Compare visa pathways, eligibility patterns, processing timelines, and next planning steps.
Visa fit wizard
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.
Search pathways across all countries →
Work visas require a job offer from a sponsoring employer. Many lead to permanent residency and allow family members to join you.
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Business / investor visas reward applicants who start a business or invest at qualifying levels. Most lead to permanent residency on meeting programme milestones.
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AEWV is NZ's main employer-sponsored work visa. It can lead to the Skilled Migrant Category PR.
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Family / spouse visas let you join a citizen or settled-resident family member. Most allow you to work and lead toward permanent residency.
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Business · 3–9 months (business approval + visa)
PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required
Family · 6–24 weeks (varies by relationship and country)
PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required
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
Migration · 3-8 weeks after employer accreditation / —
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Required
Migration · 4-12 weeks (Straight to Residence); 2 years + processing (Work to Residence) / —
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Required
Migration · 6-12 months / —
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required
Migration · 6-12 months from EOI to residence visa / —
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required
Migration · 1-4 weeks / —
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Required
Residency · 4–12 months
PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required
Residency · 6–18 months
PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Not always required
Student · 4–12 weeks (peaks before academic intake)
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required
Student · 4–8 weeks
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required
Tourist · 5–30 days (varies by mission)
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required
Tourist · 15–35 days
PR pathway: No · Job offer: Not always required
Work · 4–8 weeks
PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Required
Work · 4–16 weeks (employer + government processing)
PR pathway: Yes · Job offer: Required
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