New Zealand•Oceania

Open

I1 — Interim Visa

Work Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

0 days

Application Fee

Free

Stay Duration

6 months

Renewable

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Remote Work

Not Required

Official Information

Overview

Automatic bridging status that keeps temporary visa holders lawfully in New Zealand while a further temporary visa application is decided.

The Interim Visa is an automatic, temporary status granted by Immigration New Zealand when a person's current temporary visa is about to expire while a further temporary visa application is still being decided. You cannot apply for it directly. You must hold a current temporary visa, have lodged a further temporary visa application accepted for processing, and be in New Zealand.

There are no forms and no fee. It is issued as an eVisa starting the day after the current visa expires, and lasts up to 6 months or until INZ decides the new application; if the application is declined, the Interim Visa expires 21 days later. Work and study rights mirror the previous or applied-for visa, and leaving New Zealand cancels it.

This visa is ideal for temporary visa holders in New Zealand awaiting a decision on a further temporary visa, who need to remain lawfully and preserve work or study rights during processing.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

6 months

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must currently hold a temporary visa (work, student, visitor, military, or diplomatic/official)

Must have lodged a further temporary visa application accepted for processing before current visa expires

Must be physically in New Zealand

Must not have previously been granted a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa or a 2021 Interim Visa

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Granted automatically by INZ — no application, no forms, and no fee
Preserves lawful status in New Zealand for up to 6 months while the new visa is decided
Issued as an eVisa that starts the day after the current visa expires, with no gap
Work or study rights typically mirror the previous visa or the visa applied for
Provides a 21-day grace window after a decline before the Interim Visa expires

Worth Knowing

Conditions depend on the previous visa held and the further temporary visa applied for
Granted at INZ's absolute discretion — there is no automatic right and no right of appeal if refused
Maximum duration is 6 months, even if the underlying decision takes longer
Does not exist as a standalone visa; only bridges between two temporary visa periods
Leaving New Zealand cancels the Interim Visa immediately and it cannot be reinstated
Not granted if the further temporary visa application is not accepted for processing before the current visa expires
Cannot be granted if previously issued a Skilled Migrant Category Interim Visa or a 2021 Interim Visa

Application Process

Apply for a new temporary visa while in NZ

Verified Claims (4)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Blockers	Leaving New Zealand cancels the Interim Visa immediately; Not granted if the further temporary visa …	immigration.govt.nz
Official Info	https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/interim-visa/	immigration.govt.nz
Official Code	I1	immigration.govt.nz
Requirements	Must currently hold a temporary visa (work, student, visitor, military, or diplomatic/official); Mus…	immigration.govt.nz

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