Limited Visa
Apply for this visa to visit New Zealand temporarily for an express purpose. Once you have achieved your purpose, you must leave New Zealand or apply for another Limited Visa.
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Length of stay
As needed
to achieve the purpose
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Cost
From
NZD $505
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Processing time
80% within
4 weeks
To apply you must:
- be coming to New Zealand for an
- have enough money to pay your living expenses or have an acceptable sponsor
- have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- meet the other requirements of this visa.
This visa lets you:
- come to New Zealand for an express purpose, including events, ceremonies, medical treatment or short-term study
- include your partner or children in your application — but you must have a genuine relationship with them.
You cannot work on a Limited Visa, unless it is to work for a
You can only study if it is the express purpose for your Limited Visa.
If you apply for a visitor visa or a student visa, we will sometimes offer you a Limited Visa instead.
How long you can stay
How long you can stay in New Zealand depends on the time needed for the
While you are in New Zealand with a Limited Visa, the only visa you can apply for is another Limited Visa. Check the section on 'Staying longer'.
Who can apply
To apply for this visa, you must:
- be coming to New Zealand temporarily for an express purpose
- be in good health
- be of good character
- have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
- have enough money to pay your living expenses or have an acceptable sponsor
- have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
Express purpose
You must only be coming for a temporary stay in New Zealand for an express purpose, which may include any one of the following:
- to study a short course as a full fee-paying student
- for a special event, like a wedding, funeral, anniversary, reunion conference, seminar, graduation, sports tournament or match, or religious ceremony
- for medical treatment
- for a family emergency, like if someone in your family has an illness or accident
- to work for a
(RSE).
You may be able to come to New Zealand on a Limited Visa for a reason that is not on the list, if we agree with your reason for coming.
You will need to provide evidence to support your express purpose. This can include:
- your invitation to the event
- an offer of a place at an education provider
- medical treatment schedules or confirmation.
If you are going to work for an RSE, check the full requirements for the Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa. This is a Limited Visa that lets you work for a
Health
You must be in good health.
We may ask you to have a chest X-ray, a medical examination, or both, as proof of your good health.
If you are staying less than:
- 6 months, you do not normally need a chest X-ray
- 12 months, you do not normally need a medical certificate.
When you apply, you must answer questions about your health. This will help to decide whether you need to provide a chest X-ray or medical certificate. Even if you do not need these when you apply, we may ask for them when we process your application.
Note
Results of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them.
If you are staying for more than 6 months
If you will be staying in New Zealand for more than 6 months, you must have a chest X-ray if you:
- are a citizen of a country that does not have a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB), or
- have spent more than 3 months in the last 5 years in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB.
You must provide a new chest X-ray certificate, even if you have provided one to us previously, if you:
- have spent 6 months in a row in a country that does not have a low incidence of TB since the date of your last X-ray certificate, and
- are now coming to New Zealand for more than 6 months — if you are in New Zealand this includes any time you have already spent here.
Character
You must be of good character.
You may need to provide police certificates as proof of your good character.
If you have a criminal conviction, or are a security risk to New Zealand, we might not give you a visa.
You must provide police certificates that are less than 6 months old when you apply, if:
- you are aged 17 or older, and
- your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer — this includes time you spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas.
You must get police certificates from:
- countries you are a citizen of, and
- countries you have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.
You do not need to provide police certificates if you provided them with an earlier visa application and they were issued in the last 24 months.
If we ask for a new police certificate when processing your application, you will need to send us a new one.
Genuine intentions
You must genuinely intend to stay temporarily in New Zealand for an express purpose.
When we decide if your intentions for coming to New Zealand are genuine, we will consider all the information that:
- you provide to support your application
- we have about your personal circumstances
- you have previously provided to us.
Enough money to live on
You must have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand, or have an acceptable sponsor.
The money you will need depends on your
You, and anyone you are including in your application, will need:
- NZD $1,000 each a month, if you are visiting
- NZD $1,250 each a month, if you are studying.
If you are applying for a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa to work for a
If you are paying for yourself
Evidence can include:
- bank statements or credit card statements
- bank drafts or traveller's cheques.
If you have a sponsor
Your sponsor is responsible for you while you are in New Zealand.
Sponsorship process for a visa
If you are studying, your sponsor may complete a 'Financial Undertaking for a Student' form.
If you are not studying, your sponsor must complete a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.
Your sponsor can provide supporting documents including:
- recent bank statements
- pay slips
- their employment agreement
- ownership papers for your accommodation or receipts for rent payments.
Paying for health care
You or your sponsor will need to pay for any health care or medical assistance you may need in New Zealand.
We recommend you have full medical insurance for your stay.
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.
Partner and dependent children
You cannot include family if you apply for a Limited Visa to work for a
If your express purpose is for another reason, you can include your partner and any dependent children aged 19 or younger in your visa application, or they can apply for their own visas.
To include family in your application:
- you must provide evidence of your relationship with them, for example, marriage and birth certificates
- you must provide evidence of their identity
- they must be of good character and in good health.
Leaving New Zealand
You must be able to show that you plan to leave the country at the end of your stay.
If you are paying for yourself, you will need to provide:
- your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a
, or - documents, such as bank or credit card statements, that show you have enough money to buy a ticket.
Note
The money for your ticket must be in addition to what you have to live on.
If you are sponsored and you do not have a return ticket, your sponsor can provide recent bank statements to show they have enough money to buy you a ticket out of New Zealand.
Documents you need
When you apply
When you apply, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your passport or
— if you apply on paper, you can provide a , but it can prevent delays if you provide the original - 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you apply on paper
- documents to support your
for coming to New Zealand - police certificates, if required
- evidence of a chest X-ray, if required
- evidence of a medical examination, if required
- proof you have enough money to live on
- proof you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
- documents to show your relationship with your partner and dependent children, proof of their identity and acceptable photos, if you are including them
- a copy of the completed form 'Additional Dependants for a Visitor Visa', if required
- a copy of the completed 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry', if you have a sponsor
- a copy of the completed 'Financial Undertaking for a Student', if you required
- translated versions of all your documents if they are not in English.
Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025)PDF 414KB
Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
Warning
You may not be allowed to check in to your flight if your passport is close to expiring. Check that it will not expire while you are in New Zealand or close to when you plan to leave New Zealand.
- passport from Hong Kong
- Hong Kong document of identity
- Hong Kong British National Overseas passport (HKBNO)
- passport from Macao.
You must also provide a completed supplementary form giving more details of your background and intentions.
You may also provide your Hukou household registration book as an additional form of identity.
You should provide copies of the Hukou (household registration book) for family members included in your application.
If you are applying within China, Hong Kong or Macao, you must also provide a completed supplementary form if you are applying with a:
You should provide copies of identity cards for family members included in your application.
After you apply
After you apply, we may contact you and ask for:
- evidence of a medical examination or chest X-ray
- police certificates as proof of your good character.
When you arrive
When you arrive, you will need to have:
- a ticket to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay, proof you have enough money to buy one, or agreement that a sponsor will pay for one
- proof you have enough money to live on for your stay in New Zealand.
How to apply
Follow these steps to complete your application on paper.
Note
To help prevent delays with processing, make sure your application contains all the required documents.
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Step 1: Check if you can get this visa
You need to be coming for an express purpose or event as described in 'Who can apply'.
If you are going to work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer, apply for a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa.
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Step 2: Gather your documents
The section 'Who can apply' explains the requirements for this visa and what you will need as proof.
Our guides can also help.
Get documents translated
For your application you must provide:
- certified English translations of police and medical certificates that are not in English
- scanned copies of the original documents.
Note
If your other evidence is not in English, you can provide a translated copy to help prevent delays with processing.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
File formats for uploading documents and photos
Organise proof of identity, citizenship and age
If you need a new passport, allow yourself enough time to get it.
When you apply, make sure you enter your identity details exactly as they appear on your passport or certificate of identity.
Warning
If there are any mistakes in your identity details, your application will be delayed. We may also decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
Make sure your photos are acceptable for a New Zealand visa.
Book medical appointments, if required
If you have determined you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, you will need to book your appointment.
To complete your application, you will need to provide the:
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reference code from the clinic submitting your health information - name of the clinic submitting your health information, if there is no eMedical reference code, or
- medical certificate, chest X-ray certificate, or both if the clinic gave these to you.
Note
Results of a chest X-ray or medical examination must be less than 3 months old when we receive them. Allow yourself enough time to get these.
Apply for police certificates, if required
Check what you will need to include for this visa.
If you need to provide police certificates, include them with your application.
Use the tool to find out how to get police certificates from different countries.
Note
Your police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. Allow yourself enough time to get these certificates.
Organise proof of your express purpose
Gather proof to support your express purpose for coming to New Zealand such as an invitation to the event or offer of place to study.
If you are coming for medical treatment, get a copy of the schedule or confirmation letter from the clinic.
Organise proof you have enough money to live on
Gather recent bank statements, and other evidence of wages, salary or other financial support.
If you have a sponsor, get a copy of their completed 'Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry' or 'Financial Undertaking for a Student'.
Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) PDF 414KB
Organise proof you can leave New Zealand
This can be a plane ticket, proof you have the money to buy one, or agreement that your sponsor will pay for any travel out of New Zealand.
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Step 3: Complete the application form
Complete the relevant application form and attach all supporting documents.
If you are going to work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer, apply for a Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa.
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa
If your express purpose is for tourism or business reasons, complete the 'Tourist/Business Visitor Visa Application' form.
If your express purpose is to study, complete the 'Student Visa Application (INZ 1012)' form. In the form, you will be asked to provide your reasons for applying for a Limited Visa.
If you want to apply for a Limited Visa for any purpose — other than to work for an RSE, for tourism or business reasons, or to study — complete the 'Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017)' form. In the form, you will be asked to provide your reasons for applying for a Limited Visa.
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Step 4: Submit your application and pay the fee
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for fees and where to submit your application.
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Step 5: Wait for our decision
We will let you know if we need more information to process your application.
If you applied for a visitor visa and we intend to offer you a Limited Visa instead, we will invite you to comment before we give you a visa.
We will email you when we make a decision.
Checking your visa application status
Check the 'How to pay and submit' section for timeframes.
If we approve your application, we will give you an eVisa and email you a copy.
Note
If you are already in New Zealand, you must have a valid visa. If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for our decision, we will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.
Check the 'While you are in New Zealand' section to find out what you can and cannot do when you come to New Zealand.
How to pay and submit
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When you get your visa
You must come to New Zealand before the 'first entry date' listed on your eVisa.
Your visa is valid from:
- the date you enter New Zealand, if you are outside New Zealand when we approve your application, or
- the date you get your visa, if you are already in New Zealand.
You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
Entry permission
You must apply for permission to enter New Zealand. You do this by completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) form.
You can start your digital declaration any time, but the earliest you can submit it is 24 hours before starting your travel to New Zealand.
A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
Alert
You can be refused entry permission if you:
- do not have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand
- do not meet our character requirements
- have had a change in circumstances since we issued your visa
- refuse to let us take your photo, fingerprints or an iris scan
- cannot provide evidence of any travel out of New Zealand or the money required to leave New Zealand.
While you are in New Zealand
Your visa conditions are recorded in your eVisa. These relate to the
Travel
You can only travel to New Zealand once on a Limited Visa.
If you leave New Zealand, your visa will expire.
Work
You cannot
Study
You can only study in New Zealand if it is the
If your Limited Visa was given to study a short course, you can only study that specific course, at the specific education provider and in the specific location listed on your visa.
Staying longer
You can apply for another Limited Visa if:
- you currently have a Limited Visa, and
- you need more time to achieve the express purpose that we gave your current visa for.
You must have a valid visa at all times while you are in New Zealand. Making an application for another visa does not give you the right to remain in New Zealand while we are deciding on your application.
You will need to allow enough time for us to process your application. If your current Limited Visa expires while you are waiting for our decision, you will not be in New Zealand lawfully.
There is no guarantee that we will approve your application for another Limited Visa.