Visa & Residency

Yes — since 27 January 2025, NZ visitor visas and NZeTA explicitly allow remote work for overseas employers or clients. You can stay up to 9 months (6 months for most nationalities). The key rule is that your work must be for a company/clients outside NZ — you cannot work for a New Zealand business on a visitor visa.

The AEWV is the primary temporary work visa for skilled migrants. Your employer must be INZ-accredited, the role must appear on the National Occupation List (NOL, replacing ANZSCO from Nov 2025), and the salary must meet the minimum wage (NZD $23.95/hr from 1 April 2026). Your employer applies for accreditation first, then a job check, then you apply for the visa. Processing typically takes 4–8 weeks. The immigration median wage rises to NZD $35.00/hr from 9 March 2026 — earning 1.5× this (NZD $52.50/hr) gives a 5-year continuous stay including partner/children work-study rights.

You need a minimum of 6 skilled resident points under the current SMC framework. Points are earned from your income level, occupational registration, NZ qualifications, and NZ skilled work experience. Applications with occupational registration or earning twice the immigration median wage (NZD $70/hr from 9 Mar 2026) are prioritised. The August 2026 SMC reform requires applicants to have 5+ years of directly relevant work experience — including 2 years in NZ at 1.1× the SMC median wage — plus adds 'Skilled Work Experience' and 'Trades & Technician' pathways and 1 bonus point for NZ qualifications.

After arriving on a resident visa, you need to spend at least 184 days per year in NZ for 2 consecutive years to qualify for a Permanent Resident Visa. Citizenship requires 5 years of residency with at least 240 days/year (1,350 days total). So the fastest timeline is: arrive on AEWV → SMC resident visa (1–2 years processing) → 2 years PR → citizenship at year 5–7.

Generally no — the Overseas Investment Act restricts foreigners from buying existing residential property. The Active Investor Plus visa holder exception (allowing one residential purchase or build worth NZD $5M+) was announced in 2025 and is due to be passed into law before the end of 2026. New development properties may have different rules — check with the Overseas Investment Office. Citizens, permanent residents, and Australian citizens can buy freely.