Interim Visa

Visa details

This visa is usually granted automatically so you can stay in New Zealand if your visa expires while we assess your application for another temporary visa.

Length of stay
Up to

6 months

Cost

NZD $0

Processing time
Granted when previous
previous visa expires
With this visa you can
  • Stay in New Zealand while we assess your application for another visa.
  • Depending on your situation, you may be able to continue working or studying too.
Things to note
  • You can't apply for an interim visa, it will be granted automatically if you’re eligible.
  • Your interim visa will be granted electronically. There won’t be a physical visa label in your passport.
  • Your interim visa will start when your current visa expires.
  • We only grant interim visas to people who have applied for temporary visas.
  • If you are applying for a 2021 Resident Visa and your current visa expires in the next 7 days, we will process a 2021 Interim Visa for you.
    2021 Interim Visa

Who can apply

The criteria and evidence below will provide you with the information you need to meet the requirements of this visa.

View All Evidence

Current temporary visa

You must have a current work, student or visitor visa

We’ll use our records to check you have a current visa.

New visa application

You must have applied for another work, student or visitor visa

We must receive your new visa application and have accepted it for processing before your current visa expires. For us to accept it for processing, you must make sure you include all the documents we ask for with your application.

Tips

If we don’t receive your completed visa application before your visa expires, you won’t be eligible for an interim visa.

If you’ve applied for a resident visa, and you think your visa may expire before we make a decision about your residence application, you should apply for a temporary visa too. That way you’ll be eligible for an interim visa if you need one.

Location

You must be in New Zealand

We will check our records to confirm you are in New Zealand.

Process and cost

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.

1
Apply for a temporary visa

You apply for a work, student or visitor visa.

We receive your complete application before your current visa expires.

2
We grant you an interim visa

If your previous visa expires before we make a decision on your next application and you are in New Zealand, we will normally grant you an interim visa.

We will email you a couple of days before your visa expires to tell you we've granted an Interim Visa.

If you don't receive an email about an interim visa, check your spam folder before contacting us.

Your Interim Visa will be granted electronically, so there will be no physical visa label in your passport. There is no need to send us your passport.

Immigration costs

Application cost – There is no fee.

Timeframes - Automatically
Granted when previous previous visa expires

An interim visa will be granted automatically and will begin when your previous temporary visa expires.

3
Your previous visa expires

Your previous visa expires before we grant you a new visa and your Interim Visa begins.

Your interim visa will start the day your current visa expires and will expire after 6 months if no decision is made in this time. If you leave New Zealand your Interim Visa will expire.

Your interim visas conditions will depend on the visa you previously held and the new visa you have applied for.

Interim Visa conditions

4
We make a decision about your new visa application

If we approve your new visa application, your new visa will start immediately and replace your interim visa.

If we decline your new visa application, your interim visa will expire 21 days after your application is declined.

Conditions

These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.

Travel

If you leave New Zealand, your interim visa will expire.

No new visa applications

You can’t apply for another visa while in New Zealand on an interim visa.

Notes

If you want to apply for a different visa from the one you’ve already applied for, you can only apply for it:

  • after we’ve made a decision about the application we’ve accepted for processing
  • if you still hold a valid visa.

Work or Study

You can only work or study if allowed by the conditions of your interim visa.

Your interim visa conditions will depend on the kind of visa you had when you were granted your interim visa and the kind of visa you applied for.

Interim Visa Conditions

Visa expiry

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.

Your interim visa will expire:

  • if we approve your application and grant you a visa, or
  • 21 days after your application is declined, or withdrawn, or
  • after 6 months, if no decision has been made in 6 months.
Notes

If your visa expires and you are not granted an interim visa, you must leave New Zealand.

If your interim visa expires and you haven’t been granted a new visa, you must leave New Zealand