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ADDITIONAL options are being introduced for New Zealand residents who are not yet New Zealand citizens but who want to leave and re-enter the country.
From September 4, the New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) is increasing the number of options available to Returning Residents' Visas (RRV) applicants to qualify for an indefinite RRV based on their commitment to New Zealand.
The criteria for commitment to New Zealand have been expanded to make demonstrating your commitment more flexible.
If you or your spouse/partner and children intend to travel overseas and want to return permanently to New Zealand you should obtain RRVs. Your family's RRVs will be made current for the same period as the principal applicant's RRV.
Eligibility for an indefinite RRV, will be based on:
* Significant time spent in New Zealand.
* Holding tax residence status in that country - both of which are existing criteria.
* Maintaining an acceptable investment in New Zealand.
The latter, which is one of three new criteria, applies if you have been approved residence under the Business Investor Category and have maintained your investment in New Zealand for two years. Alternatively, it applies if you have obtained residence under another category and maintained an investment of NZ$1 million in New Zealand for two years.
The other two new criteria concern:
* Establishing a business in New Zealand -
If you have obtained residence under any category and have successfully established a business in the country not less than 12 months ago which is trading successfully and benefiting New Zealand in some way
* Establishing a base in New Zealand -