Second or Subsequent Resident Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Second or Subsequent Resident Visa
Purpose	Restore expired resident visa
Stay	Indefinitely
Cost	From NZD $275
Processing	80% within 6 weeks
Eligibility timing	Within 2 years for permanent residence
Work rights	Work in New Zealand
Study	Study in New Zealand
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Usually based on previous conditions
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Include eligible partner and children
Visa record	Expired resident visa required
Application location	Apply before travelling to New Zealand
Application method	Apply online
Character	Must be of good character
Additional conditions	Previous section 49 conditions continue

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Purpose

This visa is for people whose New Zealand resident visa expired after they:

• left New Zealand after travel conditions expired; or
• were outside New Zealand when travel conditions expired.

It allows you to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

Eligibility

You must:

• have had a resident visa that has expired;
• have been eligible, when it expired, for either:
  • a Permanent Resident Visa based on commitment to New Zealand; or
  • a variation of travel conditions that remains valid when you apply;
• be of good character; and
• meet other visa requirements.

For eligibility based on a Permanent Resident Visa, apply within 2 years of your resident visa expiring.

You normally do not need evidence of your former resident visa unless Immigration New Zealand asks for it.

Partners of New Zealand Citizens

You may qualify if:

• you received residence through partnership with a New Zealand citizen; or
• you have lived with your New Zealand citizen partner for at least 12 months.

Provide evidence that your partner:

• supports the application in writing; and
• lives with you in a genuine and stable relationship.

Non-Principal Applicants

A non-principal applicant cannot receive this visa before the principal applicant. Apply at the same time as, or after, the principal applicant unless an exception applies.

A person originally included as a dependent child is assessed against the principal applicant’s eligibility, even if now an adult.

Family Provisions

You may include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger if they were included in the original residence application.

Include any child aged 17 or older when answering character questions.

For Active Investor Plus Visa and Investor 1 or 2 Resident Visa holders, a dependent child not included originally may be included if they entered New Zealand on a Dependent Child Resident Visa.

Documents

Provide:

• one acceptable photo;
• a scan of your passport or certificate of identity personal-details page;
• English translations for evidence not in English.

Applicants applying in Hong Kong or Macao must also provide an identity-card copy.

Applicants applying from New Caledonia must also provide a livret de famille copy.

Police certificates are not required with the application form.

Application Steps

1. Confirm you were eligible for permanent residence or travel-condition variation when your visa expired.
2. Gather identity, relationship and family evidence where applicable.
3. Translate non-English evidence into English.
4. Apply online.
5. Pay the applicable fee.

Investor applicants experiencing the online-form issue should follow Permanent Resident Visa prompts and upload a cover letter stating they are applying for a Second or Subsequent Resident Visa.

Travel and Conditions

Travel conditions are granted for the period they would have been valid if requested when the previous resident visa expired.

If you were eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa when your visa expired, travel conditions are valid for 24 months from the expiry date.

Partners of New Zealand citizens granted this visa receive travel conditions valid for 24 months.

Any previous section 49 conditions continue on this visa.

Keep the visa in a valid passport. If your passport expires, transfer the visa to a new passport before travelling.

Arrival Obligations

Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• from 24 hours before air travel begins; or
• from 24 hours before a ship leaves its last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• no longer meet character requirements;
• have changed circumstances since visa grant;
• refuse biometric collection; or
• cannot show required onward travel or funds.