Special categories for certain nationalities: Samoa Quota or Pacific Access Category
Each year New Zealand allow citizens of Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati to be granted residence class visa under this Samoa quota or Pacific Access Category
Minimum requirements for applicants willing to obtain visa under this category
• Age requirements
• English language requirements
• Health requirements
• Character requirements
• Minimum income requirements
 
Refugee and Protected persons
New Zealand ratified a significant numbers of international human rights conventions to reflect its commitment towards global communities. As a result of this ratification New Zealand provides assistance to refugees and protected persons by accommodating 750 persons each year.
Minimum requirements for applicants willing to obtain visa under this category
• Must have a refugee or protection status or be a mandate refugee, recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

Special Directions
Certain convicted or deported or excluded persons who are not eligible for visa or entry permission to enter New Zealand may be granted a visa or entry permission in accordance with special directions from minister or authorised immigration officer.

Special Residence Categories
Under International/Humanitarian Stream, Immigration New Zealand grant Resident Visa to victims of domestic violence, families of Refugee and protected persons, victims of people trafficking and families of mandate refugee residents.

Parents of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders who may invest NZ$1 million for a period of 4 years, may apply for Residence Visa under this category. Approval in principle will be advised to parents meeting requirements (given below) under this category. A multiple entry work visa may be granted initially and after principal applicant has met funds transfer requirements, a Resident Visa subject to certain conditions may be granted.
Minimum requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Investment funds requirements
• Settlement funds requirements
• Annual minimum income requirements
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

TALENT (ACCREDITED EMPLOYER) VISA
Holders of visas granted under the Talent (Accredited Employers) work instructions may be granted a residence class visa.
Minimum Requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Have held a work visa granted under the Talent (Accredited Employers) work instructions for a period of at least 24 months
• During the currency of that visa they have been employed in New Zealand throughout a period of 24 months by any accredited employer OR by an employer(s) who is not an accredited employer, provided that during the period of that employment the conditions of the applicant’s visa were varied to allow them to work for that employer(s)
• Have employment in New Zealand with a minimum base salary of NZ$55,000 per annum if the associated work to Residence visa application (WR1) was made on or after 28 July 2008
• Hold full or provisional registration, if full or provisional registration is required to practice in the occupation in which they are employed
• Health requirements
• Character requirements.

Eligibility for Permanent Resident
A permanent resident visa may be granted to an applicant under the Talent (Accredited Employers) work instructions.
Minimum Requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Meets all the requirements to be granted a residence class visa as detailed above; and
• At the time of their application for a residence class visa, has employment in New Zealand with a minimum base salary of NZ$90,000.

TALENT (ARTS, CULTURE AND SPORTS) VISA
A Resident visa may be granted to the holder of visas granted under the Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) work instructions.
Minimum Requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Applicants have held a work visa granted under the Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) work instructions for a period of at least 24 months
• During the currency of that visa applicants have been actively engaged in their declared field of art, culture or sport throughout a period of 24 months in New Zealand
• Applicants are still prominent in that field of art, culture or sport; and
their continued presence in New Zealand will enhance the quality of New Zealand’s accomplishments and participation in that field of art, culture or sport
• Applicants are supported by a New Zealand organisation of national repute in their declared field
• Have an acceptable sponsor
• Health requirements
• Character requirements
• Applicants have not, at any time since the grant of their visa under the Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports) work instructions, applied for, or been granted welfare assistance under the Social Security Act 1964. (For the purpose of these instructions, any welfare assistance applied for by, or granted to, a partner or child of the holder of a work visa granted under these instructions is welfare assistance applied for or granted to the holder.)

LONG TERM SKILL SHORTAGE WORK VISA
A Resident class Visa may be granted to the holder of visas granted under the long term skill shortage list work instructions.
Minimum Requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Have held a work visa granted under the long term skill shortage list work instructions for a period of at least 24 months
• Have employment with a minimum base salary of NZ$45,000 per annum that is either in an occupation that was on the Long Term Skill Shortage List when they were granted a work visa under the long term skill shortage list work instructions OR in an occupation that is on the long term skill shortage list at the time their application for a resident visa is made
• Are aged 55 years or under
• Hold full or provisional registration, if full or provisional registration is required to practice in the occupation in which they are employed in New Zealand
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

ENTERPRENEUR WORK VISA
Please refer Business Visa section to know more about this visa type.

RESIDENCE FROM WORK VISA GRANTED TO RELIGIOUS WORKER
Holders of visas granted under Religious Worker instructions may be granted a resident visa.
Minimum Requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Held a work visa for a period of at least three years
• Have an acceptable sponsor (see RW7.10)
• Have a genuine offer of work from their sponsor
• Are aged 55 years or under
• Meet the minimum English language requirements
• Have at least five years of religious training and/or religious work experience
• Health requirements
• Character requirements
• Have not, at any time since the grant of their work visa under the Religious Worker instructions, applied for, or been granted welfare assistance under the Social Security Act 1964.

Parents (or Grand parent) of New Zealand citizens or indefinite residents, who do not have any dependent child/ren may be eligible for residency under this category.
Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted into the pool of Expression Of Interest (the pool) under tier one or tier two system. Preference is given to EOIs from tier one pool. Apllicants whose EOIs have been selected from the pool may be issued an invitation to apply for a Resident Visa under Parent Category.
Under Tier One category, sponsors must earn a minimum of NZ$65,000 per annum or sponsors and their partners must earn a combined income of NZ$90,000. Under Tier Two, the sponsors or their partners must earn a minimum income of NZ$33,675 per annum and if applicants have other adult children, the children must live outside the country in which parents live.
Minimum requirements for applicants willing to obtain visa under this category:
• Sponsorship or guaranteed life time minimum income or settlement funds requirements
• English language requirements
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

Resident Visa
Principal applicants aged upto 24 years, who are single, and whose parents live lawfully and permanently in New Zealand may apply for Resident Visa under Dependent Child Category.
Three different categories of dependents based on their age are:
• Aged 17 or younger
• aged 18 to 20
• Aged 21 to 24
These different categories of dependents must meet specific criteria to be eligible for residency. The applicants must also be born to or adopted by their parents.
Minimum requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Applicants must be single
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

Visitor Visa
Dependent children of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holders may be granted a visitor visa authorising a maximum stay of 9 months from their date of arrival. If dependent children apply to stay longer than 9 months, immigration officers may consider granting further visas allowing a total stay of up to 2 years as long as the following requirements are met:
• The parent intends to stay in New Zealand during the same period of time applied for by the dependent child
• The parent supports the application.
Minimum Requirements for dependent/s willing to obtain this visa:
• English Language requirements
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

Partners of New Zealand citizens or residents may qualify for a residence class visa, subject to various criteria and evidences required by immigration officer. The couple must be 16 years and older and have been living together for 12 months of more at the time of application. The onus of providing evidences to prove that the partnership is genuine and stable lies with applicants and their New Zealand partners. At any stage, if immigration officer is not satisfied with evidences for genuineness, stability or authenticity of the partnership, visa may be declined.
Minimum requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• The couple have been living together for 12 months of more
• The partnership is genuine and stable
• Age requirements
• Health requirements
• Character requirements

Under this category, Residence Visa is granted to trained and experienced people who are able to contribute to New Zealand both economically as well as socially. Under this category, points are awarded to applicants for their skilled employment, qualifications, relevant work experience, age and family members.
Applicants must submit an expression of interest (EOI) after meeting pre-requisites for health, character, English language and age and must score 100 points or more. No verification is done at this stage.
Various factors that need to be considered for points are:
• Age
• Close family in New Zealand
• Skilled employment
• Work experience
• Qualifications
• Bonus points based on different criteria

EOI in Skilled Migrant Category are selected from pool periodically. First preference is given to EOIs with total points of 140 or more. These EOIs are selected automatically. Second preference is given to EOIs with total points between 100-140.
Applicants whose EOI has been selected will be issued with an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Verification of all information provided in EOI will be done at this stage, before Residence or Work to Residence visa is approved.
Minimum Requirements for applicants willing to obtain this visa:
• Minimum 100 points
• Health requirements
• Character requirements
To calculate your points under this category, click ‘Points Indicator‘.