Changing the conditions of a visitor visa
Visitor visas come with conditions or rules about studying, working or travelling in and out of New Zealand. Find out if you can change these conditions.
Check your visa conditions
Conditions on your visa tell you what you are allowed to do while you are on the visa.
If you applied for your visitor visa before you came to New Zealand, the conditions of your visa are recorded in your eVisa, on the visa label in your passport, or explained to you in a letter we sent you.
Find out your conditions if you come to New Zealand on a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa — that is, if you did not apply for your visa before you arrived here.
Visa Waiver Visitor Visa conditions
Conditions you can change
On a visitor visa you can apply for a 'variation of conditions' if you want to:
- study part-time for longer than 3 months
- do seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture industries, such as fruit picking
- work up to 20 hours per week, if you are a dependent child included in a 2021 Resident Visa application, or
- change how often you can travel to another country and return to New Zealand before your visa expires.
If you change the conditions of your visa, it will still expire on the same date. If you want to stay longer you need to apply for a new visa.
Study for more than 3 months
You can study part-time for up to 3 months without varying your visitor visa.
If you want to study part-time for more than 3 months in 1 course or consecutive courses, you can apply for a variation of conditions.
We consider these applications only on a case-by-case basis.
Change the conditions of your visa
If you want to study full-time, apply for a student visa.
Seasonal work
Seasonal work includes planting, maintaining, harvesting and picking crops in the horticulture and viticulture industries — that is, food, plants and wine industries.
You can apply for a variation of conditions to do seasonal work if the Ministry of Social Development declares a seasonal labour shortage in a region of New Zealand. Seasonal labour shortages are usually in the autumn — New Zealand's harvest season. They are announced in our News and notifications section.
The maximum time you can work is 6 weeks. You can only apply for a variation of conditions once on each visit to New Zealand.
Work up to 20 hours per week
You can apply for a variation of conditions to work up to 20 hours per week if you:
- are included in a 2021 Resident Visa application as a dependent child
- are 18 years or older, and
- have left school.
Travel to another country and return to New Zealand
Your visitor visa expires when you leave New Zealand.
If you need to travel in and out of New Zealand more than once, you must apply for multiple entry travel conditions. Explain why you need these conditions when you apply.
If you are a student's legal guardian
If you hold a Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa, you can apply for a variation of conditions to work part-time, study or go home in an emergency.
How to apply for a variation of conditions
If you applied for a visitor visa online you can normally apply for a variation of conditions online – the approval letter we sent you will tell you if you can apply online and how to apply.
Most people need to apply for a variation of conditions using the paper form
Apply using the paper form
- Read the form to find out about the application process and what to include.
- Download, print and complete the application form for a variation of conditions.
- Send in your application form, the fee and any supporting documents or evidence needed for your application.
Application for a Variation of Conditions or a Variation of Travel Conditions (INZ 1020) PDF 424KB
Where to send the form
If you are in New Zealand, send your paper application either by post or courier.
For postal delivery only:
Immigration New Zealand
PO Box 76895
Manukau 2241
Auckland
For courier delivery only:
Immigration New Zealand
DX Box: EP71514
20 Fairfax Avenue
Penrose
Auckland 1061
If you are not in New Zealand, send your paper application to your nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC).
Use our online tool to find your nearest VAC. It also tells you the cost and how long it normally takes us to make a decision.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
Assessing your application
Before we approve your application we check that:
- the new conditions you are asking for align with the reason your visa was originally granted
- you have met the conditions of your current visa, and
- you still have a genuine intention to visit New Zealand.