Business Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Business Visitor Visa
Purpose	Short-term business visits
Stay	Up to 3 months in 1 year
Cost	From NZD $341
Processing	80% within 4 days
Eligibility timing	Business visit up to 3 months
Work rights	Approved business activities only
Study	Up to 3 months
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health care	Applicant or sponsor pays
Travel facility	Multiple-entry condition required to return
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and dependent children included
Visa record	eVisa issued if approved
Application methods	Online or paper
Financial requirement	NZD $1,000 monthly, or NZD $400
Departure requirement	Onward ticket or funds required

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Purpose

Use this visa for short-term business visits to New Zealand, including:

• Meetings
• Exploring business opportunities
• Negotiating contracts

It is not intended for working, training, performing, or participating in events. Those activities may require a work visa or general visitor visa.

Visa-waiver country nationals do not need this visa but must obtain an NZeTA before travel. Australian passport holders need neither a visitor visa nor an NZeTA.

Eligibility

You must:

• Visit for business for no more than 3 months in 1 year.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have a genuine business reason for visiting.
• Intend to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.
• Have sufficient funds, employer/government support, or an acceptable sponsor.
• Provide a letter from your employer or the New Zealand company confirming:
  • Your employment.
  • The business reason for your visit.

Stay and Visa Validity

You may stay for up to 3 months in any 1-year period.

Your visa is valid from:

• The date you enter New Zealand, if applying from outside New Zealand; or
• The date it is granted, if applying from New Zealand.

You must leave before the visa expires.

Financial Requirements

If paying for yourself, you need at least:

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

Evidence may include bank statements, credit-card statements, traveller’s cheques, bank drafts, or prepaid accommodation receipts.

If supported by an employer or government, provide a letter confirming financial support.

If sponsored, the sponsor must complete a Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) and is responsible for you while in New Zealand.

Leaving New Zealand

On arrival, you must show that you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.

Provide either:

• An onward or return ticket to a country you can enter; or
• Evidence that you have enough money to buy one.

Money for onward travel must be in addition to your living-expense funds. A sponsor may provide bank statements showing they can pay for your departure.

Health and Character

You must be in good health and of good character.

Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, medical examination, police certificates, or further evidence.

Police certificates are required if you:

• Are aged 17 or older; and
• Will spend 24 months or more in New Zealand in total, including previous stays.

Police certificates must normally be less than 6 months old when submitted.

You or your sponsor must pay for health care or medical assistance needed in New Zealand.

Family Provisions

You may include your partner and dependent children aged 19 or younger in your application. They may also apply separately.

For included family members, provide:

• Relationship evidence, such as marriage or birth certificates.
• Identity documents and photographs.
• Evidence they meet health and character requirements.
• Additional Dependants for a Visitor Visa (INZ 1205), if required.

Rights and Conditions

Business and Work

You may carry out only the specific business approved for your visa.

You may be able to work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand.

If you need to work in New Zealand for more than 3 months, consider a Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa.

Study

You may study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.

School-aged children may study for up to 3 months in a calendar year. If studying for more than 2 weeks, their education provider must meet the stated pastoral-care code requirement.

Travel

To leave and return to New Zealand, your visa must have a valid multiple-entry travel condition.

If you leave New Zealand without a multiple-entry travel condition, your visa expires.

Unless the visa states “Return/onward travel not required”, you must have onward travel arrangements whenever travelling to New Zealand.

Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo for online applications, or two for paper applications.
• Employer or New Zealand business letter confirming employment and business purpose.
• Financial evidence or employer/government support letter.
• Onward-travel ticket or evidence of funds.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Chest X-ray or medical certificate, if required.
• Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry, if sponsored.
• Family evidence and identity documents, if including family.
• English translations and scanned originals for documents not in English.

Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure date.

Additional requirements apply to certain applicants from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, including supplementary forms and identity documents.

How to Apply

Apply Online

1. Gather identity, health, character, financial, business-purpose, and departure evidence.
2. Obtain English translations of non-English documents.
3. Create or log in to an Immigration New Zealand online account.
4. Upload documents and pay the applicable fee.
5. Check your account for status updates and requests for more information.
6. If approved, receive an eVisa by email.

Apply on Paper

1. Gather supporting documents and translations.
2. Complete the Tourist/Business Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1189).
3. Attach all required evidence.
4. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.
5. If approved, receive an eVisa by email.

Arrival Obligations and Warnings

Before travel, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

You may be refused entry permission if you:

• Are not a genuine visitor.
• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuse biometric collection.
• Cannot show onward travel or sufficient funds to leave New Zealand.

Ensure all identity details exactly match your passport. Errors may delay processing, result in refusal, or lead to refusal of entry.