New Zealand: Extending Your Stay

If your time in New Zealand has been too short, why not extend your stay?

You can apply for further visitor permits while you are In New Zealand, as long as you do not exceed the total maximum time allowed for visitors. In many cases this is nine months out of an 18-month period, but you may be eligible to stay for a maximum of 12 months. You’ll have to show that during your stay:

•  you have supported yourself financially, and have enough money to continue supporting yourself
•  you have not worked, been sponsored, or held a student permit.

If you gain this extension you will have to leave New Zealand at the end of the 12 months and remain away for 12 months or more before you can again return as a visitor.

For those interested in taking a course in New Zealand, you can take on a single course of study on a visitor’s permit, provided the course duration is less than three months. If you’re in New Zealand as a visitor and want to undertake a course of study that is over three months you can apply for a Student Permit. You’ll need to have an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider

And for those interested to work in New Zealand, you can take certain business activities while in New Zealand on a visitor’s permit. However, if you want to work in this country and have a job offer from a New Zealand business that you wish to take up, you need to apply for a work permit. You must not begin working until the New Zealand embassy confirms that you have gained the work permit.