New Zealand Immigration Guide 2026

New Zealand Immigration & Visa Guide

Compare New Zealand visas for work, study, visiting, residence and family. Open the visa that matches your purpose to see current requirements, fees, processing information, official Immigration New Zealand sources and a downloadable checklist.

Start with your purpose: work, study, visit, residence or family. This guide organises official public information; Immigration New Zealand makes all visa decisions.

Want to work in New Zealand?

Compare AEWV, post-study, partner and other work visa pathways.

Compare NZ work visas →

Want to study in New Zealand?

Compare fee-paying, scholarship, exchange and other student visa pathways.

Compare NZ student visas →

Want to visit New Zealand?

Check visitor visa, family visit and other temporary-visit options.

Check the New Zealand Visitor Visa →

Visa categories

Choose a New Zealand visa by purpose

Each category page compares visas with a similar purpose so you can narrow the options before opening an individual visa guide.

New Zealand work visas New Zealand student visas New Zealand visit visas New Zealand residence visas New Zealand family visas

Popular New Zealand visas

Direct links to commonly researched work, student, visitor, partner and residence pathways.

Accredited Employer Work Visa Fee Paying Student Visa Visitor Visa Post Study Work Visa Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa Straight to Residence Visa Work to Residence Visa Parent Resident Visa

Work

New Zealand work visas

New Zealand work visas for employment, post-study work, seasonal work and other approved work purposes.

Compare all NZ work visas →

New Zealand visa	What it is generally for	Category	Visa guide	Checklist
Accredited Employer Work Visa	For people with a full-time job offer from an accredited New Zealand employer.	Work	Read Accredited Employer Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Post Study Work Visa	For eligible people who have completed an acceptable qualification in New Zealand.	Work	Read Post Study Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Specific Purpose Work Visa	For people coming to New Zealand temporarily to complete an approved specific purpose or event.	Work	Read Specific Purpose Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Religious Worker Work Visa	For people with an offer of religious work from an eligible New Zealand religious organisation.	Work	Read Religious Worker Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa	For eligible seasonal workers coming to New Zealand to work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer in horticulture or viticulture.	Work	Read Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa	For eligible people already in New Zealand on a student or visitor visa who want approved seasonal horticulture or viticulture work.	Work	Read Supplementary Seasonal Employment Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Peak Seasonal Visa	For eligible workers with full-time seasonal job offers in occupations on the Peak Seasonal Visa job list.	Work	Read Peak Seasonal Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Global Workforce Seasonal Visa	For eligible workers in approved Global Workforce Seasonal Visa occupations with an accredited employer.	Work	Read Global Workforce Seasonal Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Trafficking Victim Work Visa	For people in New Zealand who have been certified by New Zealand Police as suspected victims of people trafficking.	Work	Read Trafficking Victim Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓

Study

New Zealand student visas

New Zealand student visas for international study, scholarships, exchange programmes and approved study pathways.

Compare all NZ student visas →

New Zealand visa	What it is generally for	Category	Visa guide	Checklist
Fee Paying Student Visa	For international students paying tuition fees themselves or with approved financial support.	Study	Read Fee Paying Student Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Pathway Student Visa	For international students following an approved pathway of up to three consecutive programmes of study on one visa.	Study	Read Pathway Student Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Foreign Government Supported Student Visa	For students supported by an eligible foreign government scholarship or education arrangement.	Study	Read Foreign Government Supported Student Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa	For students funded by an eligible New Zealand Government scholarship administered by MFAT or Education New Zealand.	Study	Read NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Exchange Student Visa	For students accepted into an approved exchange scheme who want to study full-time in New Zealand.	Study	Read Exchange Student Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓

Visit

New Zealand visit visas

New Zealand visitor visas for holidays, family visits, medical treatment, transit and other temporary stays.

Compare all NZ visit visas →

New Zealand visa	What it is generally for	Category	Visa guide	Checklist
Visitor Visa	For eligible visitors coming to New Zealand for a temporary stay.	Visit	Read Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa	For eligible parents and grandparents visiting children or grandchildren who are New Zealand citizens or residents.	Visit	Read Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Parent Boost Visitor Visa	A long-stay temporary visitor visa for eligible parents sponsored by New Zealand citizen or resident children.	Visit	Read Parent Boost Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Guardian Visitor Visa	For an eligible parent or legal guardian who needs to live with and care for a child studying in New Zealand.	Visit	Read Guardian Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Medical Treatment Visitor Visa	For people travelling to New Zealand for pre-arranged medical treatment or consultation.	Visit	Read Medical Treatment Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Group Visitor Visa	For groups travelling to and visiting New Zealand together for the same purpose.	Visit	Read Group Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Transit Visa	For eligible travellers transiting through Auckland International Airport on the way to another country.	Visit	Read Transit Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Refugee Claimant Visitor Visa	For people in New Zealand who have made a refugee or protection claim and need to remain while the claim is decided.	Visit	Read Refugee Claimant Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓

Residence

New Zealand residence visas

New Zealand residence pathways for skilled workers, investors, entrepreneurs and qualifying humanitarian categories.

Compare all NZ residence visas →

New Zealand visa	What it is generally for	Category	Visa guide	Checklist
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa	A residence pathway for eligible skilled people who meet Immigration New Zealand requirements.	Residence	Read Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Straight to Residence Visa	For eligible people working in, or with an offer for, qualifying Green List Tier 1 roles.	Residence	Read Straight to Residence Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Work to Residence Visa	For eligible people who have completed the required New Zealand work experience in a qualifying Green List Tier 2 job.	Residence	Read Work to Residence Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa	A residence pathway for eligible workers with qualifying New Zealand care workforce experience.	Residence	Read Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Transport Work to Residence Visa	A residence pathway for eligible workers with qualifying New Zealand transport-sector work experience.	Residence	Read Transport Work to Residence Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Active Investor Plus Visa	For eligible investors who can make qualifying investments in New Zealand under the Growth or Balanced investment categories.	Residence	Read Active Investor Plus Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa	For key employees of qualifying businesses relocating to New Zealand who are not eligible for another resident visa.	Residence	Read Employees of Relocating Business Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Entrepreneur Resident Visa	For eligible people who have successfully operated a self-employed business in New Zealand and meet the residence requirements.	Residence	Read Entrepreneur Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Global Impact Permanent Residence Visa	For eligible Global Impact Work Visa holders who have held that visa for at least 30 months and retain qualifying fellowship support.	Residence	Read Global Impact Permanent Residence Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Community Sponsored Refugee Resident Visa	For eligible refugees nominated or matched with an approved community organisation under the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship Programme.	Residence	Read Community Sponsored Refugee Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Refugee Family Support Resident Visa	For eligible family members sponsored by a New Zealand citizen or resident who came to New Zealand as a refugee or protected person.	Residence	Read Refugee Family Support Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Trafficking Victim Resident Visa	For eligible people in New Zealand who already hold a trafficking victim temporary visa and cannot safely return home.	Residence	Read Trafficking Victim Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa	For eligible people whose partnership with a New Zealand citizen or resident has ended because of family violence and who cannot return home.	Residence	Read Victims of Family Violence Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓

Family

New Zealand family visas

New Zealand partner, parent, child and other family visa pathways.

Compare all NZ family visas →

New Zealand visa	What it is generally for	Category	Visa guide	Checklist
Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa	For eligible partners of New Zealand citizens or residents who want to work in New Zealand.	Family	Read Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Partner of a Worker Work Visa	For eligible partners of people holding qualifying New Zealand work visas who want to work in New Zealand.	Family	Read Partner of a Worker Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Partner of a Student Work Visa	For eligible partners of students studying qualifying New Zealand qualifications who want to work in New Zealand.	Family	Read Partner of a Student Work Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa	For eligible partners who want to join someone holding an appropriate New Zealand work visa as a visitor.	Family	Read Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Partner of a Student Visitor Visa	For eligible partners who want to join someone studying in New Zealand as a visitor.	Family	Read Partner of a Student Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Dependent Child Student Visa	For eligible dependent children who need a student visa to study in New Zealand while joining a parent.	Family	Read Dependent Child Student Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa	For eligible dependent children visiting a parent who is a New Zealand citizen or resident.	Family	Read Child of a New Zealander Visitor Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Parent Resident Visa	A residence pathway for eligible parents sponsored by an adult child in New Zealand.	Family	Read Parent Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa	For eligible partners of New Zealand citizens or residents who want to live in New Zealand permanently.	Family	Read Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Dependent Child Resident Visa	For eligible dependent children aged 24 or younger joining a New Zealand citizen or resident parent.	Family	Read Dependent Child Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa	For eligible adopted children coming to live permanently with a New Zealand citizen or resident parent.	Family	Read Intercountry Adoption Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓
Parent Retirement Resident Visa	For eligible parents with an adult child in New Zealand who meet the required investment, settlement-funds and income thresholds.	Family	Read Parent Retirement Resident Visa requirements →	Download checklist ↓

Visa application checklists

Download a checklist for each NZ visa guide

The PDF summarises the source snapshot used by the guide, including key facts, requirements, document information and the official Immigration New Zealand source link.

Always verify the final application requirements with Immigration New Zealand.

Immigration updates

New Zealand immigration news and visa changes

Read Webfit News coverage of Immigration New Zealand announcements, work rights, policy changes and visa settings.

Read NZ Immigration News →

Official New Zealand immigration information

Webfit News reorganises publicly available Immigration New Zealand information into a simpler reference format. Individual visa guides link directly to the relevant official page and show the source-check time.

Information notice: General information only, not immigration or legal advice and not an assessment of eligibility. Immigration New Zealand remains the authoritative source for visa requirements, fees, processing information and application instructions.