Support
closeOur WhatsApp number is a chat only number. One stop solution for all your queries!
New Zealand is among the top countries to earn, live and settle with your family. But to stay in the country for an indefinite period, you will require a valid citizenship visa. Here you will find information on how to get PR in New Zealand, its eligibility criteria and other details. So, keep reading!
The eligibility criteria for the New Zealand PR process is as follows:
Individuals can also apply for permanent residency in New Zealand if they hold a visa for the partner category, skilled migrant category, business and investment category. We will discuss this in detail later. But, first, let us know how to get PR in New Zealand.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for New Zealand PR from India. Follow these steps to experience a flawless process:
Before starting the process, make sure you qualify all the criteria mentioned under PR eligibility. For this, you can also take the help of an immigration expert.
If applicants have received their qualifications from outside New Zealand, they must undergo an NZQA assessment. However, you can skip the process if your overseas qualification is recognised and mentioned under the List of Qualification Exempt from Assessment. The sole purpose of this assessment is to verify your education credential and compare if it is up to the mark.
This electronic pool requires applicants to mention their intent why they want to settle in New Zealand. The process goes through two stages, the first step is the document submission process, and the next stage involves checking the profile and sending the invitation.
Next, you have to wait for the officials of New Zealand to accept your EOI and send you an invitation to submit a residence application. After filling in the details, provide appropriate documentation to support your claim relating to age, work experience, qualification, language proficiency, etc.
Lastly, the authority will verify your credentials and the information provided. Then, if they feel positive about your request, they will grant you permanent residency in New Zealand.
The following documents are necessary for you to present at the time of your NZ PR application form submission:
If you are wondering how to get citizenship in New Zealand, then there are three pathways you can opt for:
To know more about this pathway refer to the following sections.
This is the most common way people gain citizenship in New Zealand. So, if you find yourself skilled employment in NZ, you can permanently work and live in the country.
However, you will have to follow a two-step process. Also, remember, the points are allocated on factors like age, work experience, education, etc.
The criteria that one needs to fulfil for getting an SMC category PR visa are:
Step 1: The first step involves submitting an expression of interest and other applications showing that you meet all the thresholds and are qualified by the digital pool.
The data you need to fulfil include details of your qualification, skills, etc. Officials accept your EOI and send an ‘Invitation to Apply’ if you gain a decent score in the NZ point-based immigration system.
Step 2: You can then submit a residence application under this particular category.
There are further subdivisions under this category. For example, if you are a partner or spouse, parent or dependent child of someone who is a permanent citizen of NZ, you can apply for it too. However, a relative in NZ must sponsor you to complete the PR process in New Zealand.
Under this type of New Zealand visa, individuals interested in doing business and investing in properties can apply for permanent citizenship. So, they can contribute to the country's economic development and overall growth.
If you are willing to live in the country by investing in any property, you can opt for an investor category visa.
This category is for those individuals who are willing to establish a business in New Zealand. However, the criterion for this path is that you need to have a two-year business background in NZ. But for some exceptional cases, it is six months.
When carrying out New Zealand PR process from India, the time taken for approval will depend on the category of visa you hold. For example, if you apply for NZ PR through the Skilled Migrant Category, you can get an Invitation to Apply (ITO) as soon as three weeks.
On the other hand, residence applications are processed within four to fifteen months. It will vary upon the checks and documents required. However, a business visa takes eight to ten months, except for the Investor 1 Plus category. You can expect an approval period of three months or less for the latter one.
Now, talking about the fees required for applying PR in New Zealand, the officials fix it depending on the applicant's nationality. For Indians, it is NZ$ 190.
After you have followed the New Zealand PR Process from India, you can check the status of your application by following the procedure mentioned below:
Step 1: Visit the website of 'New Zealand Visa Status’.
Step 2: Fill in the necessary information as asked by the portal. It includes Passport Number, Receipt Number, Date of Birth, etc.
Step 3: Once you click on the 'Submit' button, the status will appear.
Having a permanent residency in New Zealand means you will be able to enjoy all the rights that every other citizen of the country gets. However, being a residence is not the same as being a permanent residence. Instead, permanent residency is a consequence of residency. In other words, you can apply for the New Zealand PR process only when you have lived for two years in the country using a residency visa.
The benefits of getting an NZ PR are:
Find the address of your state’s New Zealand’s Application Centre by scrolling through its location:
City Name |
Timings |
Address |
Cochin |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 4 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, 39/4060, Menon chambers, 1st Floor, Chittor Road, Ravipuram, 682016, Cochin. |
Kolkata |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, 8/1A, Fourth Floor, Little Russel Street, 700071, Kolkata. |
Bangalore |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, 221, Raheja Chambers, 12 Museum roads, 560001, Bangalore. |
Hyderabad |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 4 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, D no. 5-9-88/1, Chapel Road, Sapphire Complex, 500001, Hyderabad. |
Chennai |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, Raheja Towers, In front of GP Road, S003 Omega Wing 113-124, Anna Salai, 600002, Chennai. |
Ahmedabad |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, 2nd Floor, Chandan House, Mithakhali Six Roads, Opposite of Pantaloons, 380006, Ahmedabad. |
Mumbai |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, Nariman Point, 21 C Mittal Tower C Wing, 400021, Mumbai. |
New Delhi |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, 214 to 217, 21 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, A-Block Naurang House, 110001 New Delhi. |
Chandigarh |
Mon to Fri from 8 am - 5 pm |
VFS New Zealand Visa Application Centre, SCO 156-160 Suite No 212, 2nd floor, Behind Sindhi Sweet, Madhya Marg, Sector 8 C, 160018, Chandigarh. |