An interim visa allows a foreign national to remain in New Zealand lawfully, while they have a new temporary visa application processed.
7 February 2011.
No. No one has the right to apply for an interim visa. If you hold a temporary visa and have applied for another temporary visa (of certain types), we will make an assessment for an interim visa shortly before the expiry of your current visa.
In order to grant a temporary visa, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) needs to assess a wide range of criteria. This can sometimes take longer than the time left before the visa expires.
No. There is no fee charged for interim visas.
People may be assessed for an interim visa if they:
Applicants for the following will not be eligible for an interim visa:
No. If you do not hold a valid temporary visa, you will not be eligible for an interim visa. You may be in New Zealand unlawfully. If you are unlawful then you will need to leave New Zealand immediately.
No. In order to be assessed for an interim visa, a temporary visa application must have been accepted for processing by INZ. People whose applications are returned without being assessed will not be eligible for an interim visa.
Interim visas are valid for six months from the day after the person’s previous temporary entry class visa expired, or until a decision is made on their temporary visa application, or until they depart from New Zealand – whichever is earlier.
The conditions of an interim visa depend on the type of visa the person held previously and the type of visa they are applying for. The table below shows the different combinations:
Note: Open work conditions are conditions that allow work in any occupation, for any employer, in any location in New Zealand.
Open work visas include several types of applications: asylum seeker, working holiday maker, graduate job search, partnership, partner of a worker, partner of a student, and victim of domestic violence.
Open student conditions are conditions that allow study in any course, at any educational institute, in any location in New Zealand.
This depends on the visa you hold and the visa you are applying for. Please refer to the table above for more information.
It depends on the ordinary conditions that would be granted on your interim visa, the type of visa you hold and the type of visa you apply for. Any variation of conditions you hold on your current temporary visa may apply to your interim visa if you are applying for a visa of the same type of visa as the one you currently hold. However, generally in cases where an interim visa is granted with visitor conditions, any variation of conditions will not apply to the interim visa.
For example, if you hold a student visa with a variation of conditions allowing you to work 20 hours per week, and you apply for another student visa, any interim visa granted will have student conditions that allow you to work 20 hours per week.
Or, if you hold a work visa for a specific employer with a variation of conditions to study part time, and you apply for a work visa to work for a different employer from the one you are working for, any interim visa granted will have visitor conditions and your variation of conditions will not apply. You will not be able to continue studying or working on your interim visa.
No. Interim visas do not include travel conditions. This means that if you travel outside New Zealand while on an interim visa, your interim visa will automatically expire.
No. No one can apply for travel conditions on their interim visa.
If you are assessed for an interim visa then you will be sent an email or a letter telling you whether or not you have been granted an interim. If you are granted an interim visa then this email or letter will also detail the conditions of the interim visa. Note that no visa label will be placed in your passport.
You will be sent an email or letter informing you of the outcome of an interim visa assessment close to the date your previous temporary visa expires.
No. If you hold an interim visa, you may not make another application for a visa. However, the application for a temporary visa you have already made will be processed as usual.
No. If you are granted an interim visa while awaiting the outcome of your temporary visa application and no decision is made on that application by the time the interim visa expires (after six months), you will not be granted a second interim visa for the same application. In such a case, you will be considered unlawful and will need to make plans to leave New Zealand immediately.
No. A decision not to grant an interim visa does not affect a person’s temporary visa application. The application will be processed as usual.
No. There is no right of appeal against any interim visa decision.
