--- title: New Zealand Visa Options description: Explore visa options for New Zealand, including requirements, process, and key costs. image: https://migrantiq.com/og/default.png --- Skip to content Advertisement728 × 90AdSense zone 🇳🇿 NEW ZEALAND VISA HUB Compare visa pathways, eligibility patterns, processing timelines, and next planning steps. Official immigration authority Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Apply on official site → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/] Visa fit wizard WHICH NEW ZEALAND VISA FITS ME? Answer a few questions and we’ll rank the best matches from the live visa catalog. This is a planning tool, not a legal decision. 16 route(s) Main goalVisit / tourismStudyWork for an employerRemote work / freelanceJoin family or spouseBusiness / investmentPermanent residenceHighest educationNo formal credentialHigh schoolDiploma / vocationalBachelor or higher I have a qualifying job offerI have a family sponsorI want a PR pathwayI have language-test evidence Search pathways across all countries → [/tools/pathway-finder/] Match 1Work62% fit WORK / EMPLOYMENT VISA Work visas need a job offer from a sponsoring employer. Many can lead to permanent residency and allow family members to join you. Read guide → [/visas/new-zealand/work-employment/] Why it fits * Matches your work for an employer goal. * Can support a longer-term PR pathway. * Education looks compatible: Often bachelor's or recognised vocational equivalent. Check carefully * This route usually needs a qualifying job offer. Match 2Business58% fit BUSINESS / INVESTOR VISA Business and investor visas are available for those who start a business or invest at qualifying levels. Most can lead to permanent residency upon meeting programme milestones. Read guide → [/visas/new-zealand/business-investor/] Why it fits * Can support a longer-term PR pathway. * Self-petition or sponsor-light route. Check carefully * Confirm all official requirements before applying. Match 3Work56% fit ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA (AEWV) ## Who is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) for in New Zealand? The AEWV is essential for those seeking employer-sponsored work in New Zealand. ## What is required to apply for the A Read guide → [/visas/new-zealand/accredited-employer-work-visa/] Why it fits * Matches your work for an employer goal. * Can support a longer-term PR pathway. * Education looks compatible: Role-specific. Check carefully * This route usually needs a qualifying job offer. Match 4Family42% fit FAMILY / SPOUSE VISA Family and spouse visas enable you to join a family member who is a citizen or settled resident. Most visas allow you to work and can lead to permanent residency. Read guide → [/visas/new-zealand/family-spouse/] Why it fits * Can support a longer-term PR pathway. Check carefully * Confirm all official requirements before applying. BUSINESS / INVESTOR VISA Business · 3-9 months (business approval + visa) PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/business-investor/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/] FAMILY / SPOUSE VISA Family · 6-24 weeks (varies by relationship and country) PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/family-spouse/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/join-or-bring-family-to-nz] PARTNERSHIP RESIDENT VISA Family · 5 to 7 months (80% of applications are finalized within 7 months under 2026 operational processing pipelines). PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/partnership-residence/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/join-or-bring-family-to-nz/your-partner-or-spouse] ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA (AEWV) Migration · 3-8 weeks after employer accreditation /, PR pathway: No · Job offer: Required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/accredited-employer-work-visa-aewv/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/visa-options/work/accredited-employer-work-visa] GREEN LIST (STRAIGHT TO RESIDENCE & WORK TO RESIDENCE) Migration · 4-12 weeks (Straight to Residence); 2 years + processing (Work to Residence) /, PR pathway: No · Job offer: Required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/green-list-straight-to-residence-work-to-residence/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/green-list] INVESTOR VISA (CATEGORY 1 & 2) Migration · 6-12 months /, PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/investor-visa-category-1-2/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/investor-visa] SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY (SMC) Migration · 6-12 months from EOI to residence visa /, PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/skilled-migrant-category-smc/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/] WORKING HOLIDAY VISA Migration · 1-4 weeks /, PR pathway: No · Job offer: Required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/working-holiday-visa/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/working-holiday-visa] PERMANENT RESIDENCY / SETTLEMENT Residency · 4-12 months PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/permanent-residency/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/live-permanently] SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY RESIDENT VISA Residency · 6-18 months PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/skilled-migrant-category/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/skilled-migrant-category-resident-visa] STUDENT VISA Student · 4-12 weeks (peaks before academic intake) PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/student/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/study] STUDENT VISA Student · 4-8 weeks PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/student-visa/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/study] TOURIST / VISITOR VISA Tourist · 5-30 days (varies by mission) PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/tourist-visitor/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/visit] VISITOR VISA Tourist · 15-35 days PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/visitor-visa/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/visit] ACCREDITED EMPLOYER WORK VISA (AEWV) Work · 4-8 weeks PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/accredited-employer-work-visa/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/accredited-employer-work-visa] WORK / EMPLOYMENT VISA Work · 4-16 weeks (employer + government processing) PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Required Read full guide → [/visas/new-zealand/work-employment/]Apply on Immigration New Zealand (INZ) → [https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/work] Advertisement300 × 250AdSense zone RELATED RESOURCES * New Zealand profile [/countries/new-zealand/] * New Zealand laws [/laws/new-zealand/] * New Zealand scam alerts [/scam-alerts/new-zealand/] Plan smarter Save countries, compare destinations, track visa checklists, and sync your migration plan across devices. Open My Plan [/plan/]Account Dashboard [/account/] Free resources TOOLS & GUIDES Full sitemap → [/sitemap/] PLAN YOUR MOVE * Eligibility quiz [/tools/eligibility/] * Tax calculator [/tools/tax-calculator/] * Tax compare [/tools/tax-compare/] * Tax guides [/tools/tax-guides/] * Points calculator [/tools/points-calculator/] * Cost calculator [/calculator/] * Move planner [/tools/planner/] * Best country [/tools/best-country/] * Pathway finder [/tools/pathway-finder/] * Corridor fit [/tools/corridor-fit/] * Compare 3 countries [/tools/compare-three/] * Job → visa matcher [/tools/job-visa-match/] * Scam checker [/tools/scam-check/] * All tools [/tools/] GUIDES & SAFETY * Visa guides [/visas/] * Scholarships [/scholarships/] * Government jobs [/government-jobs/] * Immigration updates [/countries/canada/immigration-updates/] * Embassies [/embassies/] * Laws [/laws/] * Scam alerts [/scam-alerts/] * Checklists [/checklist/] * Country profiles [/countries/] COMMUNITY * Q&A [/qa/] * People stories [/stories/] * Blog [/blog/] * Android app (Google Play) [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.migrantiq.app&hl=en] * Write for us [/write-for-us/] * Experts [/experts/] * Apply for expert listing [/experts/apply/] * Documentation [/documentation/] * Employers (HR) [/employers/] ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://migrantiq.com/#organization","name":"MigrantIQ","url":"https://migrantiq.com","logo":"https://migrantiq.com/logo.png","description":"MigrantIQ publishes free migration guides covering visas, laws, costs, culture, banking, healthcare, scam alerts, and moving checklists for 220 countries.","knowsAbout":["immigration","visa requirements","moving abroad","cost of living","immigrant laws","scam protection","arrival checklists"],"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/migrantiq/","https://x.com/MigrantIQ","https://www.instagram.com/migrantiqorg/","https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.migrantiq.app&hl=en"],"contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","email":"Info@MigrantIQ.com","url":"https://migrantiq.com/contact/","availableLanguage":["English"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://migrantiq.com/#website","name":"MigrantIQ","url":"https://migrantiq.com","publisher":{"@id":"https://migrantiq.com/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://migrantiq.com/search/?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}}]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://migrantiq.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Visas","item":"https://migrantiq.com/visas/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"New Zealand","item":"https://migrantiq.com/visas/new-zealand/"}]} ```