Both of these visas allow you the same privilege of living permanently in New Zealand, but they provide you with different travel conditions. Your resident visa will allow you to travel in and out of New Zealand as a resident for a specified period of time only – usually 24 months. Once this time period concludes, your next step is to apply for a permanent resident visa -PRV, which will have no time limit on your travel conditions – meaning, you are able to travel in and out of New Zealand as a resident at any time, as long as you have the permanent resident visa in your valid passport.
To qualify for a PRV you must:
1. Have held a resident visa for at least 24 months
2. Have met any conditions of your resident visa, and
3. Have shown a commitment to New Zealand in one of the five ways that meet our requirements
