New Zealand permanent residency
Encyclopedia
New Zealand permanent residents are residents of New Zealand
who hold permanent residency visas but are not citizens of New Zealand
.
Holders of permanent residency visas may remain in New Zealand
indefinitely. A 2-year initial Resident Visa, which corresponds to the underlying migration scheme, is granted alongside the permanent residency. Until the initial visa expires, the visa holder may leave and re-enter New Zealand freely. A notable feature of the permanent residency visa is that, even after the initial visa expires, the holder is entitled to stay in New Zealand indefinitely without breaching immigration regulations.
After the initial visa
expires, if the holder wishes to continue to travel to and from New Zealand as a permanent resident, they must obtain a Permanent Resident Visa. However those who live for too long outside New Zealand may lose their permanent resident status.
Permanent residency may be revoked at the discretion of the Minister for Immigration. However this does not normally happen other than in cases of criminal misconduct.
At present, there are two programs to grant permanent residency. "Migration Program" is mainly for skilled migrants. "Humanitarian Program" is mainly for refugees seeking permanent residency.
Most permanent residents are eligible to become citizens after a waiting period. See New Zealand nationality law.
Permanent residents enjoy many of the rights and privileges of citizens, including voting and access to free or subsidised legal and health services and education.
People who hold current Australian permanent resident
or current Australian resident return visas may be granted residence permits on arrival in New Zealand, provided they have not been excluded under section 7 of the Immigration Act 1987.
Benefits of permanent resident status include:
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
who hold permanent residency visas but are not citizens of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Holders of permanent residency visas may remain in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
indefinitely. A 2-year initial Resident Visa, which corresponds to the underlying migration scheme, is granted alongside the permanent residency. Until the initial visa expires, the visa holder may leave and re-enter New Zealand freely. A notable feature of the permanent residency visa is that, even after the initial visa expires, the holder is entitled to stay in New Zealand indefinitely without breaching immigration regulations.
After the initial visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
expires, if the holder wishes to continue to travel to and from New Zealand as a permanent resident, they must obtain a Permanent Resident Visa. However those who live for too long outside New Zealand may lose their permanent resident status.
Permanent residency may be revoked at the discretion of the Minister for Immigration. However this does not normally happen other than in cases of criminal misconduct.
At present, there are two programs to grant permanent residency. "Migration Program" is mainly for skilled migrants. "Humanitarian Program" is mainly for refugees seeking permanent residency.
Most permanent residents are eligible to become citizens after a waiting period. See New Zealand nationality law.
Permanent residents enjoy many of the rights and privileges of citizens, including voting and access to free or subsidised legal and health services and education.
People who hold current Australian permanent resident
Australian permanent resident
Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold permanent residency visas but are not citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia....
or current Australian resident return visas may be granted residence permits on arrival in New Zealand, provided they have not been excluded under section 7 of the Immigration Act 1987.
Benefits of permanent resident status include:
- unrestricted rights to live, work and study in New Zealand.
- the right to apply for New Zealand citizenship after fulfilling normal residence requirements.
- domestic fees for education.
- the right to sponsor relatives for permanent residence, subject to fulfilling residence criteria and assurance of support requirements.
- children born in New Zealand will be New Zealand citizens by birth.
- the right to access medical and social security benefit.
See also
- Cook Islands permanent residencyCook Islands permanent residencyCook Islands permanent residents are residents of the Cook Islands who hold permanent residency visas and who are not ethnic Cook Islanders.By law, a maximum of 650 Cook Islands Permanent Residence certificates may be in effect at any one moment...
- Special Category VisaSpecial Category VisaA Special Category Visa is a type of Australian visa granted to most New Zealand citizens on arrival in Australia. New Zealand Citizens may then reside in Australia indefinitely under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.- History :...
- Australia. - Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement - Australian arrivals to New Zealand