Successful residence applicants will generally be granted a ‘resident visa’ with two years of ‘travel conditions’. This will allow: travel to New Zealand (if the holder is offshore); indefinite stay in New Zealand; and multiple re-entry to New Zealand within the validity of the resident visa travel conditions. The term ‘returning resident’s visa’ (RRV) will no longer be used, however, current RRV holders do not need to do anything other than follow the conditions of their current visa or permit.
‘Permanent resident visas’ will replace indefinite RRVs and will allow the indefinite right to enter New Zealand.
The requirements to progress from a ‘resident visa’ to a ‘permanent resident visa’ will be similar to the current requirements to progress from a ‘non-indefinite RRV’ to an ‘indefinite RRV’.
People who hold ‘residence visas’, ‘residence permits’ and ‘non-indefinite RRVs’ on 29 November 2010 will automatically be deemed to hold ‘resident visas’ with the appropriate travel conditions.
People who hold ‘indefinite RRVs’ on 29 November 2010 will automatically be deemed to hold ‘permanent resident visas’ with indefinite rights to enter New Zealand.
