Interim visa conditions
The conditions on an Interim Visa — that is, what you can do on that visa — depend on the type of visa you had before and the type of visa you are applying for next.
- If you have a work or visitor visa the 2021 Interim Visa will let you stay in New Zealand with your current visa conditions.
- If you have a student visa you will get open student visa conditions, allowing you to study any programme at any educational institute at any location.
- a new visitor visa, or
- a work visa.
- a Visitor Visa, or
- a work visa.
- any course
- at any education provider
- in any New Zealand location.
- any course
- at any education provider
- in any New Zealand location.
- want to work for a different employer, in a different job or location, or
- are applying for an open work visa.
- the same student visa
- the same work visa, or
- a Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa.
If your visa is due to expire while you are waiting for the outcome of an AEWV application, and you have a current AEWV, work visa, or a student visa that allows you to work during term time, you will automatically get an Interim Visa with the same work rights as the AEWV you are applying for.
If you are applying for an AEWV and have any other type of visa, for example, a Visitor Visa, or student visa that does not allow you to work during term time, then your Interim Visa will not allow you to work.
Note
The time you spend on an Interim Visa with work rights may count towards the total time you can stay - or maximum continuous stay - it depends on the visa you had when you applied for the AEWV.
For more information:
If you apply for a Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa from 9 October 2023 under the new criteria and you do not apply for another type of temporary visa, we will process a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa for you. It will come into effect the day after your current visa expires. You do not need to apply.
The conditions of your Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa will depend on the visa you currently have. However, your visa conditions may vary depending on your situation.
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.
Your Interim Visa has the same conditions as a visitor visa if you are applying for:
Example
You have a Visitor Visa and have applied for a work visa based on your partnership with a New Zealand resident. Your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as your Visitor Visa. You cannot work until you have a work visa.
If you are applying for a student visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a student visa with open conditions.
Note
Holding this Interim Visa has does not mean you are eligible for funded education. You must meet the definition of a domestic student to be eligible for funded education. Otherwise you need to pay fees as an international student.
Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand – Education in New Zealand
Example
You had a Visitor Visa and are applying for a student visa to study a diploma in business for Good College in Auckland. Your Interim Visa gives you the same conditions as an open student visa. You can start studying at Good College while you wait for your student visa application to be completed.
Your Interim Visa has the same conditions as a visitor visa if you are applying for:
If you are applying for another student visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a student visa with open conditions.
With open conditions you can study:
Note
Holding this Interim Visa has does not mean you are eligible for funded education. You must meet the definition of a domestic student to be eligible for funded education. Otherwise, you need to pay fees as an international student.
Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand – Education in New Zealand
If you held work conditions
If you held work conditions with your expired student visa and are applying for another student visa, then your work conditions will be the same for this Interim Visa.
If you are applying for a Visitor Visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa.
If you are applying for a student visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a student visa with open conditions.
With open conditions you can study:
Note
Holding this Interim Visa has does not mean you are eligible for funded education. You must meet the definition of a domestic student to be eligible for funded education. Otherwise, you need to pay fees as an international student.
Definition of a domestic student in New Zealand – Education in New Zealand
If you are applying for a new work visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa if you:
If you are applying for a Visitor Visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa.
If you are applying for a new work visa and will stay in the same job and location, and work for the same employer, the conditions on your Interim Visa will be the same as your current work visa.
Examples
Changing location to work for a different employer
You had an Accredited Employer Work Visa to work as dental assistant for Nice Smile Dentists in Hamilton. You applied for a variation of conditions, and we approved it to allow you to work as a dental assistant for another employer, Good Teeth Dentists in Hamilton. You are now applying for a new Accredited Employer Work Visa to continue working as a dental assistant for your new employer, Good Teeth Dentists in Hamilton.
Your Interim Visa conditions are Work (employer specific — same employer, position and location). You can keep working as a Dental Assistant for Good Teeth Dentists in Hamilton while we assess your new visa application.
Changing location to work for a different employer
You had an Accredited Employer Work Visa to work as dental assistant for Nice Smile Dentists in Hamilton. You applied for a variation of conditions, and we approved it to allow you to work as a dental assistant for another employer, Good Teeth Dentists in Hamilton. You are now applying for a new Accredited Employer Work Visa to continue working as a dental assistant for your new employer, Good Teeth Dentists in Hamilton.
Your Interim Visa conditions are Work (employer specific — same employer, position and location). You can keep working as a Dental Assistant for Good Teeth Dentists in Hamilton while we assess your new visa application.
Applying for an open work visa
You have an Accredited Employer Work Visa that lets you work as a pattern-maker for Good Tailors in Christchurch. You have applied for an open work visa based on your partnership with your wife who holds a work visa. Your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa. You are not allowed to work until we approve your application for a new work visa.be the same as your current work visa.
If you are applying for the same type of open work visa as you already have, your Interim Visa conditions will be the same as your current visa.
If you are applying for another work visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa if you apply for:
a different type of open work visa, or
an employer-specific work visa.
If you are applying for a Visitor Visa, your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa.
If you are applying for the same visa you already have, your Interim Visa conditions will be the same as your current visa.
Your Interim Visa will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa if you apply for any other type of temporary visa to work, study or stay as a visitor.
If you varied the conditions of your last visa the same conditions will apply to your Interim Visa if you are applying for: