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.
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 :

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Licensed Immigration Adviser (NZ) # 201300919

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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.
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:
- 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
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.
📌 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:
- 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
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.
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:
- 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
EXCELLENT Based on 212 reviews Cherryl Cabanig2025-05-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The adviser was professional, attentive, and patient, answering all my questions and providing clear guidance on necessary documentation. Communication was excellent, I felt supported and confident throughout the process. I highly recommend Eddie Dhiman/ Ezy Immigration. For anyone seeking Immigration advice. Analiza pangilinan2025-05-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. They are very accommodating And yes they help me and my husband to be reunited again in nz Ruel De Dios2025-04-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dedicated, experienced and motivated of his choosen field of job ( excellent ) Genevieve Saguing2025-04-11Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very helpful and very patience with here client and very approachable and good heart Thank you very much sir eddie for your help Solly Mahlaule2025-04-10Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would d like to express my sincere thanks for the excellent service provided by Eddie. He guided us through the entire process with patience and professionalism. We truly appreciated his support and would gladly recommend him to anyone needing help with immigration matters. Ezy Immigration Advisers get a 5star for their excellence service. akash kumar2025-04-04Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am grateful to Eddie for his prompt service in expanding my visa. The direct and timely communication with the immigration consultant, without any unnecessary delays in filling application, was the cherry on top. Emmalyn Delgado2025-03-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you very much Sir. Eddie Dihman for helping us get my visa approved. 100% Legit and highly recommended for those who dream of going to New Zealand. Thank you very much again Sir.Eddie, God bless you. Raymond Delgado2025-03-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you very much sir Eddie Dihman for helping us get my wife's Visa approved,, I would like you to be my immigration adviser again when I need to bring my children here,, 100% recommended to those like me who dream of having a family here in New Zealand. Thank you very much again sir Eddie, God bless you. Raymond Ilagan2025-03-26Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Easy to talk to.. They provide all the info I needed. Keeps me updated. Very Good Service....

Director & Licensed Immigration Adviser
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.

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