New Zealand – New 2021 Resident Visa

1. Must have been in New Zealand on 29 September 2021

The 2021 Resident Visa stream is only available to applicants who are currently in New Zealand.

2. Eligible Visas

The table below identifies the eligible and ineligible visa types for the 2021 Resident Visa:

Eligible Visas	Ineligible Visas
Post Study Work Visa	Short Term Visa Holders ·         Visitors ·         Students ·         Working Holiday makers ·         Seasonal Workers
Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
Essential Skills Work Visa
Religious Worker Work Visa
Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
Silver Fern Practical Experience Work Visa
Trafficking Victim Work Visa
Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa
Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Work Visa
Victims of Family Violence Work
Visa South Island Contribution Work Visa
Work Visa granted under Section 61 (provided the applicant held another eligible visa type within 6 months before being granted this visa)
Critical Purpose Visitor Visas (CPVV) ·         Critical Health Workers for longer term roles (6 months or longer); and ·         Other Critical Workers for long term roles (more than 6 months)
Partners and dependent children including those outside New Zealand can be included in applications

Critical Purpose Visitor Visas

Applicants who hold CPV visas are deemed eligible so long as they arrive in New Zealand and apply for the 2021 Resident Visa stream prior to 31 July 2022. Please note if you hold a CPV visa and are a short term or seasonal role such as fishing crew, agricultural, horticultural mobile plant operator, or shearer you are not eligible.

3. Applicants must meet one of the following three criteria:

3a. Have lived in New Zealand for three or more years

Applicants must have lived in New Zealand for the past three or more years and:

• • Arrived in New Zealand on or before 29 September 2018; and
  • Have spent 821 days at a minimum in New Zealand

The time spent in New Zealand does not need to be consecutive in order to meet this eligibility criteria.

3b. Applicants earning above the median wage

Applicants must be paid the median wage of $27 NZD per hour or above

3c. Work in a role on a scarce list

Applicants must work in a job that is on a scarce list. The lists are linked below:

• • Long Term Skill Shortage List
  • Jobs requiring occupational registration in the health or education sector
  • Personal carer and other critical health workers
  • Specified primary sector jobs