New Zealand permanent residents are non-citizens who hold a permanent resident visa. A visa is an endorsement given by the New Zealand Government that the non-New Zealand citizen is allowed to enter, leave or stay in New Zealand for a specified period of time and on specific conditions.
There are 3 types of visas granted in New Zealand under the Immigration Act 2009:
The first step towards gaining permanent residency is to be accepted to apply for a resident visa by Immigration New Zealand. The categories that you may apply under consist of:
Once a non-citizen has held a resident visa for a period of 2 years, and held their resident visa in the last 3 months immediately prior to applying, they may apply for a permanent resident visa. The non-citizen must meet criteria confirming that they are of good character, meet any conditions that the resident visa was subject to and have met one of the 5 commitments to New Zealand criteria – which are:
a) spending enough time in the country;
b) becoming a tax resident;
c) owning a business;
d) investing in New Zealand; and
e) establishing a base.
A permanent resident visa holder is entitled to be granted entry permission into New Zealand at any time. Whereas a resident visa holder is only entitled to apply for entry permission, and the usual rights granted to them in New Zealand (which include: stay in New Zealand indefinitely, work or study in New Zealand, receive free health care etc.) only become effective if entry is granted into New Zealand. Those permanent resident visa rights include the right to:
However, New Zealand permanent residents are not New Zealand citizens and therefore are not afforded all the natural rights New Zealand citizens enjoy – such as standing for public office, being entitled to New Zealand consular protection and never being deported from New Zealand.
The costs for applying for a resident class visa vary depending on the non-citizen’s country of origin and whether the application is lodged in or outside of New Zealand and the category in which the resident class visa is sought. We can provide you with specialist advice in respect of any visa application that you wish to make and suggest that you contact us if you have any queries or wish to seek assistance in order to gain residency.