Thinking of living in New Zealand? A proposed rule could ask you to stay 730 days

Visa guide · 2026-09-01 · 3 min read

Do you dream of making a home in New Zealand? Then here is an idea you should know about. One political party, ACT, has put forward a plan to change what permanent residence means. It is only a proposal for now. It would matter only if that party joined the government after the election.

How it works today

Today, a permanent resident of New Zealand does not have to live there. After permanent residence is given, the person can leave and return freely. This stays true even if they spend a very long time outside the country.

What the party wants to change

The party would remove the Permanent Resident Visa as a separate visa. Everyone would hold the Resident Visa. Here are the key points:

The travel condition would change from two years to a five-year travel facility. A travel facility is the permission to leave and come back.
In every rolling five-year period, a person must be in New Zealand for at least 730 days. This is two years in total.
The days do not need to be in a row. You can still visit your family in Vietnam.

Rolling means the five years move forward with time. You count the last five years from any day you look at.

Some people would be exempt

The plan includes exceptions. They would apply to people who:

work overseas for an employer based in New Zealand,
travel with a family member in that situation,
serve overseas in the military,
are married to or partnered with a New Zealand citizen, or
face serious humanitarian circumstances.

These exceptions show that the idea is not to punish normal travel. The aim is to make sure residence means a real link with New Zealand.

Why it may matter to you

Many Vietnamese families have close ties in two places. Parents, children and work may be in different countries. If a rule like this became law, you might need to plan time more carefully. Here are some simple steps:

Keep a note of the dates you are in New Zealand.
Talk with your family about where you want to live for the next five years.
Think about citizenship later, because this plan also separates residence from citizenship more clearly.
Prepare your papers. Vietnamese documents often need certified English translations when visa rules ask for them.
If a police certificate is requested, the usual one for Vietnamese citizens is the Judicial Record Certificate (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp).

Stay safe

Be careful when people talk about visa changes. Deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker, and do not trust anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa.

For the current rules, read the official Immigration New Zealand visa page. A proposal can change, so use the official page before any decision.

In short

This is only an idea today, but it shows where the debate is going. If you plan to live in New Zealand, nothing needs to change right now. Keep good records, make a simple plan and watch for news as the election gets closer.

#permanent residence #resident visa #new zealand #travel condition #proposal #vietnamese families