Country

Pathways to New Zealand Residency and Citizenship

New Zealand

New Zealand offers skilled work, study, and family routes in an English-speaking setting, most leading to residence and then citizenship. It permits dual nationality.

Could you qualify?

Answer a few quick questions to see which pathways in New Zealand fit your background. It's free, and takes just a few minutes.

See if you're a match →

Ways to qualify

Career & business

For people with a job offer, in-demand skills, or a business to build. Most of these routes lead to settlement, and in time to citizenship.

New Zealand Green List Tier 1 This is a skilled-work residence pathway for people whose occupation is on a priority or shortage list in New Zealand. It generally requires a… residency New Zealand Accredited Employer Work New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa is for people with a job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer. It generally requires the… residency New Zealand Green List Tier 2 This is a skilled-work residence pathway for people whose occupation is on a priority or shortage list in New Zealand. It generally requires a… residency New Zealand Care Work to Residence New Zealand's Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger who have completed qualifying New Zealand care-sector work and… residency New Zealand Transport Work to Residence New Zealand's Transport Work to Residence Visa is for people aged 55 or younger who have completed qualifying New Zealand transport work and have a… residency New Zealand Skilled Migrant New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category is a points-based residence route for skilled workers with New Zealand employment or a strong skilled profile.… residency New Zealand Entrepreneur Resident New Zealand's Entrepreneur Resident Visa is for people who have built a profitable, compliant business in New Zealand, usually after holding an… residency New Zealand Religious Worker Resident New Zealand's Religious Worker Resident Visa is for people already in New Zealand religious work who have held a Religious Worker Work Visa for at… residency New Zealand Specific Purpose Work New Zealand's Specific Purpose Work Visa is for people coming to New Zealand for a specific project, event, assignment, or time-limited work purpose. residency New Zealand Business Investor This residence pathway is for investors who can commit substantial funds to approved investments in New Zealand. It generally requires a qualifying… residency

Investment

For people who can qualify through a qualifying investment, real estate, or business funds rather than a job or family tie.

New Zealand Active Investor Plus This residence pathway is for investors who can commit substantial funds to approved investments in New Zealand. It generally requires a qualifying… residency

Family

For joining a partner, parent, or child who already lives there — or claiming citizenship through marriage.

New Zealand Partner Resident New Zealand partner residence is for the married, civil-union, or de facto partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident. It generally requires living… residency New Zealand Dependent Child Resident New Zealand's Dependent Child Resident Visa is for dependent children of New Zealand citizens or residents who meet age, single-status, dependency,… residency New Zealand Parent Boost Visitor New Zealand's Parent Boost Visitor Visa is a long-stay visitor route for parents of New Zealand citizens or residents. It allows extended family… other New Zealand Parent Resident New Zealand's Parent Resident Visa is for parents, grandparents, or legal guardians sponsored by an adult New Zealand citizen or resident child. It… residency New Zealand Parent Retirement New Zealand's Parent Retirement Resident Visa is for parents of New Zealand citizens or residents who can qualify through investment and retirement… residency

Ancestry & heritage

A parent, grandparent, or birth in the country can make you a citizen already — or let you claim it, often without relocating.

New Zealand Citizenship by Birth This citizenship pathway is for people who may already be citizens because they were born in New Zealand or in another qualifying birth situation… citizenship New Zealand Citizenship by Descent New Zealand citizenship by descent is for people born outside the Realm of New Zealand to a parent who was a New Zealand citizen by birth or grant. It… citizenship New Zealand Western Samoa Restoration New Zealand's 2024 Western Samoa citizenship restoration law can restore New Zealand citizenship to certain people connected to Western Samoa in the… citizenship New Zealand Permanent Resident New Zealand's Permanent Resident Visa is the follow-on status for many people who have held a New Zealand resident visa for at least 2 years and met… residency New Zealand Subsequent Resident New Zealand's Second or Subsequent Resident Visa can help certain former residents return to resident status after the travel conditions on a resident… residency

Study

Routes to study there, and often to stay on and work after you graduate.

New Zealand Student Visa New Zealand's Fee Paying Student Visa is for international students accepted by an approved New Zealand education provider who can show tuition,… residency New Zealand Post Study Work New Zealand's Post Study Work Visa is for people who recently completed an eligible New Zealand qualification and want temporary work rights that can… residency

Citizenship by residence

Once you've lived there long enough and settled, you can often apply to become a citizen.

New Zealand Citizenship by Grant This citizenship pathway is for long-term residents of New Zealand. It generally requires enough lawful residence, good character, and any language,… citizenship

Other routes

Nationality-specific schemes and special cases.

New Zealand Residence for Australian Citizens Australian citizens can generally visit, live, work, and study in New Zealand and receive a New Zealand resident visa when they arrive, if they meet… other New Zealand Working Holiday New Zealand's USA Working Holiday Visa lets eligible U.S. citizens aged 18 to 30 holiday, work, and study in New Zealand for up to 12 months. It… residency New Zealand Pacific Access New Zealand's Pacific Access Category Resident Visa is a ballot-based residence route for eligible citizens of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu aged… residency New Zealand Samoan Quota New Zealand's Samoan Quota Resident Visa is a ballot-based residence route for Samoan citizens aged 18 to 45 who are selected and can meet job-offer,… residency New Zealand Refugee Family Support New Zealand's Refugee Family Support Resident Visa can help some family members join a New Zealand citizen or resident who was granted residence as a… residency New Zealand Family Violence Residence New Zealand's Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa is a protected route for people whose partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident ended… residency