Dear William,

 

Thank you for contacting Immigration New Zealand.

 

We apologise for the delayed response due to high volume of emails
received and appreciate your patience.

 

Please refer to the information requested included below-

 

Questions:
1. Eligibility for Multiple Entry Visitor Visa After Current Visa Expires
    a. Can my mother apply for a Multiple Entry Visitor Visa immediately
after her Partner of a Student Visitor Visa expires in October, given she
will have already stayed in NZ for 12+ months (6 months on a Visitor Visa
+ 6+ months on a Partner of a Student Visa)?
    b. Does applying inside vs. outside NZ affect eligibility or
conditions?

 

Yes, your mother can submit a general visitor visa application immediately
after her Partner of a Student visitor visa expires. However, when
submitting a visitor visa application while in New Zealand she may be
allowed to stay for no more than 9month(s) in an 18 month(s) period, which
includes the time already spent on any other visitor visa.

Which means, the time spent on partner of a student visitor visa may also
be considered while assessing her eligibility.

 

 

The 18-month period is calculated back from your intended departure date.

For example, if the last day you intend to be in New Zealand is 1 December
2024, then your 18-month period will begin on 1 June 2023.

 

2. Single vs. Multiple Entry Visitor Visa Duration
    The Visitor Visa webpage states holders can stay for "up to 6 or 9
months."
    For a Multiple Entry Visa, does the 6-month limit apply to:
        A single continuous stay, or
        Multiple shorter stays (e.g., 3 months per entry, totaling 6
months within 12 months)?

 

The 6 out of 12 month(s) duration applies to multiple entry visitor visa.

 

3. Extending a Multiple Entry Visitor Visa
    a. If my mother holds a Multiple Entry Visitor Visa with a 6-month
stay, can she apply for a Single Entry Visitor Visa shortly before expiry
to extend her stay by 3 months?
    b. Or must she leave NZ and apply for the Single Entry Visa offshore?

 

If your mother intends to remain in New Zealand as a genuine and bonafide
tourist, she may submit an application to extend her stay while in New
Zealand without departing, along with all relevant supporting evidence to
be assessed by an immigration officer.

 

4. Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa Conditions
    This visa allows stays of up to 6 months per visit and a maximum of 18
months within 3 years.
     If she applies for this visa in October (before her current visa
expires), will her prior 6-month stay on a Visitor Visa count toward the
18-month limit, but not her time on the Partner of a Student Visa?

 

The parent and grand parent visitor visa must be submitted from outside
New Zealand, while assessing eligibility we may not consider the time
spent on ‘general visitor visa’.

 

5. Renewing the Partner of a Student Visitor Visa
    a. If she applies for a new Partner of a Student Visa upon expiry of
her current one, are there no cumulative stay limits (e.g., "6 months in
12 months" or "9 months in 18 months")?
    b. Would her permitted stay then depend solely on the duration of the
associated student visa?

 

If she applies for a subsequent partner of a student visa, she would be
assessed based on the supporting partner’s student visa eliglbility.

 

Kind regards,

 

Maria A.

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Dear William,

 

Thank you for contacting us.

 

If a person is holding a multiple-entry visitor visa, he/she will be
subject to 6/12-month rule.  This means they will be able to stay a
maximum of 6 months in a 12-month period.  However, if they decide to
extend their stay in New Zealand, they may submit further visitor visa
application. We can then assess their eligibility based on 9/18-month
rule.  In this case, they may be able to stay another 3 months (a total of
9 months). 

 

The rules above only apply to General Visitor Visas. If your parents are
holding student visa or partnership-based visa, they are not subject this
maximum stay. 

 

Yes, your mother can apply for a student visa and your father can apply
for a partnership-based visa if they meet the relevant criteria.  I have
attached the links below which outline the current requirements:

[1]Fee Paying Student Visa | Immigration New Zealand

 

[2]Partner of a Student Work Visa | Immigration New Zealand

 

[3]Partner of a Student Visitor Visa | Immigration New Zealand

 

Kind regards,

 

Raghav M

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[4]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [5]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Friday, May 2, 2025 10:42 PM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Maria,

Thank you for your detailed reply.

I still have a few points I’d like to clarify:

1. Difference Between 6/12 and 9/18 Month Rules

In your first response, you mentioned that *"when submitting a visitor
visa application while in New Zealand, she may be allowed to stay for no
more than 9 months in an 18-month period."*

Later, you stated that *"The 6 out of 12 months duration applies to
multiple-entry visitor visas."*

Could you please explain the difference between these two rules (6/12 vs.
9/18)? Are they applicable in different scenarios?

2. Switching Visa Roles After Extended Stay

My parents initially held a 6-month Visitor Visa.

From April to October, my father transitioned to a Student Visa, while my
mother obtained a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa. This extension means
their total stay will exceed 12 months.

A few weeks before their current visas expire:

Can my mother apply for a Student Visa while my father applies for a
Partner of a Student Visitor Visa (effectively switching roles with each
other)?

Are there any restrictions, such as the 6/12 or 9/18 rules, that would
prevent them from doing so?

I’d greatly appreciate your guidance on these matters.

Best regards,
William

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Good morning,

 

The 6/12 & 9/18 rules are applicable to visitor visa of any type.

 

Kind regards,

 

Raghu M

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[1]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [2]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 12:04 AM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Raghav,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I'd like to confirm if my understanding is correct regarding my parents'
visa situation:

They initially held a 6-month Visitor Visa last year. From April to
October this year, my father switched to a Student Visa while my mother
obtained a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa, making their total stay will
exceed 12 months.

Before their current visas expire, my mother would be allowed to apply for
a Student Visa, and also for my father to apply for a Partner of a Student
Visitor Visa, assuming all other requirements are met.

They should be exempt from the 6/12 or 9/18-month stay limit rules (and
other stay restrictions), as these rules only apply to general visitor
visas, whereas Student Visas and Partner of a Student Visitor Visas don't
belong to such category.

Please confirm if this understanding is correct. Much appreciated.

Best regards,
William

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Dear William,

 

Thank you for contacting Immigration New Zealand.

 

Please refer to the information requested included below-

 

1.      Visa Eligibility: Before their current visas expire, can my mother
apply for a Student Visa and my father for a Partner of a Student Visitor
Visa, assuming all other requirements are met (they change their visa
types with each other)?

Yes, your mother may apply for a student visa and support her partner if
eligible. You may refer to the links included for more information-

[1]Fee Paying Student Visa | Immigration New Zealand

[2]Partner of a Student Work Visa | Immigration New Zealand

[3]Partner of a Student Visitor Visa | Immigration New Zealand

 

 

2.      2. Applicability of Stay Limits: I understand that the 6/12 and
9/18-month rules apply only to Standard Visitor Visas. Since my mother
will apply for a Student Visa, these rules should not restrict his stay.
However, my father will apply for a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa - is
this considered a visitor visa (subject to stay limits) or exempt like the
Student Visa?

The 6/12 and, or; 9/18 months rule does not apply when applying for
special type of visitor visa, it only applies to general ‘visitor’ visa.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Maria A.

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[4]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [5]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 9:52 AM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there,

I’d appreciate detailed guidance on my parents’ visa situation, as my
previous query only received a partial response regarding the 6/12 and
9/18-month rules for visitor visas.

A. Current Situation:
Last year, my parents held a 6-month Standard Visitor Visa. From April to
October this year, my father switched to a Student Visa, while my mother
obtained a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa. By the time their current
visas expire, their total stay in NZ will exceed 12 months.

B. Questions for Clarification:
1. Visa Eligibility:
Before their current visas expire, can my mother apply for a Student Visa
and my father for a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa, assuming all other
requirements are met (they change their visa types with each other)?

2. Applicability of Stay Limits:
I understand that the 6/12 and 9/18-month rules apply only to Standard
Visitor Visas. Since my mother will apply for a Student Visa, these rules
should not restrict his stay.
However, my father will apply for a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa - is
this considered a visitor visa (subject to stay limits) or exempt like the
Student Visa?

Could you confirm whether my understanding is correct and clarify the
rules for my mother’s visa type?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Best regards,
William

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Good morning,

 

Visitors to New Zealand are limited to a maximum stay on a visitor visa of
nine months unless they:

 1. are genuine tourists who require no more than an additional three
months to complete their itinerary (i.e. 12/24 month rule); or
 2. are applying for a visitor visa under a special category of visitor
visa instructions which allows a longer stay in New Zealand; or
 3. cannot leave New Zealand because of circumstances beyond their
control; or
 4. have lodged a first-time application for residence that has been
accepted for consideration, and a decision is unlikely during the
currency of their existing visa.

Despite this, an applicant who has been in New Zealand for 12 months on a
Special Visitor Visa must remain outside New Zealand for 12 months before
a further application for a visitor visa may be approved. Special category
of visas is any visa other than general visitor visa.

 

 Visa Pak 208 also has further clarification around applying the 9/18 rule
with special categories of visitors.

 

[1]2015-Apr 24: Assessing length of permitted stay in New Zealand as a
visitor | Immigration New Zealand

Kind regards,

 

Raghu M

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[2]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [3]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 9:38 PM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Maria,

Thank you for your prompt response.

I’d appreciate some clarification regarding your note that "The 6/12 and,
or 9/18 months rule does not apply when applying for special type of
visitor visa, it only applies to general ‘visitor’ visa."

To ensure I understand correctly, could you please:

1. Specify which visas are considered general visitor visas (subject to
the 6/12 and 9/18-month rules), and

2. Confirm whether the Partner of a Student Visitor Visa falls under
general or special visitor visas (and thus whether these stay limits
apply)?

This distinction is important for my parents’ visa planning, so I’d be
grateful for clear guidance.

Thank you again for your help.

Yours sincerely,
William

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Good morning,

 

Only time spent in NZ on a visitor visa is counted towards the length of
permitted stay (6/12 &9/18 rule) for a visitor.

As advised in the previous email, the maximum duration of stay is
applicable when you are on a visitor visa applying for another visitor
visa.

 

Kind regards,

 

Raghu M

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[1]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [2]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 10:47 PM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why do I keep getting contradictory answers about visa rules? We’ve spent
so much time on what seems like a simple question. Some say the 6/12 or
9/18-month stay rule applies to Special Visitor Visas, while others insist
it doesn’t.

I need a direct, clear answer - not just a list of regulations for me to
interpret. That is the point I am asking questions here.

Let me make my question simpler:

My father’s student visa expires this October, and by then, he’ll have
stayed in NZ for over 12 months. Can he apply for a Partner of a Student
Visitor Visa (based on my mother’s student visa) before his current visa
expires? And are there any stay rules (like 6/12 or 9/18) that apply to
this visa?

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Good morning,

 

I am not entirely sure which part of our previous response you would like
further clarification on. The previous emails have outlined

Immigration instructions relevant to applicants who are on a visitor visa
and are applying for another visitor visa.

 

In the previous email, you mentioned that he is on a student visa. If that
is the case, the maximum permitted length 6/12 

applicable to visitor visa holders does not apply.

 

Kind regards,

 

Raghu M

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[1]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [2]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 12:36 AM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As other INZ representatives in the thread have mentioned, the Partner of
a Student Visitor Visa is not a general visitor visa but a specific
category of visitor visa that is exempt from the 6/12 and 9/18 rules.

However, your response suggests that all visitor visas - whether general
or special - must comply with these rules.

Why do I keep receiving contradictory answers on this matter?

show quoted sections

Kia ora, 

Thank you for your email. 

Our Immigration Contact Centre is open from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to
Friday (NZT), excluding public holidays. For faster response to your
enquiry, we recommend that you contact us during these hours.
Alternatively, we aim to respond to queries to this email address within 3
working days.  

For New Zealand visa information, please refer to our website at
www.immigration.govt.nz  

If your email is regarding the status of your online application, please
log in to your Immigration account. 

Nga mihi, 

MBIE Customer Service Centre | Ministry of Business, Innovation &
Employment (MBIE)

Good morning,

 

The 'maximum permitted stay' is not applicable, if he is currently on a
student visa and applying for a Partner of a student visitor visa.

 

He may apply for Partner student visitor visa, if he meets the criteria
for application outlined in the link below.

 [1]Partner of a Student Visitor Visa | Immigration New Zealand

 

Kind regards,

 

Raghu M

CLIENT SERVICES ADVISOR

 

MBIE Customer Service Centre, Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

+64 (9) 914 4100
PO Box 1473, Wellington, New Zealand

 

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

If you wish to provide service feedback, here is the link:
[2]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/

Make sure you check out our [3]Immigration ONLINE system when applying for
your next visa.

 

From: [FOI #30631 email]

Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 1:32 AM

To: [email address]

Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - Clarification on Visitor
Visa Staying Conditions [IN-CONFIDENCE: RELEASE-EXTERNAL] CRM:0279935

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am not talking about my father's current student visa.

I am asking can he apply for a Partner of a Student Visitor Visa (based on
my mother’s student visa) before his current visa expires? And are there
any stay rules (like 6/12 or 9/18) that apply to this visa?

show quoted sections