Milford Sound by Maros Mraz, CC BY-SA 3.0
New Zealand
Capital Wellington
Ways in
Every mobility asset the live catalog holds for this country. Open one for the full requirement detail.
How much time you must spend on the ground
Derived from each program’s stated physical-presence requirement.
The pipeline to permanent residency
The staged journey for Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa. Processing, permanent residence and citizenship times come from the Mobility Asset Database.
Confirm Skilled Eligibility
The Skilled Migrant Category is points-based — points come from qualifications, occupational registration, skilled work, and income. Confirm your profile qualifies; Immigration New Zealand updates the settings periodically, so check the current criteria.
Secure Skilled Employment
Most applicants anchor their claim with a skilled job or job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer, which also supports the points needed to qualify.
Submit Residence Application
Apply to Immigration New Zealand online, evidencing your points, identity, and employment. Applications are assessed against the settings in force at submission.
Health & Character Checks
Complete medical examinations and police / character certificates. Meeting the health and character requirements is mandatory for the grant.
Resident Visa Granted
Immigration New Zealand typically decides skilled residence in about 3–6 months. The grant confers full work rights and the right to live in New Zealand.
Permanent Residence & Citizenship
Maintain residence and meet the presence conditions to move to a Permanent Resident Visa, then become eligible to apply for citizenship after 5 years of residence.
City archetypes
Landing-zone comparisons — cost bands, community, and who each city suits.
Auckland
The largest city — the deepest job market, most restaurants and culture, and the biggest expat community, with beaches and parks close by. It's also the most expensive place in NZ, and traffic and sprawl are the trade-offs.
- Largest job market + expat community
- Beaches and parks close to the city
- Highest cost of living in the country
Wellington
The compact, walkable capital with an outsized culture, coffee, and creative scene and a growing tech sector. More affordable than Auckland but still pricey, and famously windy.
- Strong culture, coffee, and creative scene
- Compact and walkable, growing tech sector
- Windier weather; still expensive
Christchurch
A rebuilt city with lower costs, easy outdoor access, and a tight-knit community; its arts and food scene is developing. Recovery from the 2011 earthquake continues, and it's more car-dependent than Wellington.
- Lower costs than Auckland or Wellington
- Easy access to the outdoors + South Island
- More car-dependent; still rebuilding
Could New Zealand be your next move?
Open your personalized country view to review a city estimate and compare it with your saved monthly spending.
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