Check out our latest blog on the key steps you can follow to achieve residence in New Zealand

The Road to Applying for Residency in New Zealand

Making New Zealand your home is a fantastic choice for your future. With ample career opportunities, diverse communities, and strong culture, all set against the backdrop of breathtaking natural scenery, there has never been a better time to apply for residency in NZ.

Continue reading to discover the steps to apply for New Zealand residency. Get yourself a resident visa and you’ll be settling into life in the Southern Hemisphere before you know it!

What is a Resident Visa?

A resident visa will allow you to stay in Aotearoa indefinitely – you will be able to live, work, study, and even set up your own business here. There are several subclasses of residence class visas, each with its own pathway. Some residence visas are dependent on skilled work and some rely on partnerships or family relationships with New Zealanders.

• The Green List: If you have a job offer or are already working in a role on the Green List you may be able to apply for Straight to Residence or Work to Residence.
• Highly Paid: If you are paid at least twice the median wage ($55.52/hour at time of publishing) you may be able to apply for the Highly Paid Residence visa. You must be working in a highly paid role for at least 24 months before you can apply.
• Skilled Migrant Category: If you have qualifications or work experience that New Zealand is after, you may qualify for a Skilled Migrant Resident Visa. This category is has now reopened and selections are now happening. We know this category will be reviewed again in 2023 and is likely to become harder so if you are keen to consider this pathway, get in touch soon.
• Family Visa: If you have a partner, parent, or adult child that lives in New Zealand as a citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to apply for a resident visa under one of the family categories.

How to Apply for NZ Residency: General Requirements

The road to gaining a resident visa can be complicated and take a long time. Here are a few of the general requirements you will have to meet to start an application.

Provide Valid Proof of Identity

We’ll start with an easy one: photo ID. You’ll have to provide proof of your identity through a passport or certificate of identification. It may seem superfluous, but it’s essential. You’ll also need your full birth certificate that shows both parents full names.

You Must Meet Character Requirements

A character check is performed when you apply for residency in NZ to ensure you don’t pose a security threat or a risk to public order. You’ll need Police Certificates from countries you have spent more than 12 months in. But don’t apply for them too early, the can not be more than 6 months old when you lodge them with an application.

Meet New Zealand’s Good Health Standards

When applying for NZ residency, you will have to undergo a medical examination to prove that you are in good health and do not pose a threat to public health or impose significant demand on the New Zealand health service. Again, don’t get your medical checks done to early, these can be no older than 3 months when you use it for your application.
Check out our health and character information

Aotearoa Awaits! Start your Residency Application Today

Let us guide you through your residence eligibility, getting you ready to make your move here permanent. Our Visa Pathway assessment can identify which categories you might be able to apply under and give you all the information you need to get started.