Resident to permanent resident
Find out the difference between a Resident and Permanent Resident Visa, who can apply, and what happens if you need to travel on a Resident Visa.
Permanent Resident Visas
A Permanent Resident Visa is usually the next step after being granted a Resident Visa. While 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.
If you were the principal applicant of the original residence application, you can obtain a Permanent Resident Visa if you:
- have held your resident visa for at least 24 months, and
- have met any conditions of your Resident Visa, and
- have shown a commitment to New Zealand in 1 of the 5 ways that meet our requirements.
See the criteria to be granted a Permanent Resident Visa
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.
If you weren't the principal applicant in the original residence application, you normally cannot apply for a Permanent Resident Visa unless you apply at the same time as the principal applicant or later.
Non-principal eligibility for permanent residence
If you're not eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa
If you're not eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa, you may still be eligible to have the travel conditions on your Resident Visa extended, to 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 circumstances.
Variations of travel conditions
If you're out of New Zealand and don't have travel conditions
If you are outside New Zealand without valid travel conditions allowing you to re-enter as a resident, your Resident Visa has expired. However, if you haven’t been outside of New Zealand long, you may still be able to either obtain a Permanent Resident Visa or a new Resident Visa.
Requirements to be granted a Second or Subsequent Resident Visa