New Zealand is an amazing place to live, with stunning scenery, friendly people, and a slow and relaxed pace of life. In recent years, it’s been difficult to move there, with loads of paperwork to complete and difficulties meeting the rules around residency. That’s changing in 2025. With 73,400 Kiwis leaving the country in the last year, the government is interested in being more open to talented people coming to New Zealand.
This post will go on to discuss the new residency rules for New Zealand, what hasn’t changed, and how applicants can apply for residence. If you are interested in living in New Zealand, you will want to read this post to see what’s possible.
Why New Zealand is Changing Its Rules?
People are leaving New Zealand, doctors, tech workers, and tradespeople, because of high housing costs and better jobs elsewhere. The government’s worried about shortages in key jobs, so they’re relaxing residency rules. In February 2025, they eased investor visa rules, dropping English tests and time-in-country requirements. Now, they’re opening more paths for skilled workers. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said they’re fixing the system to bring in talent. But there are still limits to keep things balanced.
What does Residency mean?
A Resident Visa lets you live, work, and study in New Zealand forever. You don’t need to renew it, and you get access to healthcare, schools, and the ability to buy property (with some limits for foreigners). After five years, you can apply for citizenship.
To get it, you usually apply through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) or other specific streams. You must be 55 or younger, speak good English (like IELTS 6.5), and pass health and character checks. A criminal record or serious illness like untreated TB can block you.
The benefit? You can settle in a country where the average wage is NZ$33/hour, and you can work remotely from small towns or cities. But the rules are strict to protect local jobs.
The Big Three Pathways to Residency
New Zealand’s residency options boil down to a few core routes. I’ll focus on the most popular ones: skilled work, investment, and family ties. Each has its hurdles, but they’re doable with planning.
1. Skilled Migration: If You Have the Expertise
This is the go-to for professionals. The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa is points-based – think of it like a scorecard for your job skills, experience, and qualifications. You need at least 6 points to enter the pool, then get selected if you hit 180 overall (though that’s easing up).
Key requirements:
- A job offer in a skilled role (ANZSCO level 1-3) paying at least the median wage (around NZ$31/hour as of 2025).
- Relevant qualifications (bachelor’s or higher) or experience.
- English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, unless exempt).
- Up to 3 points for NZ work experience, but wait, that’s changing (more on that soon).
Then there’s the Green List, a fast-track for in-demand jobs. Tier 1 (Straight to Residence) covers 19 roles like doctors, teachers, and IT specialists. Apply directly if you have the qualifications and a job offer. Tier 2 (Work to Residence) lets you work two years in roles like electricians or chefs, then transition.
Restrictions here? Your job must be genuine, and some sectors (like low-skilled labor) are off-limits for residence. Family can join if you are the main applicant.
2. Investor Route: For Those with Capital to Deploy
If coding’s not your thing but you have got savings burning a hole in your pocket, the Active Investor Plus Visa (aka the golden visa) might fit. It’s for high-net-worth folks who invest in the economy.
As of April 2025, it’s simpler:
- Two categories: Growth (NZ$15 million over 4 years) or Balanced (NZ$5 million over 3 years).
- No English test needed.
- Just 21-88 days physical presence per year (down from more before).
- No age cap.
In September 2025, they added a perk: Investor visa holders can now buy or build one residential property, easing a big ban on foreign buyers. Applications have spiked, especially from the US and China. Restrictions? Investments must be “acceptable” bonds, shares, or new businesses, not passive stuff like art. And you can’t just park money; it has to grow the country.
3. Family and Other Paths: Tying the Knot or Starting a Business
Got a Kiwi partner? The Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa is straightforward: prove your relationship’s genuine (shared finances, photos, the works), and you’re in after two years together. Parents and kids have options too, but waits can stretch years due to quotas.
Entrepreneurs can go for the Entrepreneur Work Visa: Invest NZ$100,000+, run a business for two years, then apply for residence. Or the Global Impact Visa for innovators tackling big issues like climate change.
Across all, common bars include serious criminal records or health issues that cost the system over NZ$52,000/year.
What Can Stop You?
Even with easier rules, there are still hurdles. After three years on an AEWV, you must leave New Zealand for 12 months before applying for another work visa. This stops people from staying too long without committing to residency.
Wage rules are loosening in 2025; thresholds for seasonal jobs and multi-entry visas will be introduced for experienced workers and short-term ones for recent graduates. However, the skilled jobs’ criteria still require a wage of at least the median wage, which is to protect local workers’ job opportunities.
Your family can accompany you, but your partner and children will need qualifications or proof that you can support them in total. Investors will need NZ$5-15 million for the Active Investor Plus visa category, though the rules regulating English and time in New Zealand have gotten a bit easier.
There are health criteria, and issues like HIV or active cancer may be blocked if not managed properly. A criminal record, like a DUI, would be a problem. English is required, though partners of citizens may get a waiver. Some things aren’t easy to bounce back from, like overstaying, accepting a job offer, and switching jobs without letting the immigration office know first. They would also be strict with employers in circumstances where they are not operating in accordance with the immigration instructions.
How to Apply?
Here are the main options:
- Skilled Migrant Category: Earn points for age (up to 30 if under 30), qualifications (up to 70 for PhDs), experience (up to 30), and job offers (50 for high-skill jobs). You need 160+ points. New pathways make local experience easier.
- Work to Residence: Work 24 months in 30 months in Green List jobs like doctors or chefs to go straight to residency.
- Investor Streams: Invest NZ$15 million for Growth (3 years) or NZ$5 million for Balanced (5 years).
Start by checking your eligibility on immigration.govt.nz. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for SMC; it costs NZ$530 and is not refundable. Look for jobs on Seek.co.nz or LinkedIn, and attend local industry events. Plan for NZ$3,000-5,000 in visa and moving costs. Processing takes 6-9 months, faster for Green List roles.
Tips to Make It Easier
Expats who succeeded shared advice. One Australian added community volunteering to his EOI for extra points. A Filipino nurse practiced English with free apps before arriving.
Do: Keep records of all jobs and qualifications. Get your credentials checked by NZQA early. Join expat groups on Facebook for support. Don’t: Focus on what New Zealand lacks; show what you offer. Don’t skip paperwork; it’s key for appeals if you are rejected.
Final Thoughts
New Zealand’s residency rules are getting friendlier, but they are still strict to manage who comes in. The 2025 changes, including new pathways in mid-2026, make it easier for skilled workers, tradespeople, and investors to settle. If you are a nurse, coder, or builder, this could be your chance. Check your eligibility, get your documents ready, and start applying. New Zealand’s waiting, why not take a shot?
