How long can I stay?

The maximum stay under a visitor visa is nine months. As visa-free conditions only last for three months (or six if you are from the United Kingdom), you will need a visa for any longer stay.

We usually only allow visitors to stay for nine months in an 18-month period. To work this out, we look at the last day that you intend to be in New Zealand (eg 1 July 2009), and count back 18 months from there (eg 1 January 2008). When you apply for a visa or permit in one of our branches, we make sure that in that 18-month period (eg 1 January 2008 – 1 July 2009) you will not be spending more than nine months in New Zealand.

Arriving at the border visa-free

If you are a visa-free visitor you apply for a permit at the border by filling in your arrival card. You will be allowed to stay for three months (or six months if from the United Kingdom) on this visit, and no more than six months in any 12-month period. So, we will look at what date your three-month visit (or six-month visit) will end (eg 1 July 2009), and count back 12 months from there (eg 1 July 2008). We then make sure that in that 12-month period (eg 1 July 2008 – 1 July 2009) you will not be spending more than six months in New Zealand. 

For more information on the requirements for visiting New Zealand please visit our section called Visitors to New Zealand.