Apply for this visa if you have a critical purpose for coming to New Zealand and we have invited you to apply for a visa. With this visa you can travel to New Zealand even though the border is currently closed.
Travel to New Zealand even though the border is closed.
Things to note
To apply for this visa you must first have an invitation from us to apply on the basis that you have a critical purpose to travel here. To get an invitation to apply, you must fill in the Request for travel to New Zealand form. Request for travel to New Zealand
If you already have a visa, you can also use this form to request an invitation to vary the conditions of your visa to let you travel for a critical purpose.
Apply for this visa if you have a critical purpose for coming to New Zealand and we have invited you to apply for a visa. With this visa you can travel to New Zealand even though the border is currently closed.
If you submit a paper application, provide a certified copy of your passport.
If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you've applied.
You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.
If you are aged 17 or older and plan to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months (including any time you have already spent in New Zealand), you must provide police certificates from:
any country you are a citizen of
any country you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.
You do not need to provide police certificates if:
you have provided them to us with an earlier visa application, and
You must meet one of the critical purpose criteria set by the government:
partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident without a relationship-based visa
critical health worker
other critical worker
citizen of Samoa and Tonga who have been asked by their government to travel here, and this travel has been approved by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tradepartner or dependent child of a New Zealand work or student visa holder
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.
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.
You may be asked for evidence you have enough funds to support yourself when you check in or arrive in New Zealand.
Study
You may study for up to 3 months in any 12 month period.
School-aged children can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year. Children studying for more than 2 weeks must attend a school that is signatory to the ‘Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students’.
