a permanent resident visa without that other person becoming a permanent resident first.
Permanent residence for non-principal applicants
If you are not eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa
If you are not eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa, you may still be eligible to have the travel conditions on your Resident Visa extended. This will allow you a longer time to return to New Zealand as a resident.
Variations of travel conditions can be granted for 24 months, 12 months or 14 days depending on your circ*mstances.
