Genuine intentions to visit, study or work in New Zealand

When you travel to New Zealand on a temporary visa, your intentions must be genuine. This means that you:

• plan to stay in New Zealand temporarily
• are coming for the reason you gave in your visa application or New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD)
• will comply with the conditions of your visa
• will not stay in New Zealand without a valid visa, and
• have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.

We use all the information we have, including the information you give us in your application, to confirm that you have genuine intentions.

Visitor visas

If you are travelling on a visitor visa or visiting from a , your reasons for coming to New Zealand can include, but are not limited to:

• a holiday
• staying with family and friends
• playing amateur sport
• getting married.

If you have a visitor visa for a specific reason, you must be coming to New Zealand for that reason. For example, if you have a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, your reason for visiting must be getting medical treatment.

Student visas

If you are travelling on a student visa, you must have genuine intentions to study in New Zealand. 

You can only work if the conditions of your student visa allow you to.

Work visas

If you are travelling to New Zealand to work, you must have a visa that will allow you to.

Unless your visa allows you to work in any job, you must plan to work in the job, for the employer, and in the location specified in your visa.

You may be asked to provide evidence of your genuine intentions:

• when you apply for a visa
• when we process your visa application
• before you board your flight or cruise
• when you arrive in New Zealand.

Here are some examples of evidence to show that you have genuine intentions in coming to New Zealand.

Evidence of your travel history

To show your travel history, you could show a copy of your current and recent passports, including:

• the photo page, and
• all pages with visa records, and entry and exit stamps.

If you live in a different country to your citizenship

If you live in a country that is not your country of citizenship, provide a copy of the visa allowing you to live in that country.

Declined visa applications

If you have ever had a visa application declined by any other country, provide:

• a copy of the letter from that country's immigration authority declining your application, or
• a letter explaining why your application was not successful, if the original letter is not available.

Evidence you are visiting family or friends

If you plan to visit family or friends in New Zealand, provide their:

• names
• contact addresses and phone numbers, and
• their New Zealand visa or citizenship status.

Evidence of your travel plans

Evidence of your travel plans while in New Zealand could include copies of:

• hotel and accommodation bookings
• attraction bookings
• transportation bookings.

You may also need to show that you have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay. This evidence could include:

• a ticket for travel out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter
• documents such as bank or credit card statements that show you, or your sponsor, have enough money to buy a ticket.

Evidence of your study plans

If you are applying for a student visa, you could provide evidence that you have:

• been offered a place in an approved programme of study with a New Zealand education provider, or confirmation of enrolment
• paid, or will pay, your tuition fees.

If you do not need to pay tuition fees, or if you can pay by instalment — where you make smaller payments over a period of time — you must provide confirmation from your education provider.

You can also write a cover letter or statement of purpose explaining why you want to study in New Zealand. This will help us decide if you are a genuine student. If you are using an education agent or licensed immigration adviser, they cannot write the letter for you.

Examples of things you could write about in your letter or statement include:

• what your study plans are and why you have chosen this course
• what you want to do after you finish studying, for example applying for a different visa or returning to your home country
• how you are paying for your study
• any gaps in your recent education or work history.

If you plan to apply for another visa — for example, a work visa — after you finish your studies, include this in your cover letter or statement of purpose.

Evidence of your work plans

To show that you have genuine intentions to work, you will in most cases need to provide:

• a written offer of employment
• a copy of your qualifications
• evidence of your occupational status or registration
• other information about the work you will be doing. 

Evidence you have enough money

If your visa requires you to have enough money to live on during your stay, you will need to provide evidence. This could include:

• bank statements or credit card statements
• bank drafts or traveller's cheques
• proof of accommodation pre-payment, such as hotel pre-paid vouchers or receipts
• a statement from a sponsor or guarantor.

Evidence of your home country circumstances

Depending on your situation, you may need to provide:

• evidence of your employment in your home country — for example: 
  
  • a letter from your employer approving your leave and confirming you will return to work, and 
  • financial evidence of your employment
• evidence showing you are a student in your home country — such as a letter or student identity card from your school or education provider
  evidence of your relationships with close relatives in your home country
• evidence of assets you own in your home country — such as your home or a business
• a retirement certificate or evidence you receive a pension.

We consider each application based on the information and evidence we receive. If you do not provide enough evidence, it may take us longer to process your application, or we may decline your application.

You must provide genuine evidence. If you or your agent provide evidence that is false or misleading, we may also decline your application.

False, misleading or withheld information in visa applications

Check the translation requirements for the visa you are applying for. All non-English documents must be translated when you apply for visitor and resident visas.

Providing English translations of supporting documents

If you are applying online, make sure your evidence is in an acceptable file format.

File formats for uploading documents and photograph

To decide if your intentions are genuine, we look at:

• information and evidence you provide with your visa application
• information you provide in your New Zealand Traveller Declaration when you arrive
• any information we have about your personal circumstances
• any information we have about your previous applications.

Evidence you provide with your application

We look at evidence you provide with your application to check that it:

• shows you meet all the criteria for the visa you are applying for, and
• supports your reasons for spending time in New Zealand.

Your personal circumstances

When we consider information about your personal circumstances, we look at:

• the strength of family relationships you may have in your home country or in New Zealand
• any personal, financial, work or other commitments you may have in your home country or New Zealand
• any circumstances showing you may not be able to return to your home country.

Your previous applications

We also look at information from your previous applications and travel to New Zealand. This can show us if you have:

• stayed in New Zealand after your visa expired
• breached your visa conditions
• have a family member who is in New Zealand without a visa.

We might not give you a visa or allow you to enter New Zealand if we:

• do not believe your intentions are genuine
• believe you gave false or misleading information or withheld relevant information.

What might stop you from being allowed to enter New Zealand