Academic Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Academic Visitor Visa
Purpose	Academic teaching, management or research
Stay	Up to 3 months
Cost	From NZD $441
Processing	80% within 2.5 weeks
Eligibility timing	Not stated in the source
Work rights	Invited academic work only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health care	Pay own health-care costs
Travel facility	Multiple entry condition required to return
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and dependent children may be included
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Application method	Apply online
Funds required	NZD $1,000 monthly, or $400
Sponsor option	Acceptable sponsor permitted

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Purpose

This visa is for academics visiting New Zealand to take part in:

• Teaching
• Education
• Professional management
• Research

You must be invited by a tertiary education institute.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be well-qualified in your academic field.
• Be employed, or have been employed, by an overseas academic or research institution.
• Have an invitation from the New Zealand tertiary education institute.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to meet your visa conditions.
• Have enough money, an acceptable sponsor, and onward-travel arrangements.
• Agree to pay your own health-care costs.

Academic invitation

Provide a letter from each tertiary education institute where you will work. It must confirm:

• Your name
• Planned activities
• Activity dates
• That you meet its visiting-academic requirements

Academic background

Immigration New Zealand considers your qualifications and employment history.

Stay and Work Conditions

You may stay for up to 3 months.

You may only do the academic work you were invited to do.

You need a work visa if you:

• Stay more than 3 months in any calendar year, or
• Do work not related to teaching, education, professional management or research.

You may be able to work remotely for an overseas employer or client while in New Zealand.

Funds and Onward Travel

You must show funds of at least:

• NZD $1,000 per month, or
• NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid.

Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, credit-card statements, bank drafts, traveller's cheques, or prepaid accommodation receipts.

Alternatively, an acceptable sponsor may complete a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry and show they can support you.

You must also have:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand;
• Enough money to buy one; or
• Sponsorship for onward travel.

Health and Character

You must be in good health. Immigration New Zealand may request a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

Normally, you do not need:

• A chest X-ray for stays under 6 months.
• A medical certificate for stays under 12 months.

You must be of good character. Police certificates may be required if your total New Zealand stay will be 24 months or longer across all visits, or if requested.

Police certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when submitted.
• Cover countries where you are a citizen or lived over 5 years since age 17.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates.

Required Documents

Provide:

• One acceptable photo online, or two for paper applications.
• Passport or certificate of identity.
• Invitation letter from the tertiary education institute.
• Evidence of qualifications and overseas academic or research employment.
• Evidence of funds, sponsorship, and onward travel.
• English translations for documents not in English.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from New Zealand.

Online applicants must upload a passport copy. Paper applicants must provide an original passport or certified copy.

China, Hong Kong and Macao requirements

• Chinese citizens applying from China must provide a Hukou and Chinese identity card.
• Hong Kong or Macao applicants applying locally must provide an identity-card copy.
• Additional supplementary forms apply to certain paper applications.
• Family members included in applications should provide Hukou or identity-card copies where applicable.

Family

You may include your partner and dependent children aged 19 or under.

You must provide evidence of:

• Your genuine relationship with your partner or children.
• Their identity.
• Their good health and character.

Examples of relationship evidence include marriage and birth certificates.

Travel and Arrival

Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration before arrival:

• Air travellers: from 24 hours before the journey begins.
• Sea travellers: from 24 hours before the ship leaves its last overseas port.

To leave and return to New Zealand, you need valid multiple-entry travel conditions. If you leave without these conditions, your visa expires.

Unless your visa states “Return/onward travel not required”, carry evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds whenever travelling to New Zealand.

Important Warnings

You can be refused entry permission if you:

• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since your visa was issued.
• Refuse required biometric collection.
• Cannot show required onward-travel evidence, funds, or sponsorship.

You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires. Visa conditions and expiry details are recorded in your eVisa, visa label, or visa letter.