Types of New Zealand Visas: Find the Right Visa for Your Move to NZ
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New Zealand visa types
New Zealand has several main visa categories: work visas (including the Accredited Employer Work Visa and Working Holiday Visa), student visas, visitor visas, partnership and family visas, business and investor visas, and residence visas (including the Skilled Migrant Category and Green List pathways). The visa you need depends on your purpose for coming to New Zealand, your qualifications, your family situation, and your nationality. Some visas are temporary, while others lead directly to permanent residence.
Choosing the right visa is one of the most important decisions in your immigration journey. Applying for the wrong category can mean wasted fees, lost time, and a declined application. New Zealand Shores is a licensed immigration advisory that helps individuals, families, and employers identify the correct pathway and lodge applications that meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirements from day one.
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The type of visa you can apply for depends greatly on your situation; whether you have a formal job offer, whether your qualifications and potential position are present on a skills shortage list, and so on.
By working with a licensed immigration adviser you ensure we apply for the correct and best visa for you.
Take our free eligibility assessment ! A licensed immigration adviser will review your situation and recommend the visa most likely to succeed.
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Work Visas
If you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer, a work visa allows you to live and work in New Zealand for a set period. Work visas are the most common pathway to New Zealand and, for many applicants, the first step towards permanent residence.
The main work visa categories are:
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): The most widely used work visa. Your employer must hold current INZ accreditation and have an approved Job Check before you can apply. The AEWV is granted for up to five years and can support a residence application if the role meets Skilled Migrant or Green List criteria.
- Working Holiday Visa: Available to young people from countries with a bilateral agreement with New Zealand. Quotas apply and many schemes fill within hours of opening.
- Specific Purpose Work Visa: For people coming to New Zealand for a defined, time-limited purpose.
- Post-Study Work Visa: For graduates of New Zealand qualifications who wish to stay and work after completing their studies.
Work visas do not automatically grant residence, but many provide a pathway to it. Understanding which work visa leads to residence — and which does not — is critical before you apply.
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Student Visas
Student visas are granted for the duration of your enrolled course and may include part-time work rights during term and full-time work rights during scheduled breaks. They can be a great stepping-stone to long-term relocation plans.
Key student visa types include:
- Fee Paying Student Visa: The standard student visa for international students enrolled at an approved education provider. You must show evidence of enrolment, sufficient funds, and medical insurance.
- Pathway Student Visa: Allows you to study up to three consecutive programmes on a single visa, reducing the need to apply multiple times.
- Dependent Child Student Visa: For school-age children of work or student visa holders.
The type, level and duration of study may determine your eligibility to support family for visas to come with you, and/or your eligibility for a post-study work visa.
Partnership and Family Visas
If your partner, spouse, parent, or child is a New Zealand citizen, resident, or temporary visa holder, you may be eligible for a visa based on your family relationship. The main categories are:
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa: If your partner holds a work visa, you may apply for your own work visa to join them.
- Partner of a Student Work Visa: If your partner is studying in New Zealand.
- Partnership-Based Resident Visa: If you have been in a genuine and stable relationship with a New Zealand citizen or resident for at least 12 months and have been living together, you may be eligible for a resident visa.
- Parent Category Resident Visa: For parents of adult New Zealand citizens or residents who meet specific income and sponsorship requirements.
- Dependent Child Visas: For children of work, student, or resident visa holders who wish to join their parents in New Zealand.
Relationship evidence is central to all partnership-based applications. Immigration New Zealand requires substantial proof that the relationship is genuine — including shared finances, cohabitation history, and future plans together. A poorly prepared partnership application is one of the most common causes of visa declines.
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Residency Visas
A New Zealand resident visa allows you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely. The main residence pathways are:
- Skilled Migrant pathways: Residence visa for skilled workers with a job offer in New Zealand. A number of pathways exist, including the Green list of occupations, the Skilled Work Experience pathway, or the Skilled Migrant Category, depending on your background, your job offer in New Zealand, and your remuneration
- Partnership-Based Residence: For partners of New Zealand citizens or residents (covered in the Partnership section above).
- Parent Category: For parents sponsored by their adult children who are NZ citizens or residents.
Residence applications require careful preparation. Errors or omissions can result in delays of months or costly declines.
Business and Investor Visas
New Zealand offers residence pathways for people who wish to invest in or establish a business in the country. These visas are designed to attract capital, entrepreneurial talent, and job creation. The main business and investor categories are:
- Active Investor Plus Visa: Requires a minimum investment of NZD $5 million (or NZD $10–15 million for a more passive approach) over a defined period, with the applicant actively involved in managing or overseeing their investment.
- Business Investor Visa: For people who want to establish or purchase a business in New Zealand. Applicants must present a detailed business plan, demonstrate business experience, and have sufficient capital.
Business and investor applications are complex, high-value, and heavily scrutinised. Getting the business plan, valuation, and investment structure right from the outset is essential. New Zealand Shores works with investors and entrepreneurs at every stage, from initial feasibility through to residence approval.
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Visitor Visas
Visitor visas allow you to come to New Zealand for tourism, visiting family, attending business meetings, or short-term study (under three months). Visitor visas do not permit you to work. Citizens of visa-waiver countries may not need to apply for a visitor visa but must still hold a valid New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before travelling.
Common visitor visa types include:
- General Visitor Visa: For tourists, family visits, and short-term business travel. Usually granted for up to nine months.
- Partner and Child of Worker/Student Visitor Visas: Allow family members to visit the primary visa holder in New Zealand without work rights.
- Grandparent Visitor Visa: Allows grandparents of NZ citizens or residents to stay for up to 18 months over a three-year period.
- Business Visitor Visa: For people attending conferences, negotiations, or exploring business opportunities.
What Affects Your New Zealand Visa Eligibility?
Visa eligibility depends on several personal factors. Understanding these before you apply helps you avoid wasted time and money on the wrong visa category.
Your Nationality
Your country of citizenship determines which visas you can access, whether you need a visa waiver, and whether specific bilateral agreements (such as Working Holiday schemes) are available to you. Some nationalities face additional requirements such as character waivers or mandatory health screening.
Your Purpose in New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand categorises visas by intent: work, study, visit, business, or family. Each purpose has its own set of requirements, and applying under the wrong category is a common and costly mistake. For example, a visitor visa does not allow you to work — if you accept employment on a visitor visa, you are in breach of your visa conditions.
Your Qualifications and Work Experience
For work and residence visas, your qualifications must be assessed against New Zealand standards. Some occupations require registration with a professional body (such as the Nursing Council, Electrical Workers Registration Board, or Teachers Council) before you can work. Your ANZSCO code — the classification used to define your occupation — determines which visa pathways are available to you.
Your Family Situation
Whether you have a partner, children, or parents already in New Zealand affects which visas you and your family can apply for. Including family members in your application adds complexity and requires additional evidence, but it also opens up partnership and dependent pathways that may not be available to single applicants.
Your Health and Character
All visa applicants must meet New Zealand’s health and character requirements. This typically involves police certificates from every country you have lived in for a certain period of time, and in some cases a medical examination and chest X-ray. Character issues such as prior convictions can affect eligibility for certain visa types.
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New Zealand Shores has helped thousands of migrants secure their visas and build a future in New Zealand. With licensed advisers and tailored guidance, we make your study abroad journey simple and stress-free.
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Frequently Asked Questions About New Zealand Visas
How many types of New Zealand visas are there?
New Zealand has over 100 individual visa products, but they fall into six main categories: work visas, student visas, visitor visas, partnership and family visas, business and investor visas, and residence visas. Within each category, there are multiple sub-types with different eligibility criteria, conditions, and durations.tionalities face additional requirements such as character waivers or mandatory health screening.
What is the easiest New Zealand visa to get?
The easiest visa to obtain depends on your circumstances. For many people, an NZeTA is the simplest option if they just want to travel to New Zealand. For those with a job offer, the Accredited Employer Work Visa is the most common work visa. Working Holiday Visas are straightforward for eligible applicants but are limited by quota. There is no universally “easy” visa — each has its own requirements, and what is simple for one person may be complex for another.
Can I get a New Zealand visa without a job offer?
Yes, several visa types do not require a job offer. Visitor visas, student visas, Working Holiday Visas, partnership-based visas (if your partner is already in NZ), and investor visas can all be obtained without employment. However, most residence pathways do require a qualifying job offer in New Zealand.
What is the difference between a work visa and a residence visa?
A work visa is temporary — it allows you to work in New Zealand for a set period and is tied to specific conditions (such as a particular employer or occupation). A residence visa is permanent — it allows you to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely with no restrictions on employer or role. Many people start on a work visa and transition to residence once they meet the criteria.
How long does it take to get a New Zealand visa?
Processing times vary significantly by visa type. Visitor visas and NZeTAs can be processed within days. Accredited Employer Work Visas typically take 4–12 weeks. Skilled Migrant Category residence applications can take 3–10 months or longer. Lodging a complete, well-prepared application is the single most effective way to reduce processing time.
Do I need an immigration adviser to apply for a New Zealand visa?
You are not legally required to use an immigration adviser, but professional help significantly reduces the risk of errors, omissions, and declines — especially for work visas, residence applications, and partnership-based visas where the evidence requirements are complex. Only licensed immigration advisers or lawyers are legally permitted to provide immigration advice in New Zealand. New Zealand Shores’ advisers are fully licensed and regulated by the Immigration Advisers Authority.
What happens if my visa application is declined?
If your application is declined, INZ will issue a decision letter explaining the reasons. Depending on the visa type and the reason for decline, you may be able to appeal, request reconsideration, or reapply with additional evidence. Having a licensed adviser involved from the start reduces the likelihood of a decline and ensures that if issues arise, they are addressed promptly.
Can I bring my family to New Zealand on my visa?
In most cases, yes. Partners and dependent children can apply for their own visas linked to your principal visa. The type of family visa available depends on your visa category — for example, partners of work visa holders can apply for a Partner of a Worker Work Visa, while partners of student visa holders may qualify for a Partner of a Student Work Visa if the student is studying at level 7 or above in an eligible qualification.