Travel

You must come to New Zealand within 12 months of the date your visa is granted.

After you arrive in New Zealand, you can come and go from New Zealand as many times as you like before your visa expires.

Your visa is valid from:

the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand
the date your visa is granted, if you are already in New Zealand.

Entry permission

You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing an arrival card, which you are given on the way to New Zealand.

Arriving in New Zealand

You can be refused entry permission if:

you do not meet our character requirements
your circumstances have changed since you were granted a visa
you refuse to let us take your photo or to provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan, if asked for them
you are unable to provide evidence of any onward travel or funds required by the conditions of your visa.

If you are refused entry to New Zealand

Before you travel to New Zealand

Onward travel

You must have either:

a travel ticket out of New Zealand
enough money to pay for a travel ticket out of New Zealand, in addition to your living costs.

We may ask to see evidence of your onward travel arrangements when you arrive in New Zealand.

Funds

You must have at least NZD $7,000 to live on while you’re in New Zealand.

We may ask to see evidence of your funds when you arrive in New Zealand.

Medical insurance

You must maintain your medical insurance while in New Zealand.

We may ask to see evidence you’re insured when you arrive in New Zealand.

Work

You can work in any employment you like, as long as:

you do not work for more than 3 months for any one employer
you do not work for more than 12 months in total
you do not get a permanent job
the work you do is legal
you do not provide commercial sexual services
you do not run or invest in a business that provides commercial sexual services.

You don’t need a job offer.

Everyone who has a job in New Zealand pays tax on what they earn. You’ll need a New Zealand bank account and IRD number to pay tax. You can apply for an IRD number online through Inland Revenue.

Apply online for an IRD number

Study

You can do some study or training, as long as it’s not for more than 6 months of your stay.

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Conditions