New Zealand · Immigration
Immigration, one step clearer.
Explore New Zealand visa pathways, application steps and changes affecting work, study, residence and family.
Start with the part of the journey you are trying to understand. Each guide gives you the main idea first, then explains the conditions, evidence and timing that need a closer look.
Guides
Start with the question closest to yours
Choose the situation you want to understand, then follow the connected pages when your question crosses more than one topic.
Residence and skilled pathways
Understand how skilled residence routes fit together before focusing on points or one occupation list.
Partnership and family
Separate living-together evidence, relationship history and family visa questions.
Living together: what partnership visa guidance means
Make sense of the shared-home requirement and the details that can be easy to overlook.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
ImmigrationPartnership evidence: showing your life together
Understand the main evidence categories and organise them around your relationship timeline.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
ImmigrationBringing family while on a work visa
Explore how work visas and family visa options connect, and where the requirements differ.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
Work and job changes
Understand the employer, job and visa-condition questions involved in working in New Zealand.
Understanding the Accredited Employer Work Visa
See how the employer, job and applicant requirements fit together.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
ImmigrationChanging jobs on an AEWV: what to check
Understand why an employment change may also involve a visa process.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
Study, status and next steps
Check post-study options and what status or conditions may apply while a decision is pending.
Waiting for a visa decision: understanding interim status
Understand interim status, visa conditions and why timing matters while an application is being decided.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
ImmigrationWork options after studying in New Zealand
Explore post-study work options and the details to understand before planning your next step.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
Wider topics
When the question has several parts
These pages connect the main routes, terms and decisions before you move into a narrower question.
Browse all Immigration topics
Residence, partnership, work, study, visiting, family and decisions.
Skilled residence guide
Compare SMC and other skilled-residence routes before counting points.
Partnership evidence guide
Organise living-together and relationship evidence around a timeline.
Immigration changes
Keep announced changes separate from settings already in effect.
Changes and dates
Check what is in effect and what is still upcoming
An effective date tells you when a setting applies. The information-checked date tells you when the source behind the summary was reviewed.
SMC pathways and skilled-residence changes
The current SMC has three pathways. Start with the pathway that matches the qualification, income, registration, work experience or trade facts before counting points.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
In effect from 24 August 2026
Post-study work options announced for November 2026
Current Post Study Work Visa settings and the new Short-Term Graduate Work Visa need to be read as separate options with separate eligibility rules.
Information checked: 27 September 2026
Opens 16 November 2026
Information scope
Know when the general answer is not enough
These guides explain general New Zealand immigration information. Advice about personal circumstances needs an appropriately licensed or exempt immigration adviser.
- New Zealand context.
Country-specific rules and processes stay separate from information about other places. - Current documents.
Official pages, policy wording and dated notices can change the answer. - Personal circumstances.
Eligibility, recommendations and individual outcomes sit outside these general guides.
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