Apply through the points-based, skilled-work-experience or trades-and-technician pathway under the current Skilled Migrant Category.
Residency to citizenship
- 01Resident visa
- 02Permanent Resident Visaoptional
- 03New Zealand citizenshipnormally 5 years
Each stage has its own eligibility requirements.
- Benefits
- Resident status with work and study rights. A permanent-resident visa and citizenship require separate later eligibility.
- Eligibility
- Meet the selected pathway’s job, experience or qualification rules, with an eligible New Zealand skilled job or offer and the required English, health and character evidence.
- Requirements
- The points pathway requires six points. Skilled-work-experience and trades pathways have their own occupation, wage and experience thresholds, including qualifying New Zealand work. Do not use the former 140-point system.
YOUR LONG-TERM PATHWAY
Residency to citizenship
- 01
Resident visa
Apply through the points-based, skilled-work-experience or trades-and-technician pathway under the current Skilled Migrant Category.
- 02
Permanent Resident Visa · optional
Normally hold a resident visa for at least two years, satisfy its conditions and demonstrate commitment to New Zealand before a Permanent Resident Visa application.
- 03
New Zealand citizenship · normally 5 years
Normally hold qualifying residence rights for five years, with at least 1,350 days physically present in total and at least 240 days in each year. English, character and intention requirements also apply.
A Resident Visa already allows indefinite stay while its conditions are met. A Permanent Resident Visa provides indefinite travel rights. Investor minimum-stay conditions are much lower than citizenship presence requirements. A Permanent Resident Visa is not required before applying for citizenship.
Each stage requires its own qualifying conditions and decision. The years shown are eligibility periods, not approval times.
