Visa extensions and visa conditions
Information on visa extensions, new visa expiry dates, and changes to visa conditions.
Extensions issued August 2022
Working Holiday Visas
If you were in New Zealand on 26 August 2022 and your Working Holiday Visa has an expiry date between 26 August 2022 and 31 May 2023, your visa has been extended by 6 months.
We will email people who receive extensions directly, by 12 September 2022.
You will be able to view your new visa expiry date through our Visa Verification Service by 31 October 2022.
Extensions issued May 2022
If you were in New Zealand on 9 May and your work or work to residence visa expires between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (dates inclusive) you may have been granted a:
- new open work visa, or
- six month extension of your work to residence visa.
If you qualify for one of these, you don’t need do anything and you don’t need to pay a fee. Your extension will be granted automatically.
INZ is in the process of updating its visa records and will email people who receive visas or extensions directly. New expiry dates can be checked on your visa record from 25 May. Visas or extensions are still valid before records are updated.
New open work visas
On 9 May 2022, open work visas were granted to onshore holders of the following work visas expiring between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (inclusive):
- Essential Skills Work Visa
- Post Study Work Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
The new open work visas:
- are valid from 9 May 2022 until two years from the date of expiry of the previous visa
- allow the holder to work for any employer anywhere in New Zealand, and
- allow the holder to leave and re-enter New Zealand.
Family
New visas have also been granted to partners and dependent children of work visa holders granted these new two-year visas. Visas granted to partners and dependent children will also expire two years after the date of their current visa.
To be eligible your family must have been in New Zealand on 9 May 2022 and have held a visa:
- based on their relationship to you (the open work visa holder)
- that expires between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (inclusive).
Visa conditions remain the same.
Work to residence visa extensions
On 9 May 2022, the following types of work to residence visas expiring between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (inclusive) were extended by 6 months:
- Talent (Accredited Employers)
- Talent (Arts, Culture and Sports)
- Long Term Skill Shortage List
- Skilled Migrant Job Search
- South Island Contribution.
Family
Visas expiring between 9 May and 31 December 2022 (inclusive) held by partners and dependent children were also extended by six months. Family must hold a visa based on their relationship and have been in New Zealand on 9 May 2022.