When you are issued a New Zealand visa, such as a work visa or a resident visa, that visa will be subject to certain rules and restrictions known as ‘conditions’. Some of these conditions are relatively straightforward, while others set specific limits on your ability to do things like travel to and from New Zealand. It is important to understand what your visa conditions do and do not allow, as a breach of conditions can result in being refused entry at the border or even being required to leave the country.
It is possible to vary certain visa conditions by making an application to Immigration New Zealand. Our trusted immigration consultants can help you understand your options and amend your visa conditions, so don’t hesitate to book a consultation to discuss your situation with us.
Examples of New Zealand visa conditions
The following are some of the most common conditions on New Zealand temporary visas, such as work visas:
- Expiry date
- This condition simply means the date on which your visa ceases to be valid, and by which you need to leave New Zealand, extend your visa or secure a new visa
- Expiry date travel
- This condition sets the last day on which you are permitted to enter New Zealand on this visa
- Number of entries
- This condition relates to your ability to enter or re-enter New Zealand on a particular visa. If your visa says that you have ‘multiple entries’, this means that you are permitted to freely leave and re-enter New Zealand as many times as you wish providing that your ‘expiry date travel’ has not passed. This condition is sometimes called a ‘multiple entry travel condition’ or ‘travel facility’
- Work-related conditions
- Work visas may specify which location, employer or role you are permitted to work in/for while in New Zealand on that visa
In addition to expiry date, expiry date travel and number of entries conditions, you may also commonly find the following conditions on New Zealand resident visas:
- First entry before
- This condition sets a date by which you must enter New Zealand in order for your resident visa to remain valid
- Investment
- Investment-based resident visas such as the Entrepreneur Resident Visa may have a condition requiring you to keep invested funds in New Zealand for a specified period in order for your visa to remain valid
- Sponsorship
- If your visa has been sponsored, for example by a family member, their sponsorship and related obligations may be specified in your visa conditions. Visas with sponsorship conditions can include the Parent Resident Visa and Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.
Can I change or extend my New Zealand visa conditions?
It is often possible to apply to change or extend one or more conditions on your visa. For example:
- if you are on a student visa and want to change course or educational institution
- if you are on a work visa and want to change employer or role
- if you are on a resident visa and want to extend your multiple entry travel conditions
You should be prepared to provide suitable evidence of the reason for your request to change or extend your visa conditions when you apply e.g. an offer of place from a new educational instutition, a job offer or contract from a new employer, or a letter of support from a sponsoring partner.
