Check or change your resident visa conditions

Resident visas have rules about what you can do, including travelling overseas up to a certain date. You can apply to extend this date or to get permanent residence.

Checking your resident visa conditions

Your resident visa comes with conditions on it. Conditions tell you what you can and cannot do on your visa

You can find your visa conditions:

  • in your eVisa
  • on the visa label in your passport, if you have a label
  • in the letter we sent you when we gave you the visa
  • online using the Visa Verification Service.

The Visa Verification Service

With a resident visa, the only condition you can change is your 'Expiry date travel' condition. 

Travelling on a resident visa

Having a resident visa compared with a Permanent Resident Visa

Your resident visa only allows you to leave and return to New Zealand until a certain date, stated on your visa as the 'Expiry date travel'. If you leave New Zealand, or are outside of New Zealand, after this date, your resident visa will expire. You will not be able to return to New Zealand on that visa.

You can apply to extend your travel conditions or apply for a Permanent Resident Visa instead.

A Permanent Resident Visa lets you leave and return to New Zealand indefinitely, because there are no conditions.

Permanent Resident Visa

If your travel conditions are expiring

If you want to travel outside New Zealand and your travel conditions have expired, or will expire soon, you may be able to:

  • extend your resident visa travel conditions, or
  • apply for a Permanent Resident Visa so you can travel in and out of New Zealand indefinitely.

If you are outside New Zealand with expired travel conditions

If you leave New Zealand with expired travel conditions, or they expire while you are outside of New Zealand:

  • your resident visa will expire, and
  • you cannot return to New Zealand and continue your residence.

If you have been outside of New Zealand for a short time, you may still be able to return as a resident by applying for a:

  • Permanent Resident Visa, or
  • second resident visa.

Permanent Resident Visa

Second or Subsequent Resident Visa

Keep your visa in a current passport when travelling

When you travel in and out of New Zealand, make sure you have a current passport that has your:

  • resident visa with valid travel conditions
  • Permanent Resident Visa, or
  • Returning Residents Visa (given before 29 November 2010).

If you get a new passport, you will need to transfer your visa into your new passport before you travel.

Transferring your visa to a new passport

Who can apply to extend their travel conditions

You can apply to extend your travel conditions before you travel out of New Zealand if you:

  • plan to stay on a resident visa for more than 2 years, or
  • have applied for a Permanent Resident Visa after 2 years on a resident visa, but we have not approved your application yet.

Depending on your situation, you can apply to extend your multiple entry travel condition for 1 or 2 years. 

If we cannot extend the condition for 1 or 2 years, we may give you an extension for 14 days.

How to apply to extend your travel condition

You can apply online or on paper to extend the travel conditions of your resident visa.

  1. 1

    Step 1: Gather your documents

    You will need to provide:

    • a copy of your passport — if you apply on paper, you can provide a certified copy, but it can prevent delays if you provide the original
    • 1 acceptable photo
    • any documents or evidence that support your application.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Submit your application and pay the fee

    Applying online

    To apply online, log in to your account, or set up an account if you do not have one already.

    Under 'Your situation' choose the 'Resident visa' option, then follow the questions to match your situation.

    You can then fill in your application, upload your documents and pay the applicable fees.

    Apply online 

    Applying on paper

    Complete the application form and attach all supporting documents.

    Application for a Variation of Conditions or a Variation of Travel Conditions (INZ 1020) PDF 537KB

    Use the tool on the page 'Fees, decisions times and where to apply' to find out how much it costs to apply for a variation of conditions, where to submit your application, and how long a decision will take.

    Fees, decision times and where to apply 

    Note

    Type in 'variation of travel' to start your search when using the tool.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Wait for our decision

    We will let you know when we make a decision. 

    How long it takes to process an application

    The changes to your visa do not start until we approve your application and give you an updated eVisa.