Temporary Class Visas
If you want to stay in New Zealand temporarily to work, study or visit, you’ll need a valid Temporary Visa. Grant of visa does not guarantee entry permission. You’ll also have to get entry permission when you first arrive in New Zealand.
Visitor Visa
These types of visa allow you to be in New Zealand, until the date specified in the visa, for any legal purpose, such as visiting family or friends, getting medical treatment, or just sightseeing. You must establish that you are a genuine visitor. You cannot work or study, apart from one course of study or training of up to three months. The maximum time Immigration NZ may grant a single Visitor Visa for is 12 months, and usually one won’t be granted for more than nine months.
Student Visa
These types of visa allow you to study or undertake training in New Zealand while the visa is valid. You can’t work unless the visa says you can. Generally, the maximum time that Immigration New Zealand can grant a single student visa for is four years. To get a Student Visa, you must have paid all the fees for your course (or be exempt from paying them). It will be a condition of your Student Visa that you attend your course and that you make satisfactory progress.
Work Visa
These types of visa allow you to work in New Zealand as long as the visa is valid and you follow the conditions of the visa – for example, you might have to work for a specific employer, at specific location and/or pay scale. Work Visas don’t allow you to study, apart from work training that’s part of your normal conditions of employment and one course of study or training of up to three months. Generally, the maximum time for a single Work Visa is five years. If you wish to stay longer, you’ll need to apply for another Work Visa before the first one expires.
Limited Visa
These type of visa allow you to travel to New Zealand for an express purpose. Once the purpose is achieved, and/or the duration of visa is expired, you must leave New Zealand. You may not, in normal circumstance, apply for other visas while in New Zealand on a Limited Visa.