15/11/2021
Difference between Resident Visa (RV) and Permanent Resident Visa (PRV)
A Permanent Resident Visa is usually the next step after being granted a Resident Visa. While Resident Visas have travel conditions that only allow a person to re-enter New Zealand as a resident until a certain date, a Permanent Resident Visa allows indefinite re-entry to New Zealand.
For Example: 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 or in some situations they are valid for 5 or 10 years. 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 (physical label or eVisa) in your valid passport.
Hence in a nutshell, both of these visas allow you the same privilege of living permanently in New Zealand, but they provide you with different travel conditions.
Another difference in regards to voting rights is that:
You're eligible to enrol and vote if you're a permanent resident and have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more.
Whilst, on a resident visa you're eligible to vote in a Parliamentary or Local Election after living in NZ continuously for one year.
And, more importantly, Permanent Residency in New Zealand does not expire.
To help you apply for your residence visa please contact us on +64 212881324