Requirements for a New Zealand residence visa in 2026

A New Zealand residence visa grants you the right to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely. It is one of the most significant immigration milestones for people who have been on temporary visas and want to make New Zealand their long-term home.

The requirements vary depending on the residence pathway you are applying through — skilled employment, family sponsorship, or investor categories are the most common. This guide focuses on the general documents and process steps that apply across the main pathways, so you can prepare your application with confidence before lodging it through Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

What this procedure is and what it’s for

A New Zealand residence visa is a permanent immigration status that allows you to remain in New Zealand without needing to renew a visa. Unlike temporary work or student visas, it does not expire, though your travel conditions (the right to re-enter New Zealand) are typically valid for five years from the date of grant.

This visa applies to people who qualify under one of INZ’s residence programmes, including:

• Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) — for people with a job offer or skilled employment in New Zealand
• Residence from Work — for holders of certain work visas such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) after meeting the required criteria
• Family category — for partners, dependent children, or parents of New Zealand citizens or residents
• Investor and Entrepreneur categories — for those making significant financial investments

The official body responsible for assessing and deciding all residence applications is Immigration New Zealand (INZ), which operates under the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Applications are lodged online through the INZ Immigration Online portal at www.immigration.govt.nz.

Documents required

The exact list depends on your pathway, but the following documents are required across most residence applications. All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Identity and civil status

• Valid passport (original; must be valid for the duration of your application)
• Birth certificate (certified copy)
• Marriage or civil union certificate if including a partner (certified copy)
• Divorce or dissolution documents if previously married (certified copy)

Character and health

• Police certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years (originals; typically valid for 6 months from date of issue)
• Medical and chest X-ray certificates completed by an INZ-approved panel physician (originals)

Skilled employment or sponsorship evidence

• Employment agreement or job offer letter signed by an INZ-accredited employer (original or certified copy)
• Evidence of qualifications: degree certificates and academic transcripts (certified copies; may need a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) assessment for overseas qualifications)
• Proof of work experience: payslips, employment reference letters, or IRD income records

Sponsor documents (family category)

• Sponsor’s proof of NZ citizenship or residence (certified copy of passport or residence visa)
• Evidence of genuine relationship: joint financial records, correspondence, photographs, statutory declarations

Financial evidence (investor/entrepreneur)

• Bank statements and investment portfolio statements (certified copies, translated if not in English)

All documents submitted online must be scanned clearly. INZ may request originals at any stage of assessment.

Steps to complete the procedure

1. Confirm your eligibility by reviewing the specific residence category on the INZ website and checking that you meet the criteria (points threshold, employment type, relationship evidence, etc.).

2. Get your health and character checks underway early. Book a medical exam with an INZ-approved panel physician and request police certificates from all relevant countries. These are often the longest-lead items and can take several weeks to arrive.

3. Gather and certify your documents. Certified copies must be certified by an authorised person such as a Justice of the Peace, notary public, or solicitor. Overseas qualifications must be assessed by NZQA if required for your category.

4. Create or log in to your INZ Immigration Online account at www.immigration.govt.nz. All residence applications are submitted online; there is no paper application option for most categories.

5. Complete and submit the application form online. Upload all supporting documents as clear scans. Pay the application fee at the time of submission.

6. Respond promptly to any requests for further information (RFI). INZ will contact you via your Immigration Online account if additional documents are needed. Delays in responding will extend processing time.

7. Await the decision. INZ will notify you through your online account. If approved, your residence visa is linked digitally to your passport — there is no physical visa label issued for most applicants.

No in-person appointment is required for standard lodgement, though some applicants may be asked to attend an interview or provide biometrics.

Fees and timelines

• Application fee (Skilled Migrant Category): approximately NZD 3,790 for the principal applicant as of 2026; additional fees apply for included family members
• Family category fee: approximately NZD 1,790–2,790 depending on relationship type
• Medical examination cost: typically NZD 300–600 per person, paid directly to the panel physician
• NZQA qualification assessment: approximately NZD 655 for a standard assessment
• Processing time: INZ targets around 12 months for most Skilled Migrant applications; family category applications can take 6–18 months depending on complexity and volume
• Residence visa validity: the residence status itself does not expire; travel conditions (right to re-enter) are valid for 5 years from the date of grant and can be renewed

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Submitting expired police certificates. Police certificates are typically only valid for 6 months from issue. Apply for them early and check the expiry before lodging your application — INZ will reject documents that are out of date at the time of decision.

• Using an unaccredited employer letter. For employment-based categories, the employer must be accredited with INZ. A letter from a non-accredited employer will not satisfy the requirement. Verify your employer’s accreditation status on the INZ website before submitting.

• Providing uncertified copies of key documents. Scanned photocopies that have not been certified by an authorised person are not accepted. Every document marked as requiring certification must carry the certifier’s stamp, signature, and date.

• Omitting a relationship history or gap in residence. INZ requires a full account of where you have lived. Leaving out a country where you spent more than 12 months — even years ago — can trigger a character concern or a request for additional police certificates, significantly delaying your application.

Frequently asked questions

Can I include my partner and children in my residence application? Yes. You can include a partner and dependent children (generally under 24) as secondary applicants in most residence categories. Each included family member requires their own identity, health, and character documents, and additional fees apply.

Do I need to be in New Zealand when I apply? Not necessarily. Some applicants lodge from overseas, but you generally need a valid visa to enter New Zealand while your residence application is being processed. If you are already in New Zealand on a work or other temporary visa, your right to remain is typically maintained while the application is pending.

What happens to my visa if I travel overseas while waiting for a decision? You can travel, but you must hold a valid visa to return to New Zealand. Check that your current visa allows re-entry. If it does not, you may need to apply for a variation of conditions or a separate travel visa.

Will my overseas qualifications be automatically recognised? No. If your residence category requires a qualification assessment, you must submit an NZQA evaluation. INZ will not assess the qualification itself — only NZQA can determine whether an overseas credential is comparable to a New Zealand qualification.

How will I receive confirmation of my residence visa? For most applicants, the residence visa is recorded digitally against your passport number. You will receive a formal decision letter through your INZ Immigration Online account. You do not receive a physical visa sticker in your passport.

What to do next

The most important documents to prepare first are your valid passport, police certificates from all relevant countries, and your medical examination — these take the most time to obtain and must be current when INZ makes its decision.

Your first concrete step is to log in to www.immigration.govt.nz, confirm which residence category applies to your situation, and check the current points threshold or eligibility criteria.

Requirements, fees, and processing times change regularly. Always verify the latest information directly with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) at www.immigration.govt.nz before beginning your application.