Work to Residence pending: What if your New Zealand work visa is about to expire?

If you are in New Zealand and your work visa may expire while Immigration New Zealand decides your Work to Residence application, arrange a suitable temporary visa separately. Lodging a residence application does not extend your current work visa. INZ advises applying for a new temporary visa if you need to remain in New Zealand to work, study or visit.

Work back from the date on your eVisa

Find the expiry date on your current eVisa. Decide whether you need permission to keep working or permission to stay for another purpose. For a standard Interim Visa, INZ must receive and accept the new temporary application for processing before your current visa expires. Keep your application reference and check whether INZ needs further documents.

You do not apply separately for a standard Interim Visa. If eligible, you normally receive one from INZ and it starts the day after your current visa expires. If your work visa ends on 10 December and the accepted temporary application remains pending, check the actual grant notice and conditions before planning work from 11 December.

Read the work and travel conditions on the new visa

The Interim Visa conditions depend on the visa you held and the new temporary visa you applied for. Read the new eVisa before confirming a shift, a different work location or a change of employer. A residence application receipt does not establish permission to work. A standard Interim Visa expires if you leave New Zealand, so check what permission you would need for your return before travelling.

Keep separate timelines for the qualifying work you completed before lodging and the visa permissions you rely on after lodging. For the first timeline, see the Tier 2 qualifying work period guide.

Policy checked on 6 November 2026. See Immigration New Zealand's Work to Residence guidance and the standard Interim Visa requirements.