Global Impact Permanent Resident Visa

At a glance

The Global Impact Permanent Resident Visa is a residence class visa under the Global Impact pilot programme. It is available to holders of a Global Impact Work Visa who have held that visa for at least 30 months and who continue to meet the programme's requirements.

How to apply

Application procedures are set out in the Global Impact instructions [BG3]. Applicants must provide evidence that they meet the criteria in BG3.1, including confirmation from their approved provider that they will be supported for any remaining duration of the Global Impact visa programme.

The visa fee is prescribed by the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010, Schedule 4. The Global Impact Permanent Resident Visa is a residence-from-work visa for fee purposes. [BG3.5]

Eligibility criteria

An applicant may be granted a Global Impact Permanent Resident Visa if they:

• have held a Global Impact Work Visa for a period of at least 30 months [BG3.1];
• have complied with the conditions of that visa [BG3.1];
• have confirmation from the provider that they will be supported by the provider for any remaining duration of the Global Impact visa programme [BG3.1];
• meet health and character requirements (see the health and character instructions) [BG3.1];
• continue to meet 'fit and proper person' requirements (see BM1) [BG3.1]; and
• have not, at any time since the grant of their work visa, applied for or been granted welfare assistance under the Social Security Act 1964 [BG3.1].

Interpretation & edge cases

• 30‑month holding period: The requirement that the applicant has held a Global Impact Work Visa for at least 30 months does not necessarily mean continuous residence in New Zealand for that entire period; it refers to the period since the work visa was first granted. Immigration New Zealand may count time spent outside New Zealand while the visa remained valid.
• Provider support: The applicant must produce a current confirmation from the provider that they will continue to be supported for the remaining duration of the programme. If the programme has a fixed end date, the provider's confirmation must cover the period up to that date.
• Welfare restriction: The prohibition on applying for or receiving welfare assistance applies from the moment the Global Impact Work Visa is granted. Even a successful benefit application that was later withdrawn or repaid could cause ineligibility for the permanent resident visa.
• Fit and proper person: The requirement to continue to meet 'fit and proper person' requirements references the business immigration fit and proper test (BM1). A change in the applicant's circumstances (e.g., a relevant conviction) after the work visa grant could affect eligibility.

Citations

• BG3 — Global Impact permanent resident visa
• BG3.1 — Requirements for the grant of a permanent resident visa
• BG3.5 — Fees