New Zealand•OceaniaI1 — Interim Visa
At a Glance
0 days
Free
6 months
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
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
PUBLISHED 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
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
Related visas
More visas in New Zealand
Work visas in other countries
Ready to see if the I1 — Interim Visa is your visa path?
Discover how your answers compare with the published requirements. 2 minutes. Free to use.
Start Visa Discovery