Limited Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Limited Visa
Purpose	Temporary express purpose
Stay	As needed for purpose
Cost	From NZD $505
Processing	80% within 3 weeks
Eligibility timing	Enter before first entry date
Work rights	No, except RSE work
Study	Only approved express-purpose study
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Public health care	Some people may qualify
Travel facility	Single entry only
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and children may apply
Visa record	eVisa issued by email
Extension	Another Limited Visa only

---

Purpose

The Limited Visa is for a temporary express purpose in New Zealand. Examples include:

• A short full fee-paying course.
• An event, ceremony, conference, reunion or sports match.
• Medical treatment.
• A family emergency.
• Work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE).

Other purposes may be accepted if Immigration New Zealand agrees.

You must leave New Zealand after achieving the purpose, unless you obtain another Limited Visa.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be coming temporarily for an express purpose.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine reasons for coming.
• Have enough money or an acceptable sponsor.
• Show plans to leave New Zealand.

You must provide evidence supporting your purpose, such as:

• Event invitation.
• Education provider offer of place.
• Medical treatment schedule or confirmation.

Funds

You and included applicants need:

Purpose	Required funds
Visiting	NZD $1,000 each monthly
Studying	NZD $1,250 each monthly

Evidence may include bank statements, credit card statements, bank drafts or traveller’s cheques.

RSE Limited Visa applicants do not need to show funds or sponsorship.

Leaving New Zealand

You must show that you can leave New Zealand by providing:

• An onward ticket to a country you can enter; or
• Evidence of funds to buy a ticket.

Ticket funds must be additional to living-expense funds. A sponsor may show funds to pay for onward travel.

Health and Character

You may be asked for a chest X-ray, medical examination or police certificates.

• Chest X-ray and medical results must be less than 3 months old when received.
• Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you apply.
• Police certificates are required if you are aged 17 or older and your total New Zealand stay will be 24 months or longer.
• Provide police certificates from citizenship countries and countries where you spent over 5 years since age 17.
• Previously supplied police certificates may be accepted if issued within 24 months.

For stays over 6 months, a chest X-ray is required in specified tuberculosis-risk circumstances.

Family Provisions

Except for RSE applications, you may include:

• Your partner.
• Dependent children aged 19 or younger.

You must provide relationship evidence, identity evidence and photos. Included family members must meet health and character requirements.

You cannot include family in an RSE Limited Visa application. They must apply for their own visas.

Rights and Conditions

Work

You cannot work in New Zealand unless your Limited Visa is for work with a Recognised Seasonal Employer.

Study

You may study only if study is the express purpose of your visa.

For a short-course visa, you may study only:

• The specified course.
• At the specified provider.
• At the specified location.

Travel

A Limited Visa allows one entry to New Zealand only. If you leave New Zealand, the visa expires.

Your specific conditions are recorded on your eVisa.

Documents Required

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One online photo or two paper photos.
• Evidence of your express purpose.
• Financial evidence or sponsorship documents.
• Evidence you can leave New Zealand.
• Health and police evidence, if required.
• Family relationship and identity documents, if including family.
• English translations for documents not in English.

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

Sponsorship Documents

If sponsored, provide:

• Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025); or
• Financial Undertaking for a Student (INZ 1014) for students.

Chinese citizens applying from China, Hong Kong or Macao must provide Supplementary Form INZ 1027. Certain Hong Kong or Macao passport holders applying in those locations must provide Supplementary Form INZ 1220.

How to Apply

1. Confirm that your purpose qualifies for a Limited Visa.
2. Gather identity, purpose, financial, departure and other supporting evidence.
3. Complete the appropriate paper application form:
   • INZ 1189 for tourism or business.
   • INZ 1012 for study.
   • INZ 1017 for other non-RSE purposes.
4. Submit the application and pay the applicable fee.
5. Respond to any requests for further information.

RSE workers must apply for the separate Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa.

If approved, Immigration New Zealand issues an eVisa and emails a copy.

Entry and Arrival

You must enter New Zealand before the first entry date on your eVisa.

Before travel, complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration. It may be submitted from 24 hours before travel begins.

At arrival, carry evidence of:

• Onward travel or funds to leave.
• Funds for your stay.

Entry permission may be refused if you lack genuine reasons, fail character requirements, have changed circumstances, refuse biometric collection, or cannot show onward-travel arrangements.

Staying Longer

You may apply only for another Limited Visa, and only if you need more time to achieve the original express purpose.

You must remain lawfully in New Zealand at all times. Applying for another Limited Visa does not automatically allow you to remain while the application is decided. There is no guarantee of approval.