Immigration Act 2009

Schedule 5: Visas corresponding to visas and permits held under former Act

You could also call this:

"What visa you can get under the new law if you had one under the old law"

You are looking at a schedule about visas. It is part of the Immigration Act 2009. This schedule is like a list that helps explain what visas people can get. It has two main parts. The first part is for people who are not in New Zealand. The second part is for people who are already in New Zealand. The schedule says what kind of visa you will get under the new Act if you had a certain type of visa or permit under the old Act. You can check the schedule to see what visa you might get. For example, if you had a residence visa under the old Act, you might get a resident visa under the new Act. If you had a work visa, you might get a temporary visa that lets you work in New Zealand. The schedule also talks about visitor's visas, student visas, and limited purpose visas. It explains what each type of visa allows you to do and for how long. Some visas let you travel to New Zealand, stay for a while, or work or study. Others have conditions that you must follow. You can look at the schedule to see what visa is right for you and what you can do with it. The schedule is empowered by s 415 of the Immigration Act 2009. It also refers to other parts of the Act, like section 72. It mentions other laws too, such as the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992 and section 18A of the former Act.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2393729.

This page was last updated on 4 April 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > Visas

Schedule 4: Regulations, rules, and orders amended, or

"Changes to Laws and Rules Under the Immigration Act 2009"

Schedule 6: Modifications of Act relating to COVID-19 outbreak, or

"Changes to the Immigration Act 2009 because of COVID-19"

5Visas corresponding to visas and permits held under former Act Empowered by s 415

Part 1Visas corresponding to visas held under former Act by persons who are outside New Zealand

The following table is large in size and has 2 columns. Column 1 is headed Visa held under former Act. Column 2 is headed Visa holder is deemed to hold under this Act.
Visa held under former Act		Visa holder is deemed to hold under this Act
Residence visa— allowing a single journey to New Zealand; and of limited duration		Resident visa— allowing travel to New Zealand for a single journey within the period or until the date specified in the residence visa issued under the former Act; and if the holder is granted entry permission, allowing stay in New Zealand
Residence visa— allowing a single journey to New Zealand; and of limited duration; and that specifies requirements are to be imposed under section 18A of the former Act on grant of permit		Resident visa— allowing travel to New Zealand for a single journey within the period or until the date specified in the residence visa issued under the former Act; and if the holder is granted entry permission, allowing stay in New Zealand subject to conditions equivalent to the requirements specified in the residence visa issued under the former Act
Returning resident's visa of limited duration and residence visa— allowing a single journey to New Zealand; and of limited duration		Resident visa— allowing travel to New Zealand for a single journey within the period or until the date specified in the residence visa issued under the former Act; and if the holder is granted entry permission,— allowing stay in New Zealand; and allowing further travel to New Zealand for an unlimited number of journeys within the period (calculated from the date entry permission is granted) or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act
Returning resident's visa of limited duration		Resident visa— allowing travel to New Zealand for an unlimited number of journeys within the period or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act; and allowing the holder to enter New Zealand; and allowing the holder to stay in New Zealand
Returning resident's visa of limited duration that specifies requirements are to be imposed under section 18A of the former Act on grant of permit		Resident visa— allowing travel to New Zealand for an unlimited number of journeys within the period or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act; and allowing the holder to enter New Zealand; and allowing stay in New Zealand subject to conditions equivalent to the requirements specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act
Returning resident's visa of indefinite duration		Permanent resident visa
Visitor's visa		Temporary visa— allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the visitor's visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the visitor's visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa; and if the holder is granted entry permission— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the visitor's visa issued under the former Act; and subject to the condition that the holder does not work in New Zealand (including the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand) or study, unless the conditions of the visitor's visa issued under the former Act provided otherwise; and subject to conditions equivalent to any conditions specified in the visitor's visa issued under the former Act
Student visa		Temporary visa— allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the student visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the student visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa; and if the holder is granted entry permission, allowing the holder to study subject to conditions equivalent to any conditions specified in the student visa issued under the former Act
Work visa		Temporary visa— allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the work visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the work visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa; and if the holder is granted entry permission, allowing the holder to work in New Zealand (including the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand) subject to conditions equivalent to any conditions specified in the work visa issued under the former Act
Limited purpose visa		Limited visa— allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa; and if the holder is granted entry permission, allowing stay in New Zealand— only for the period or until the date specified in the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act; and only for the purpose for which the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act was issued; and subject to conditions equivalent to any conditions specified in the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act
Transit visa		Transit visa allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the transit visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the transit visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa
Temporary visa granted for the purpose of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992		Limited visa— deemed to be granted under section 72 of this Act; and allowing travel to New Zealand within the period or until the date specified in the temporary visa issued under the former Act; and subject to conditions equivalent to any conditions specified in the temporary visa issued under the former Act

Part 2Visas corresponding to visas and permits held under former Act by persons who are onshore

The following table is large in size and has 2 columns. Column 1 is headed Visa or permit held under former Act. Column 2 is headed Visa holder is deemed to hold under this Act.
Visa or permit held under former Act		Visa holder is deemed to hold under this Act
Residence permit only		Resident visa allowing stay in New Zealand
Residence permit subject to requirements imposed under section 18A of the former Act		Resident visa allowing stay in New Zealand subject to conditions equivalent to the requirements imposed under section 18A of the former Act
Residence permit and returning resident's visa of limited duration		Resident visa— allowing stay in New Zealand; and allowing travel to New Zealand for an unlimited number of journeys within the period or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act; and allowing entry to New Zealand within the period or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act
Residence permit subject to requirements imposed under section 18A of the former Act and returning resident's visa of limited duration		Resident visa— allowing stay in New Zealand; and subject to conditions equivalent to the requirements imposed under section 18A of the former Act; and allowing travel to New Zealand for an unlimited number of journeys within the period or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act; and allowing entry to New Zealand within the period or until the date specified in the returning resident's visa issued under the former Act
Residence permit and returning resident's visa of indefinite duration		Permanent resident visa
Visitor's permit only		Temporary visa— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the visitor's permit granted under the former Act; and subject to the condition that the holder does not work in New Zealand (including the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand) or study, unless the conditions of the visitor's permit granted under the former Act provided otherwise; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the visitor's permit granted under the former Act
Visitor's permit and visitor's visa		Temporary visa— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the visitor's permit granted under the former Act; and subject to the condition that the holder does not work in New Zealand (including the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand) or study, unless the conditions of the visitor's permit granted under the former Act provided otherwise; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the visitor's permit granted under the former Act; and allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the visitor's visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the visitor's visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa
Student permit only		Temporary visa— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the student permit granted under the former Act; and allowing the holder to study; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the student permit granted under the former Act
Student permit and student visa		Temporary visa— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the student permit granted under the former Act; and allowing the holder to study; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the student permit granted under the former Act; and allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the student visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the student visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa
Work permit only		Temporary visa— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the work permit granted under the former Act; and allowing the holder to work in New Zealand (including the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand); and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the work permit granted under the former Act
Work permit and work visa		Temporary visa— allowing stay in New Zealand for the period or until the date specified in the work permit granted under the former Act; and allowing the holder to work in New Zealand (including the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone of New Zealand); and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the work permit granted under the former Act; and allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the work visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the work visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa
Limited purpose permit only		Limited visa— allowing stay in New Zealand only for the period or until the date specified in the limited purpose permit granted under the former Act; and only for the purpose for which the limited purpose permit granted under the former Act was granted; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the limited purpose permit granted under the former Act
Limited purpose permit and limited purpose visa		Limited visa— allowing stay in New Zealand only for the period or until the date specified in the limited purpose permit granted under the former Act; and only for the purpose for which the limited purpose permit granted under the former Act was granted; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the limited purpose permit granted under the former Act; and allowing travel to New Zealand— within the period or until the date specified in the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act; or for the number of journeys specified in the limited purpose visa issued under the former Act and within the period or until the date specified in that visa
Temporary permit granted for the purposes of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1992		Limited visa— deemed to be granted under section 72 of this Act; and allowing stay in New Zealand only for the period or until the date specified in the temporary permit granted under the former Act; and for the purpose for which the temporary permit granted under the former Act was granted; and subject to conditions equivalent to the conditions of the temporary permit granted under the former Act