New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa (184-Day) Calculator
To move from a resident visa to a permanent resident visa, one way to show commitment is to be in New Zealand for at least 184 days in each of the last two years. Check both years here.
Rules last checked against official sources: 29 September 2026
Quick answer
For a New Zealand permanent resident visa you must have held a resident visa for at least 2 years, and one way to show commitment is to have been in New Zealand for at least 184 days in each of the two 12-month periods before you apply. It is 184 days in each year, not 368 spread across both.
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Resident visa vs permanent resident visa
A New Zealand resident visa lets you live in NZ indefinitely, but its travel conditions usually expire after 2 years. A permanent resident visa (PRV) has no expiry on travel. To get one, you must have held your resident visa for at least 2 years in a row and show commitment to New Zealand.
The 184-day test
The most common way to show commitment is time in New Zealand: at least 184 days in each of the two 12-month periods immediately before you apply. The two periods are checked separately, so 250 days in one year and 120 in the other does not pass, even though the total is over 368.
The day you leave and the day you return both count as days in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand checks your travel records, so apply only once both years clearly pass. Applications made before you meet the requirements may be declined, even if you meet them later.
Other ways to show commitment
If you can't meet the 184-day test, Immigration New Zealand accepts other forms of commitment. These include being tax resident in NZ, making an investment, running a business in NZ, or having established a base here. Check the official requirements for the details.
This calculator shares its trip list with our NZ citizenship calculator, so your trips also count toward the 1,350-day citizenship test.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in NZ for a permanent resident visa?
At least 184 days in each of the two 12-month periods before you apply, if you are using time in New Zealand to show commitment. You must also have held your resident visa for 2 years.
Can I combine days across the two years?
No. The 184 days are checked separately for each 12-month period.
Do departure and arrival days count?
Yes. They count as days in New Zealand. Only full days abroad are absences.
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