Visitor Visa — New Zealand

The New Zealand Visitor Visa allows you to travel to New Zealand for tourism, family visits, business meetings, or short-term study.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) reviews and decides all applications.

You apply using the required INZ forms and must match your visit to an approved purpose.

What the visa permits

The Visitor Visa allows you to enter New Zealand for temporary, non-work purposes.

You may travel for leisure, visit family or friends, attend business meetings, or undertake short-term study.

This visa does not function as a work visa.

If you intend to work, you must apply for a work category such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or the Working Holiday Visa, depending on your situation.

If you plan to study beyond a short-term period, you need a Student Visa.

If you are only passing through New Zealand on your way to another country, you may require a Transit Visa instead.

If you are acting as a Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa, you must apply under the appropriate visitor category for that purpose.

You typically apply using:

• Form INZ 1015 (Visitor Visa application form)
• Form INZ 1000 (if required by INZ for your circumstances)

INZ assesses your application based on the purpose you declare and the documents you provide.

Typical purposes of visit

You may apply for this visa if your trip falls into one of these categories:

• Tourism — holidays, sightseeing, and general travel
• Visiting family or friends — temporary private visits
• Business meetings — short-term meetings or similar activities
• Short-term study — limited study that fits within visitor conditions

Your stated purpose must align with what the Visitor Visa allows.

If your primary reason for travel involves employment or long-term study, you must choose the correct visa category instead.

INZ expects your application to clearly state:

1. Why you are traveling

2. How long you plan to stay

3. That your activities match visitor conditions

If your purpose changes after arrival, you must ensure you remain compliant with your visa conditions.

Length of permitted stay (summary)

The Visitor Visa permits a stay of up to 9 months.

Your approved stay length depends on what INZ grants in your visa decision.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires unless you obtain a further visa.

You cannot remain in New Zealand beyond the period granted on your visa.

If you need to stay longer or change your purpose, you must apply for the appropriate visa through INZ before your current visa expires.

You apply for a New Zealand Visitor Visa directly with Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

The process requires you to complete the correct form, upload supporting documents, pay the required fee in NZD, and monitor your application through your online account.

Start your application (online)

You must apply online through your INZ account.

If you do not have an account, create one before starting the form.

Complete the Visitor Visa application form carefully.

Provide accurate personal details and ensure your passport information matches exactly.

Depending on your situation, you may need to complete specific INZ forms:

Select the correct visa category.

Do not confuse a Visitor Visa with other visas such as the Student Visa, Working Holiday Visa, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), or Transit Visa.

Each visa has a separate purpose and application process.

Enter your country details accurately.

INZ will not display full process or cost information until you provide your country of application.

Save your progress as you complete the form.

Review every section before moving forward.

Attach documents and submit

Upload all required supporting documents directly to your online application.

You must provide clear copies.

Typical documents include:

• Valid passport
• Proof of funds
• Any additional documents requested in your application form

If you apply as a Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa, ensure your documents support that specific purpose.

Incomplete applications cause delays.

Before submitting, confirm:

1. All mandatory fields are completed

2. All supporting documents are attached

3. Your details match your passport

Once satisfied, submit your application through your INZ account.

Payment and application tracking

After submission, you must pay the applicable visa fee in NZD (NZ$).

The exact amount depends on your country details and application type.

Check the “How to pay and submit” section within your application for:

• Current fee information
• Accepted payment methods
• Submission instructions

INZ handles all visa decisions.

After payment, log in to your INZ account to monitor your application status.

Use your account dashboard to:

• Confirm payment receipt
• Track processing progress
• View any messages or additional document requests

Check your account regularly.

INZ communicates important updates through your online profile.

Your Visitor Visa allows tourism and short visits, but it limits work, study, and how long you can remain in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) expects you to follow the purpose stated in your application and leave before your visa expires.

Work and study restrictions

You cannot work in New Zealand on a Visitor Visa.

The only exception allows you to work remotely for an overseas business, as long as you do not enter the New Zealand labour market.

If you plan to take up employment with a New Zealand employer, you must apply for a work visa such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

If you qualify by age and nationality, a Working Holiday Visa may also permit work.

You must not use a Visitor Visa for long-term study.

If your main purpose is study, apply for a Student Visa instead.

If you are accompanying a child who holds a Student Visa, you may need to apply under the Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa category.

INZ assesses your declared plans carefully.

Your application forms, such as Form INZ 1000 or Form INZ 1015, must clearly show that you do not intend to work in New Zealand.

Length of stay and visit plans

Your approved stay is either up to 6 months or 9 months. INZ decides the exact duration when reviewing your application.

processing times are set out as follows:

You need to show you:

• Plan to leave New Zealand once your stay ends
• Have enough funds or a suitable sponsor
• Do not intend to work in New Zealand

Your itinerary, financial proof, and purpose have to match. If your plans change to only transiting, you might need a Transit Visa instead.

Overstay and timing risks

You must leave before your visa expires. Filing late or misunderstanding your visa can lead to overstaying.

Overstaying carries serious immigration consequences. INZ tracks your compliance history for future applications.

To avoid problems:

1. Check your visa expiry date.

2. Apply early if you need more time.

3. Keep evidence of your departure plans.

INZ expects you to follow every visa condition with precision.

Submit a complete, accurate application to INZ. Many issues come from missing documents, skipped steps, or errors in required forms.

Expert tips to include required evidence

Follow INZ’s official instructions for your visitor category. Include every required document when you apply.

First, check if you need prior approvals or certifications. If a prerequisite step is required, complete it and keep proof.

Use this checklist:

• Review INZ guidance for your visa type
• Complete the right form (Form INZ 1015 or Form INZ 1000, if relevant)
• Attach all mandatory documents listed in the instructions
• Include evidence of any required prior approval
• Ensure documents match your form details

If you’re applying as a Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa, your documents must align with the related Student Visa holder’s status.

If you’ve held or currently hold another visa, like a Working Holiday Visa, Transit Visa, or AEWV, your records must remain consistent. INZ will check your history.

Stay organized with this table:

How to avoid common refusals

INZ refuses applications missing required approvals or documents.

Complete every prerequisite step before you submit. Don’t assume INZ will request documents later.

Common refusal triggers:

• Submitting a form without all supporting evidence
• Skipping required preliminary approvals
• Providing documents that don’t match your declared details

If you’re applying as a guardian or visitor linked to a student, your eligibility must match that category’s rules.

Make sure your form and documents are consistent. Even small mismatches can raise doubts.

Check your entire application as a single package before submitting.

Prevent processing delays

Delays usually come from incomplete or incorrect information.

Double-check every field before submitting. Don’t leave sections blank unless the form says to.

Steps to take:

1. Re-read each question and confirm your answer is complete.

2. Ensure names, dates, and identification details match across all documents.

3. Confirm you attached every required document from the official instructions.

Pay close attention to forms like INZ 1015 or INZ 1000, if applicable. Errors in biographical details can slow your review.

If you held another New Zealand visa previously, make sure your visa history matches INZ records. Unexplained gaps or inconsistencies may delay your application.

INZ reviews your identity, health, character, and document validity before granting a visitor visa. Officers compare your application details with your evidence and check that each document meets the requirements.

Identity and supporting evidence checks

INZ checks that your identity details exactly match your passport. Your full name, date of birth, and passport number must be consistent across your form, documents, and photographs.

Officers review:

• Passport bio page
• Visa application form (such as Form INZ 1015, if relevant)
• Supporting forms, including Form INZ 1000 if required
• Visa-compliant photograph

If your identity information doesn’t match your passport, INZ may delay or decline your application. Even minor spelling differences can cause extra checks.

If you’re a Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa applicant, INZ checks your relationship to the student and ensures your identity documents align with the related Student Visa records.

INZ may also compare your identity history across previous applications, such as Working Holiday Visa, Transit Visa, Student Visa, or AEWV.

Incomplete or inconsistent identity documents often result in processing delays.

Health and character checks

INZ looks at whether you meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements. You must provide police certificates and medical information when requested.

If INZ asks for a police certificate and you don’t provide it, your application stops. The certificate must cover the period INZ specifies.

Medical information must be up to date. If your medical documents are over three months old at assessment, INZ may require new exams.

Officers review:

• Police certificates (if required)
• Medical certificates and test results
• Any declared health conditions

If you’ve applied for another visa before, such as a Student Visa or AEWV, INZ may review your previous health or character submissions.

Not providing required health or character documents is a frequent reason for refusal.

Document validity and currency

INZ checks that every document you submit is valid at the time of decision. Expired passports, outdated medical reports, or invalid photos cause immediate problems.

Your passport must be current. Your photograph must meet visa requirements. Medical information must be within the accepted timeframe.

Key areas officers verify:

1. Passport validity

2. Issue and expiry dates on certificates

3. Timeliness of medical information

4. Completeness of all required forms

If you submit outdated medical information or don’t update expired documents, INZ may request replacements or refuse your application.

Before submitting, make sure every document is accurate, current, and consistent across all forms.