New Zealand vs Republic of Singapore
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Source basis
This comparison combines New Zealand and Republic of Singapore government portals with the primary sources for each side's dominant skilled route. Every detailed figure links through to the underlying route or data page.
Reviewed
Primary sources
- Immigration New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) - verified
- Ministry of Manpower — Work passes and permits
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) - verified
- Immigration New Zealand — Skilled Migrant Category
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) - verified
- MOM — Employment Pass
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) - verified
New Zealand
New Zealand's immigration system is administered by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), a branch of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is the primary points-based residence pathway. The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is the main employer-sponsored temporary route, replacing the former Essential Skills visa in 2022. Working Holiday Schemes, Post-Study Work Visas, and investor categories round out the system.
- Official portal
- Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
- Languages
- English, Te Reo Māori, NZ Sign Language
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar
Republic of Singapore
Singapore operates a tiered work-pass system administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The Employment Pass targets professionals earning above the qualifying salary, the S Pass covers mid-level skilled workers, and the ONE Pass and Tech.Pass attract top-tier global talent. EntrePass serves founders. All passes are employer-linked except PEP and ONE Pass.
- Official portal
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
- Languages
- English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
- Currency
- Singapore dollar
How New Zealand and Republic of Singapore differ
| Dimension | New Zealand | Republic of Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 7 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 4 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 3 | 0 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | SMC resident visa -> Permanent Resident Visa after 2 years -> citizenship after 5 years of qualifying resident presence. | Employment Pass -> discretionary PR application after building a Singapore record -> citizenship usually no earlier than PR+2 years. |
| Dominant skilled visa | Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa | Employment Pass (EP) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | NZ$35/hour | SGD 5,600/month |
| Skilled visa processing time | Immigration New Zealand snapshot checked 10 September 2026: 80% of Skilled Migrant Category applications completed within 4 months, with a 9.5-week average wait. | MOM says Employment Pass applications submitted online are processed, or receive an update, within 10 business days. |
| Skilled visa government fees | New Zealand publishes NZD 6,450 as the application cost for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, with no separate EOI submission fee. | A Singapore Employment Pass costs SGD 330 in mandatory MOM government fees for a single applicant, excluding any Multiple Journey Visa charge. |
| Official languages | English, Te Reo Māori, NZ Sign Language | English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar | Singapore dollar |
| Primary regulator | IAA | LawSoc |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 4 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
New Zealand
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Salary minimum
- NZ$35/hour
- Government fees
- New Zealand publishes NZD 6,450 as the application cost for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, with no separate EOI submission fee.
- Processing time
- Immigration New Zealand snapshot checked 10 September 2026: 80% of Skilled Migrant Category applications completed within 4 months, with a 9.5-week average wait.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Republic of Singapore
Employment Pass (EP)
- Salary minimum
- SGD 5,600/month
- Government fees
- A Singapore Employment Pass costs SGD 330 in mandatory MOM government fees for a single applicant, excluding any Multiple Journey Visa charge.
- Processing time
- MOM says Employment Pass applications submitted online are processed, or receive an update, within 10 business days.
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Recent policy activity
Last 6 months. Each entry links to its primary government source.
- 9 September 2026New Zealand
New Zealand to add Build-to-Rent funds as an Active Investor Plus Growth option
Immigration New Zealand announced that eligible Build-to-Rent developments will become an additional Growth-category investment option under the Active Investor Plus Visa in December 2026.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) - 11 August 2026New Zealand
New Zealand moves most visitor-visa applications to enhanced Immigration Online
From 24 September 2026, most new New Zealand visitor-visa applications must use enhanced Immigration Online. Submit covered old-system drafts by 7 October; remaining drafts will be deleted from 8 October.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) - 29 May 2026New Zealand
New Zealand announces a Short-Term Graduate Work Visa and expanded post-study eligibility
Immigration New Zealand announced a new six-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa and expanded Post-Study Work Visa eligibility for qualifying Level 7 graduate diplomas, with applications for the new visa planned from 16 November 2026.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
Routes unique to New Zealand
Routes unique to Republic of Singapore
Visa routes side by side
New Zealand (7)
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Indefinite residence; a Permanent Resident Visa may be available later if its requirements are met.
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 5 years for most jobs; often 3 years for ANZSCO or NOL skill level 4 or 5 jobs.
Working Holiday Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Usually 12 months; some schemes allow longer stays, including up to 23 months for Canadians and 36 months for UK citizens.
Post-Study Work Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 1–3 years depending on qualification level and study location.
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Active Investor Plus Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Resident visa; permanent residence after meeting conditions over 3 years (Growth) or 5 years (Balanced).
Student Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Duration of the study programme plus a short buffer, up to 4 years.
Republic of Singapore (7)
Employment Pass (EP)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 2 years on first issuance; renewable for up to 3 years.
S Pass
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 2 years; renewable.
Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 5 years; renewable.
EntrePass
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 1 year initially; renewable for 2 years subject to meeting business milestones.
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 3 years; non-renewable.
Dependant's Pass (DP)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Tied to sponsor's work pass validity.
Student’s Pass
Sponsor · Conditional PR eligibility · Duration of study programme.
Frequently asked questions
How long does permanent residence typically take in New Zealand vs Republic of Singapore?+
New Zealand: SMC resident visa -> Permanent Resident Visa after 2 years -> citizenship after 5 years of qualifying resident presence.. Republic of Singapore: Employment Pass -> discretionary PR application after building a Singapore record -> citizenship usually no earlier than PR+2 years.. Both timelines are route-dependent — see each country’s settlement page for the breakdown per visa.
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, New Zealand or Republic of Singapore?+
New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa requires a salary of at least NZ$35/hour; Republic of Singapore’s Employment Pass (EP) requires SGD 5,600/month. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Which immigration system has changed more recently, New Zealand or Republic of Singapore?+
In the last 6 months: 3 logged policy changes for New Zealand, 0 for Republic of Singapore. See the recent-policy section above for the details, each linked to its primary source.
Does New Zealand or Republic of Singapore have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
New Zealand has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 4 for Republic of Singapore. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.
Is the main skilled visa cheaper in New Zealand or Republic of Singapore?+
Comparing the dominant skilled route in each country: New Zealand publishes NZD 6,450 as the application cost for the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, with no separate EOI submission fee. By contrast, A Singapore Employment Pass costs SGD 330 in mandatory MOM government fees for a single applicant, excluding any Multiple Journey Visa charge. Those are government fees only and exclude relocation, qualification recognition, and living costs — open each fee page for the itemised breakdown.
Cite or reuse this dataset
This comparison is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the page for the compiled head-to-head table and use the country-comparisons JSON endpoint to retrieve the indexed pair, destination profiles and underlying source datasets.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "New Zealand vs Republic of Singapore immigration comparison", https://visaatlas.org/compare/new-zealand/vs/singapore. Last verified 9 September 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/country-comparisons