New Zealand
Explore New Zealand parent visas, family sponsorship, residence pathways, skilled migrant routes, and official planning tools.
17 visa types · 10 guides · 7 forms
Immigration to New Zealand — at a glance
New Zealand's immigration system is run end-to-end by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), a single-agency operator within the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE). Unlike many countries with split visa-and-border models, INZ handles applications, decisions, and the immigration aspect of border admission, while New Zealand Customs handles the customs side. Almost every visa application — short-stay, work, family, or residence — flows through the INZ Online portal with a strict push toward digital evidence and decision letters.
The country runs a structured points-based immigration system. The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), reformed substantially in late 2023, is now a 6-points threshold matched against qualifications, occupation registration, income, and New Zealand work or study experience. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), introduced in 2022, replaced multiple older work visa categories with a single tiered system — entry-level, intermediate, or senior — based on the job's pay band and the employer's accreditation. Family-based immigration runs through Partner of New Zealander, Parent Resident, and Parent Retirement categories, each with its own income, sponsorship, and stand-down rules.
What stands out about New Zealand is the integration of work, study, and residence routes. A successful Skilled Migrant Resident application gives an applicant lifetime indefinite residence (no time limit on the resident visa once issued). The Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) gives recent graduates 1–3 years of open work rights, often serving as a bridge to AEWV and SMC. Partners of work-visa holders can usually access an open work visa themselves. The guides in this hub focus on the Income, Skills, and Stand-Down rules that determine SMC outcomes and the document handovers between AEWV, PSWV, and SMC routes.
Across every route, the same evidence keeps reappearing: an INZ-acceptable medical from a panel physician, police certificates from every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, an English-language test (IELTS, PTE, or OET) for SMC, and an INZ Online account managing every application stage. Many applicants underestimate the medical and police-certificate windows — both can take 4–8 weeks to obtain and must be valid at the point of decision. The Accredited Employer Job Check is the other timing pinch point: the employer must hold accreditation before posting the role, then complete the Job Check before you can apply for the visa.
Main pathways into New Zealand
Pick your route based on whether you have a New Zealand job offer (with an accredited employer), a recent NZ qualification, a Kiwi spouse or sponsor, or qualifying retirement income. Most economic-migration routes lead to residence after 24–48 months; partner and parent residence are direct from approval.
- Visitor visa / NZeTAUp to 9 months at a time for visa-waiver and other tourists; NZeTA is mandatory for all visa-waiver country travellers.
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)Entry-level, intermediate, or senior tier based on pay; tied to an accredited employer. Up to 5 years.
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident6-points permanent residence with qualifications + experience + occupation registration + income.
- Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV)For graduates of NZ-accredited programmes; 1–3 years of open work rights.
- Parent Resident / Parent RetirementFor parents of adult NZ citizens or residents; ballot-based for Parent Resident, income-based for Parent Retirement.
- Partner of New ZealanderFor partners of NZ citizens or residents in genuine and stable relationships.
Key facts about New Zealand immigration
Quick reference for the agencies, currencies, and rules that govern most applications.
As of
Issuing authority
Immigration New Zealand (INZ), Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Currency
NZD (NZ$)
Application portal
INZ Online (immigration.govt.nz)
NZeTA
Required pre-arrival for all visa-waiver-country travellers (NZ$17–NZ$23 + International Visitor Levy NZ$100).
English requirement
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent for SMC; AEWV roles vary by tier and accreditation.
Skilled Migrant points
6-points threshold; education, occupation registration, income, and NZ experience all contribute.
Resident visa
Once granted, has no expiry as long as you remain in New Zealand and meet conditions.
Citizenship
Generally 5 years of residence with intent to remain; English-language and good-character requirements apply.
Typical fees and processing windows (New Zealand)
Indicative ranges drawn from official authority pages. Confirm the exact figures on the agency website before applying.
As of
| Pathway | Typical fee | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|
| NZeTA | NZ$17 (mobile app) / NZ$23 (web) + NZ$100 IVL | Up to 72 hours but often within minutes |
| Visitor visa (offshore) | NZ$211 + IVL | Most decisions within 28–46 days for low-risk profiles |
| Accredited Employer Work Visa | NZ$770 base + IVL | ~2–3 months from a complete application |
| Skilled Migrant Category Resident | NZ$5,810 (offshore) / NZ$7,200 (onshore) per principal + dependants | 4–9 months for most complete files |
| Partner of New Zealander work visa | NZ$770 + IVL | ~5–8 weeks for most complete files |
Start with your goal
Choose what you want to do in New Zealand and get a tailored guide.
Explore visa types
17 visa types with step-by-step guides, requirements, and official sources.
Which New Zealand route fits your situation?
Pick the situation that best matches you to see the most common starting point in New Zealand.
Situation 1
I am visiting New Zealand for tourism for under 6 months.
Apply for the NZeTA (visa-waiver countries) or a Visitor visa (others). Apply at least 72 hours before flying.
Situation 2
I have a job offer from a New Zealand employer.
The employer must be Accredited, post a Job Check, and you apply for an AEWV. Confirm the pay band against the median wage at application time.
Situation 3
I have a NZ qualification and want to stay long-term.
Use the PSWV to gain NZ work experience, then apply for SMC residence once you score 6 points (qualification + income + occupation registration + experience).
Situation 4
My partner is a New Zealand citizen or resident.
Apply for the Partner of New Zealander work visa first; after 12 months in a genuine and stable relationship, you can apply for the Partner Resident visa.
Situation 5
I want to bring my parents to New Zealand.
Choose between Parent Resident (ballot) and Parent Retirement (investment + income). The PR pathway guide compares the two routes in detail.
Recent New Zealand immigration updates
Editorial summaries of policy changes our team has tracked. Always confirm details with the relevant agency before submitting an application.
AEWV pay-band thresholds and median-wage rules updated
INZ adjusted the AEWV median-wage threshold and tier-related pay rates, bringing entry-level, intermediate, and senior tiers in line with 2024 wage data. Always check the current median wage before applying.
Skilled Migrant Category 6-points system in force
INZ relaunched SMC as a simpler 6-points system, awarding points for qualification level, occupation registration (for regulated roles), income premium above the median, and NZ-acquired work or study.
New Zealand immigration FAQ
The questions readers ask most about applying to live, work, study, and visit New Zealand.
What is the NZeTA?
The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority is mandatory for travellers from visa-waiver countries and cruise-ship passengers from any country. It costs NZ$17 (mobile) or NZ$23 (web) plus the NZ$100 International Visitor Levy and is valid for 2 years and multiple entries. NZeTA holders still need to comply with the visitor visa conditions on arrival (typically 90 days, sometimes 6 months for UK passport holders).
How does the Accredited Employer Work Visa work?
AEWV is a 3-step process: the employer must first be Accredited (Standard, High-Volume, Triangular, or Franchisee), then post a Job Check confirming the role meets pay and conditions, and then the worker applies for the visa. The visa is issued in entry-level, intermediate, or senior tier based on the role's pay band and the worker's qualifications, with maximum durations of 5 years.
How does the Skilled Migrant 6-points system work?
Applicants need to score at least 6 points across these categories: qualification (3–6 points depending on Bachelor's, Master's, PhD), occupation registration (for regulated occupations), income premium (1–3 points based on income above the median wage), and NZ-acquired work or study experience. Reaching 6 points and having an accredited skilled job in NZ qualifies for an Expression of Interest (EoI), which is then assessed.
What is the Post-Study Work Visa?
PSWV gives graduates of recognised NZ qualifications 1–3 years of open work rights, depending on the level and location of study. Master's and PhD graduates get the full 3 years; Level 7 graduates get 3 years; Level 4–6 get 1 year (with location-based rules). PSWV is often used as a bridge to AEWV and SMC residence applications.
How does the Parent Resident category work?
The Parent Resident category is a ballot-based system: parents of NZ citizens or residents register an Expression of Interest, and INZ runs ballots multiple times per year selecting EoIs at random subject to a sponsorship-income test. The sponsoring child must meet a New Zealand-based income threshold, scaled by the number of parents being sponsored. The Parent Retirement category is income- and investment-based with no ballot.
When can I apply for New Zealand citizenship?
Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after 5 years of New Zealand residence, with at least 240 days in NZ in each of those 5 years and 1,350 total days. Applicants must have intent to remain in NZ, demonstrate good character, and have sufficient English-language skills. Dual citizenship is permitted.
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few questions and we'll help you find the right visa path for New Zealand — personalized to your situation.