Policy verified from immigration.govt.nz as of 2026-04-13
The New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) is available to people who have held a resident visa for at least 2 years and meet commitment requirements demonstrating ties to New Zealand. It provides indefinite travel rights and permanent settlement status with no expiry date.
Source: immigration.govt.nz — 2026-04-13
Eligibility
- Have held a resident visa for at least 2 years (24 months)
- Meet commitment requirements demonstrating ties to NZ
- Satisfy health and character requirements
- Demonstrate intent to continue residing in New Zealand
Commitment Requirements
You must show your commitment to New Zealand through:
- Time spent in New Zealand (generally 184 days per year for 2 years)
- Employment or business ownership in NZ
- Family connections in the country
- Community involvement and integration
- Financial stability and self-sufficiency
Benefits of PRV
- No expiry date — indefinite travel rights
- Permanent settlement status
- Access to social services and full employment rights
- Pathway to New Zealand citizenship
- Right to include dependent family members
How ProVisas Helps
- We verify you meet the 2-year residency and commitment requirements
- We prepare your application with evidence of commitment to NZ
- We advise on the citizenship pathway beyond PRV
- We handle applications for the whole family where eligible
Frequently Asked Questions
You can apply after holding a resident visa for at least 2 years (24 months), provided you meet the commitment requirements including time spent in New Zealand.
You must demonstrate commitment to New Zealand through time spent in the country (generally 184 days per year for 2 years), employment, family connections, and community involvement.
A Permanent Resident Visa has no expiry date. You can travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely without needing to renew your visa.
Yes. A Permanent Resident Visa is a pathway to New Zealand citizenship, subject to meeting citizenship requirements including time in New Zealand.
Family members who were included in your original resident visa application and who also meet the commitment requirements can apply for PRV.
