Citizenship or residency requirements

Find out the citizenship or residency requirements if you are studying or doing work-based learning. 

Meeting the citizenship or residency requirements

You meet the residency requirements if you are a citizen of: 

• New Zealand
• Cook Islands
• Tokelau
• Niue.

If you are not a citizen of 1 of the above places, make sure you will meet the residency requirements when you complete your qualification or programme. 

The requirements are slightly different if you are studying or if you are doing work-based learning.

If you are studying

If you are not a New Zealand citizen and you are studying, you meet the residency requirements if you can say ‘yes’ to these 3 points:

• you are living in New Zealand 
• you have lived in New Zealand for 3 years or more 
• you have had a resident visa for 3 years or more.

If you are doing work-based learning 

If you are not a New Zealand citizen and you are doing work-based learning, you meet the residency requirements if you can say ‘yes’ to these 2 points:

• you are living in New Zealand  
• you have a resident visa.

Resident visa requirements

If you are not a New Zealand citizen, you need a resident visa. A resident visa means you are allowed to live in New Zealand.  

Australian citizens, Australian residents and Australian permanent residents living in New Zealand usually have a resident visa.

If you are not sure of your residence status, you can ask Immigration New Zealand. 

Contact us - Immigration New Zealand (immigration.govt.nz)