V2.5 Length of permitted stay

V2.5.1 General visitors

1. Visitors to New Zealand are limited to a maximum stay on a visitor visa of nine months unless they:
   1. are genuine tourists (see V2.5.10) who require no more than an additional three months to complete their itinerary; or
   2. are applying for a visitor visa under a special category of visitor visa instructions which allows a longer stay in New Zealand; or
   3. cannot leave New Zealand because of circumstances beyond their control; or
   4. have lodged a first-time application for residence that has been accepted for consideration, and a decision is unlikely during the currency of their existing visa.

      Note: Such applicants may apply for and be granted a further three-month visa, allowing a maximum stay of 12 months. If a decision has not been made on the residence application while the further visa is current, the applicant must leave New Zealand when it expires, regardless of the status of the application or any appeals.

2. A visitor visa should allow the applicant to stay in New Zealand for a total of no more than nine months in the 18-month period before the proposed expiry date of the visa.
3. Despite (b) above, an applicant who has been in New Zealand for 12 months on the basis of one of the exemptions at V2.5.1(a) above, must remain outside New Zealand for 12 months before a further application for a visitor visa may be approved.
4. Despite (b) above, a visitor visa granted at the border to a person who does not need a visa for travel to New Zealand should allow the applicant to stay in New Zealand for a total of no more than six months in the 12-month period before the proposed expiry date of the visa (see E2.1).
5. Despite (a), (b) and (c) above, a visa up to six months may be granted to an applicant provided they:
   1. are in New Zealand; and
   2. hold a current visa; and
   3. submit their application before 30 June 2021; and
   4. meet all other visitor visa requirements including health (A4.5), character (A5), funds and onward travel (V2.20 and V2.25)

V2.5.5 Special categories of visitors

1. The length of stay permitted under special categories of visitors is set out in V3.
2. Where a length of stay is not specified in V3, the provision at V2.5.1 applies.

V2.5.10 Definition of 'genuine tourist'

For the purposes of the provision on length of permitted stay at V2.5.1(a)(i) above, a genuine tourist is a visitor to New Zealand who:

1. is not working and has not worked in New Zealand; and
2. has not had a New Zealand student visa; and
3. is not sponsored; and
4. has sufficient funds for maintenance and accommodation. (see V2.20).

Effective 18/02/2021