In New Zealand, several pathways are available for individuals who hold or have held a residence visa and are looking to maintain or extend their ability to live in the country.
Here’s an overview of the key options:
Variation of Travel Conditions (VOTC)
A Variation of Travel Conditions allows you to change the travel conditions attached to your current resident visa. This is useful if you need to travel outside New Zealand but your travel conditions have expired or are about to expire.
Permanent Residence Visa (PRV)
A Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) in New Zealand is an immigration status that allows holders to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely without any further travel restrictions. This visa type is designed to provide a greater sense of security and permanence for those who have demonstrated a strong commitment to New Zealand.
Second or Subsequent Residence Visa
A person can apply for a Second or Subsequent Resident Visa (SSRV) if their previous resident visa expired because they left New Zealand after the travel conditions expired or were outside New Zealand when the travel conditions expired. An SSRV may be granted if the applicant has met the criteria for a Variation of Travel Conditions (VOTC) or a Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) at the time their resident visa expires.
FAQs
If approved, you will receive a new resident visa, allowing you to live, work, and study in New Zealand indefinitely, with the appropriate travel conditions.
Yes, an SSRV typically allows you to travel in and out of New Zealand without the need for additional travel conditions, provided your visa remains valid.
A PRV allows indefinite residence in New Zealand without travel conditions. You can live, work, and study without restrictions, and it provides a pathway to citizenship after meeting residency and other criteria.
If your application is declined, you may explore options for appealing the decision or seeking alternative visas depending on your circumstances. It’s advisable to seek advice from an immigration professional in such cases.
You can include non-principal applicants, such as your partner and dependent children, in your application for PRV or SSRV, provided they meet the immigration criteria. This can only be done if all applicants were included in the original resident visa application.
No, you must hold a resident visa for at least two years before applying for a PRV. During this period, you must also meet the criteria demonstrating your commitment to New Zealand.
Yes, Certain individuals in New Zealand may be eligible to apply directly for a Permanent Residence Visa (PRV) without the usual requirement of holding a resident visa for two years. This includes partners of New Zealand citizens who have lived together for over 5 years overseas, Talent (Accredited Employer) to Residence Visa holders meeting residence and salary criteria (visas lodged before 07/10/2019) and refugees under specific humanitarian circumstances.
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria for a PRV after holding an SSRV, you can apply to change your visa status to a PRV, provided you fulfil the required commitment to New Zealand and other criteria.