How long you can stay on a Specific Purpose Work Visa
How long you can stay in New Zealand depends on how long you need to be here to complete your specific purpose or event.
Specific purpose or event
You can apply for a Specific Purpose Work Visa if you are coming to New Zealand for a specific purpose or event.
Short-term secondments
If you are a senior or specialist business person on a short-term secondment you can stay for up to 12 months.
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if it is necessary to complete your specific purpose or event.
Business people being transferred
If you are a business person being transferred from one part of a multinational company to another in New Zealand you can stay for up to 3 years.
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if it is necessary to complete your specific purpose or event.
Business people in New Zealand for more than 3 months
If you are a business person wanting to to do business activities who needs to stay in New Zealand for more than 3 months you can stay for up to 12 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
Dance and music examiners
If you are a dance and music examiner you can stay for the time needed to conduct the exams – not usually more than 6 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
Referees or judges
If you are a referee or judge and in New Zealand to referee or judge a sports event, show, display or exhibition you can stay for the length of your engagement – not usually more than 6 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
Philippines nurses seeking occupational registration
If you are a Philippines nurse seeking occupational registration you can stay up to 3 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
People working in the entertainment industry
If you are an entertainer, performing artist, film and video production crew, or associated support personnel you can apply for an Entertainers Work Visa and stay for the period of your engagement
You can apply for another Entertainers Work Visa if it is necessary to complete your work.
Sports players and professional sports coaches
Professional players and coaches at a national or regional level
If you are a professional sports player and or professional coach employed at a national or regional level, you can stay up to 36 months.
If you currently hold an SPEV, you can apply for another and stay for up to 36 months (inclusive of the duration of your initial SPEV).
Professional players and coaches below national or regional level
If you are a sports player and or professional coach employed below national or regional level, you can stay up to 12 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
Installers or servicers of specialised machinery or equipment supplied by an overseas company
If you install and service specialised machinery or equipment you can stay for up to 3 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
Principal applicants applying for an Entrepreneur Residence Visa
If you are a principal applicant for residence under the Entrepreneur Residence Visa Category and you currently hold a valid visa granted under the Entrepreneur Work Visa Category or Long Term Business Visa Category you can stay for up to 9 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa you cannot apply for another one.
Principal applicants investigating investment opportunities
If you are an investor who has applied for residence and want to investigate investment opportunities you can stay for 12 months.
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if it is necessary to complete your specific purpose or event.
Contractual services suppliers
If you are a contractual services supplier, you can stay for the length of your contract, up to 12 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one to supply the same service for the same employer. You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa to supply the same service to a different business in New Zealand.
Independent professionals
If you are an independent professional, you can stay for up to 12 months.
If you currently hold a Specific Purpose Work Visa, you cannot apply for another one to supply the same service for the same employer. You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa to supply the same service to a different business in New Zealand.
People with an AEWV working in, or progressing into, a new NOL role between 8 September and 2 November
You can stay for the length of time remaining for your Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) maximum continuous stay.
Maximum continuous stay is the total time you can spend on 1 or more AEWVs before you must spend time outside New Zealand. Time spent on a SPWV for this purpose counts towards how long you can stay on an AEWV.
For example, you had a 3-year AEWV for an ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5 job. The total time you can stay on a SPWV and work in a new National Occupation List (NOL) skill level 1 to 3 role is 2 years. This is because the maximum continuous stay for a job we recognise at skill level 1 to 3 is 5 years.
For more information about maximum continuous stay and how long you can stay:
How long you can stay on an AEWV
You cannot apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa for this purpose.
Any other specific purpose or event
If you need to come to New Zealand for any other specific event or purpose you can stay for the time it takes to carry your specific purpose or event — not usually more than 6 months.
You can apply for another Specific Purpose Work Visa if it is necessary to complete your specific purpose or event.