Becoming a Permanent Resident in New Zealand
There is a difference between a residence and permanent residence. A Permanent Resident Visa is usually the natural consequence of a Resident Vis. Resident Visas have travel conditions that only allow a person to re-enter New Zealand as a resident until a certain date, while a Permanent Resident Visa allows indefinite re-entry to New Zealand (providing the passport is valid).
The date your resident visa expired is either:
- the date you left New Zealand, if your travel conditions had already expired when you left, or
- the day after the date your travel conditions expired, if you were outside New Zealand when your travel conditions expired.
Consequently, if you have been outside New Zealand after your travel conditions have expired, your resident visa has expired too.
If you intend to travel out of New Zealand after your resident visa travel conditions have expired, you need to apply for a permanent resident visa or a subsequent resident visa to regain your resident status.
Am I Eligible for Permanent Residence?
To be eligible you must have held your resident visa for at least two years, have met any conditions of your Resident Visa, and have shown a commitment to New Zealand by meeting one of the following criteria:
- You have spent enough time in New Zealand
- You have New Zealand tax residence status
- You have invested in New Zealand
- You have a business in New Zealand
- You have established a base in New Zealand
If you do not meet one of these conditions, you may still be eligible to extend the travel conditions on your Resident Visa. This would allow you a longer time to return to New Zealand as a resident.
If you are outside New Zealand without valid travel conditions allowing you to re-enter as a resident, your Resident Visa has expired. In some cases, however, it is possible to seek a Permanent Resident Visa or a new Resident Visa, providing you haven't been outside of New Zealand long.