British Expats - The new RRVs and Residence Visas

There has been some confusion about the new residence visas in a recent thread so I'll try and explain the new terminology and visas which were brought into effect at the end of November 2010:) RRVs are no longer issued.

Previously:
You would be issued with a residence visa and a 2year RRV on gaining residence. On entering NZ a residence permit would be stamped into your passport which stated that the holder could remain indefinitely. The RRV would run out in two years and you could then apply for an indefinite RRV if you fulfilled the conditions or be issued with a 1 or 2 year RRV if not.

Now:
On gaining residency you are issued with a 'Resident Visa with travel conditions' This allows you to enter NZ as a resident for the 1st time, to return to NZ as a resident if you go overseas and also acts as a residence permit. This visa lasts for 2 years. In effect there is little change from what happens now but the terminology is different.

Once this visa runs out you apply for a 'Permanent Resident Visa' [PRV]which allows you to leave and return to NZ and has an indefinite expiry date. So it is similar to an indefinite RRV. If you do not fulfill the conditions for a PRV then you will be issued a further Resident Visa with travel conditions of 1 or 2 years. The conditions needed to gain a PRV are similar to those needed for an IRRV.

So in reality things haven't really changed that much.

Certain partnership applications for PR will be granted a PRV right from the start.

Residence permits no longer exist so on arriving in NZ you will no longer get one stamped into your passport, instead you get a stamp saying 'NZ Entry' and the date.

Anyone already holding an unexpired RRV or visa is deemed to hold the new equivalent. There is no need to change anything until that visa expires or you need a new passport.

Hope this helps:)