Religious Worker Residence Visa
Settle in New Zealand with Purpose
For those devoted to spiritual service, New Zealand offers more than just a temporary stay. The Religious Worker Residence Visa is designed for individuals who have already spent time in New Zealand on a valid religious work visa and now wish to settle here permanently to continue their contribution to faith-based communities.
Â
At Ezy Immigration, we work with ministers, missionaries, religious teachers, and their sponsoring organisations to ensure that applications are thorough, timely, and well-supported. If your goal is to continue your spiritual calling and make New Zealand your long-term home, we’ll guide you every step of the way.
Visas for New Zeland
We can assist you with all popular temporary or residence visa applications for Australia. We will not take on an application if we believe it will be unsuccessful, saving you time and money. We provide timely updates and keep you informed throughout the whole process.
We provide professional visa consultation services for the following visa categories :
LIAA Member
Licensed Immigration Adviser (NZ) # 201300919
Registered MARA Agent (AU) # 2117455
What Is the Religious Worker Residence Visa?
The Religious Worker Residence Visa is a pathway to permanent residency in New Zealand for foreign nationals employed in recognised religious roles. To qualify, you must have already spent at least three years working in a religious capacity under a valid Religious Worker Work Visa.
Â
This visa acknowledges the vital role faith workers play in supporting New Zealand’s multicultural society, and provides an opportunity for long-term settlement.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
To be eligible, you must have:
Â
- Spent at least 36 months working full-time in a religious role in New Zealand under the Religious Worker Work Visa
- A genuine job offer from a New Zealand religious organisation willing to support your residence application
- The necessary skills and qualifications to carry out your duties
- Met all conditions of your previous visa and demonstrated ongoing commitment to the role
Â
The sponsoring organisation also plays a crucial role. It must be established, reputable, and able to prove its capacity to support you in your work and settlement.
Â
📌 If you’re not yet on a Religious Worker Work Visa, learn more about Religious Worker Work Visa NZ before applying for residence.
How Ezy Immigration Supports Your Journey
We understand that this visa is not just about fulfilling technical requirements — it’s about continuing a meaningful mission in a new homeland. Our team helps you:
Â
- Confirm your eligibility based on past visa history
- Gather all necessary employment, character, and medical documentation
- Ensure your religious organisation is approved and meets Immigration NZ criteria
- Navigate any complexity with immigration rules or policy interpretation
Â
Our support doesn’t stop with the application. We also assist your family members with dependent visa options so you can settle together.
What Happens After You Apply?
Once your application is submitted, Immigration New Zealand will assess it for compliance, credibility, and consistency with policy guidelines. Processing times vary, but typically take several months. During this time, your ongoing work in the religious role helps reinforce the strength of your application.
Â
Once approved, you’ll receive New Zealand resident status, granting you access to healthcare, education, and the ability to live and work in NZ indefinitely. After meeting residency requirements, you may also become eligible for permanent residency or citizenship.
Why Choose the Religious Worker Residence Visa?
This visa allows you to:
Â
- Continue your spiritual vocation in a stable and welcoming society
- Live permanently in New Zealand with your family
- Contribute meaningfully to the country’s cultural and spiritual diversity
- Access benefits of NZ residency including public healthcare and education
What our clients are saying
Director & Licensed Immigration Adviser
Adviser (NZ) # 201300919
Agent (AU) # 2117455
Start Your Permanent Mission in New Zealand
If you’ve dedicated your time and energy to spiritual service in New Zealand and are ready to make it your long-term home, we’re here to help you achieve that goal. The Religious Worker Residence Visa could be your next big step — and Ezy Immigration is ready to walk that path with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You must first have held a Religious Worker Work Visa for at least 3 years before applying for residence.
These include ministers, missionaries, religious educators, spiritual advisors, and similar roles recognised by the sponsoring organisation.
Your application may be declined. It’s critical that your organisation meets all support and documentation requirements — Ezy Immigration can help assess this beforehand.
Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children in your residence application.
The work visa allows temporary stay, usually for up to 2 years. The residence visa is a long-term solution that grants you the right to live and work in NZ permanently.
Get in touch with us for personalised
service & assistance
Send your inquiry
We are bound by a strict Code of Conduct & will keep your information Private & Confidential.