Issue · October 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand has no dedicated digital-nomad permit. Since 27 January 2025 every visitor visa and NZeTA carries a condition allowing work for overseas employers or clients, and from 1 April 2026 a statutory non-resident visitor exemption keeps that foreign-sourced income out of New Zealand tax for stays of up to 275 days in any 18 months. The one thing to know before applying is that the immigration permission and the tax exemption have different clocks: the visa allows at most nine months in an 18-month window, while the tax exemption lapses if presence exceeds 275 days in 18 months or a permanent place of abode is established.

    Nomad visa · September 2026None as suchRoutes4Bases1

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The routes

Researched 9 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Temporary stay

    Visitor Visa with remote-work condition

    Visitor Visa (General) under the Immigration Act 2009

    Remote employees and self-employed people paid from outside New Zealand who want a stay of up to nine months without taking a local job.

    Income floor
    NZD 1,000 per month of stay in available funds, or NZD 400 per month where accommodation is prepaid, as published by Immigration New Zealand; a return ticket or the funds to buy one is also required.
    Duration
    Up to 6 months (multiple entry) or up to 9 months (single entry); no more than 9 months in any 18-month period. Further visitor visas are assessed afresh against the 18-month cap.
    Cost
    Immigration New Zealand lists the visa from NZD 441; the base fee rose from NZD 211 to NZD 341 on 1 October 2024 and the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is charged on top, which reconciles the two figures. The levy is not refunded if the application is declined.
    Processing
    Immigration New Zealand states 80 percent of applications are decided within 2 weeks; no statutory deadline is published.
    Eligibility
    Open to all nationalities not entitled to enter on an NZeTA. Applicants must be of good health and good character, show genuine visitor intent and the ability to leave, and must not work for a New Zealand employer or supply goods or services to people or businesses in New Zealand. Study is limited to 3 months.
    Work rights
    Remote work for overseas employers or clients is expressly permitted with no cap on hours. Work for a New Zealand employer, supplying goods or services to New Zealand people or businesses, and any work requiring physical presence at a New Zealand workplace are prohibited.
    Dependants
    A partner and dependent children under 20 can be included in the same application.
    Leads to
    No. Time on a visitor visa does not count towards residence or citizenship.
    Apply
    Online through the Immigration New Zealand portal; paper applications are being withdrawn from 1 October 2026.

    Documents Passport valid at least 3 months beyond the intended departure date · Evidence of funds (bank statements) or a sponsorship form · Onward or return ticket, or evidence of funds to buy one · Chest X-ray or medical certificate for stays over 6 months, depending on nationality · Police certificates where total time in New Zealand will exceed 24 months · Employer letter or recent payslip showing the paying entity is outside New Zealand, which reporting suggests border officers may ask for

    Official page →

  2. Temporary stay

    NZeTA (visa-waiver entry) with remote-work condition

    New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority

    Nationals of visa-waiver countries who want short remote-working stints of up to 3 months per visit, or up to 6 months for United Kingdom citizens.

    Income floor
    none published for the NZeTA itself; border officers may ask for evidence of funds and onward travel.
    Duration
    NZeTA valid for 2 years and usable for multiple visits; up to 3 months per visit (6 months for United Kingdom citizens), with total time in New Zealand capped at 6 months in any rolling 12-month period.
    Cost
    From NZD 17 via the official app or NZD 23 online, plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy paid at the same time.
    Processing
    Immigration New Zealand advises allowing 72 hours.
    Eligibility
    Passport from a visa-waiver country or territory; good health and character; the same remote-work condition as the visitor visa applies since 27 January 2025 for arrivals on an NZeTA.
    Work rights
    Remote work for overseas employers or clients permitted; no work for New Zealand employers or for New Zealand customers, and no work requiring physical presence at a New Zealand workplace.
    Dependants
    Each traveller, including children, needs their own NZeTA.
    Leads to
    No.
    Apply
    Online at immigration.govt.nz or via the official NZeTA mobile app, before travel.

    Documents Visa-waiver passport · Payment card for the NZeTA fee and levy · Evidence of onward travel and funds if requested at the border

    Official page →

  3. Working holiday

    Working Holiday Visa

    Working Holiday Scheme visa (country-specific schemes, e.g. USA Working Holiday Visa)

    People aged 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for some nationalities) from a scheme country who want a year of local work rights alongside travel; it is a once-only visa.

    Income floor
    NZD 4,200 in available funds for living costs, plus a return ticket or the money to buy one, as published on the USA scheme page.
    Duration
    Normally 12 months; up to 23 months for Canadians and up to 36 months for United Kingdom citizens. Must arrive within 12 months of approval. One working holiday visa per person per lifetime.
    Cost
    From NZD 770 on the United States and United Kingdom scheme pages, which includes the NZD 100 levy; fees differ by scheme.
    Processing
    Immigration New Zealand states 80 percent within 2 weeks for the USA scheme; some secondary guides cite about one week.
    Eligibility
    Citizen of a scheme country, within the age band (18 to 35 for the United Kingdom, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia and Uruguay; 18 to 30 elsewhere), no previous New Zealand working holiday visa, full medical insurance for the whole stay, good health and character; some schemes carry quotas or English requirements.
    Work rights
    Any employment under an employment or services contract, but holders may not take permanent employment and may not operate a business as the owner. Remote work for overseas employers is not restricted by the published conditions. Secondary guides report a 2026 clarification barring self-employment; the official page wording is the business-ownership prohibition above, so treat the self-employment point as reported rather than confirmed.
    Dependants
    Partners and children cannot be included and must qualify for their own visas.
    Leads to
    No direct path, but time in New Zealand can help secure an Accredited Employer Work Visa job offer, which can lead to residence.
    Apply
    Online only through the Immigration New Zealand portal, from outside New Zealand.

    Documents Passport from a scheme country · Evidence of NZD 4,200 in funds · Proof of full medical insurance for the entire stay · Chest X-ray or medical examination where required · Police certificates if requested

    Official page →

  4. Long stay

    Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

    Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Remote workers who decide to take a local job with an Immigration New Zealand accredited employer and want a route to residence.

    Income floor
    No savings floor; the job must meet the wage threshold for its skill level, with roles below NZD 29.66 per hour only possible under sector agreements as published.
    Duration
    Up to 5 years, or 3 years for skill level 4 and 5 roles; renewable with a new job check.
    Cost
    From NZD 1,540.
    Processing
    Immigration New Zealand states 80 percent within 8 weeks.
    Eligibility
    Job offer from an accredited employer that has passed a job check; at least 2 years of relevant experience or a level 4 or higher qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework; English requirements apply, with an exemption for skill level 3 workers whose visa expires on or before 1 December 2026; health and character checks.
    Work rights
    Local employment for the named employer in the named role; remote work for overseas employers is not the purpose of this visa.
    Dependants
    Partners and children are not included on the visa; holders earning enough can support partner visitor or work visas and children on visitor or student visas.
    Leads to
    Yes for some roles, through the Skilled Migrant and work-to-residence pathways, depending on skill level and wage.
    Apply
    Online via a unique link the employer provides after the job check, at apply.immigration.govt.nz.

    Documents Employment agreement and job description · Identity documents · Evidence of qualifications and work experience · Health and character evidence as requested

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / SwitzerlandNZeTA required; up to 3 months per visit, maximum 6 months in any 12 months (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are on the waiver list)Remote work for overseas employers or clients is expressly permitted under the NZeTA conditions since 27 January 2025.
  • United KingdomNZeTA required; up to 6 months per visitRemote work for overseas employers or clients expressly permitted.
  • United StatesNZeTA required; up to 3 months per visit, maximum 6 months in any 12 monthsRemote work for overseas employers or clients expressly permitted.
  • CanadaNZeTA required; up to 3 months per visit, maximum 6 months in any 12 monthsRemote work for overseas employers or clients expressly permitted.
  • AustraliaNo visa or NZeTA needed; Australian citizens are exempt from the visitor levy and may live and work in New Zealand under the trans-Tasman arrangementRemote and local work permitted.
  • JapanNZeTA required; up to 3 months per visitRemote work for overseas employers or clients expressly permitted.
  • BrazilNZeTA required; up to 3 months per visitRemote work for overseas employers or clients expressly permitted.
  • Argentina, Chile, Mexico, UruguayNZeTA required; up to 3 months per visitRemote work for overseas employers or clients expressly permitted.
  • IndiaVisitor visa required in advance (not on the waiver list)Once a visitor visa is granted, remote work for overseas employers or clients is permitted under the same conditions.
  • South AfricaVisitor visa required in advance (not on the waiver list)Once a visitor visa is granted, remote work for overseas employers or clients is permitted under the same conditions.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
An individual becomes a New Zealand tax resident after more than 183 days of presence in any 12-month period, counting part days as whole days and backdated to the first of those days, or on establishing a permanent place of abode in New Zealand regardless of day count. Residence ends after more than 325 days of absence in any 12-month period where no permanent place of abode remains. From 1 April 2026 a non-resident visitor is excluded from the 183-day test while present for 275 days or fewer in any 18-month period, provided they remain tax resident in a jurisdiction with substantially similar income tax, were not a New Zealand tax resident immediately before arriving, have no permanent place of abode in New Zealand, are lawfully present and claim no family-scheme entitlements.
Special regime
Non-resident visitor exemption, enacted on 30 March 2026 in the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025-26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Act 2026 and effective 1 April 2026: income from personal or professional services for a non-resident employer or client is exempt from New Zealand income tax for qualifying visitors, and the foreign employer is relieved of PAYE, fringe benefit tax, ACC and KiwiSaver obligations. It does not cover work for New Zealand residents or New Zealand branches, supplying goods or services to New Zealand customers, or work requiring physical presence in New Zealand. Separately, the older rules still apply: non-residents are generally not taxed on personal-services income taxed elsewhere for stays of 92 days or fewer in 12 months, extended to 183 days under most double tax agreements. New migrants who become tax resident can claim the transitional resident exemption, which shelters most foreign-sourced income for about 4 years.
Social security
New Zealand has no separate social security contribution system; the ACC earner levy is collected through PAYE on New Zealand employment income and KiwiSaver is a retirement scheme rather than a contribution obligation for visitors. A qualifying non-resident visitor and their foreign employer are exempt from PAYE, ACC and KiwiSaver obligations under the April 2026 rules. New Zealand has no certificate-of-coverage regime of the EU A1 kind; its social security agreements deal with benefits and pensions rather than contributions.
Treaties
New Zealand has double tax agreements with more than 40 countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, India, South Africa and most of Europe. For a remote employee the practical effect is the treaty 183-day employment-income relief where the employer is not in New Zealand, and a residence tie-breaker if both countries claim residence; for contractors the business-profits and independent-services articles usually keep income taxable at home while no fixed base exists in New Zealand. The April 2026 exemption applies regardless of treaty but requires tax residence in a comparable-tax jurisdiction.

Practicalities

Bank account
Banks require a passport, the visa, and a New Zealand address; secondary guides report that short visitor stays under 6 months are commonly refused a full account, while ANZ, BNZ, ASB and Westpac allow migrants to open a limited-access account before arrival and complete identification in a branch. Interest is taxed at the highest non-declaration rate until an IRD number is supplied.
Tax number (IRD number)
Applied for online with Inland Revenue; non-residents can apply, and it is needed for local employment, bank interest and any New Zealand filing. The IRD page could not be opened during this research, so document requirements are not confirmed here.
Health cover
Visitors are not covered by the public health system, though ACC covers accident treatment for everyone in New Zealand. Working holiday applicants must hold full medical insurance for the entire stay; visitor visa applicants are advised to insure but it is not a published visa condition.
Address registration
There is no municipal or police address registration for visitors in New Zealand. Inland Revenue, banks and Immigration New Zealand each keep their own contact address.
Driving licence
A valid overseas licence in English, or with an approved translation, can be used for up to 12 months from arrival before a New Zealand licence conversion is required.
Overstay penalties
Anyone still in New Zealand after the visa expires is unlawfully present and liable for deportation. A deportation carries a re-entry prohibition of between 2 years and permanent depending on the case; Immigration New Zealand states that leaving voluntarily does not by itself bar a future visa.

New Zealand: no nomad visa, but every visitor visa now permits remote work and a 275-day tax carve-out applies from April 2026

Where remote workers base and why

New Zealand answered the digital-nomad visa trend without creating a visa. Immigration New Zealand instead attached a remote-work condition to every visitor visa and NZeTA from 27 January 2025, so a visa-waiver national arrives with permission to keep working for a foreign employer and a nine-month visitor visa carries the same right. The published limits are simple: no New Zealand employer, no New Zealand customers, and nothing that requires being at a New Zealand workplace.

The practical ceiling is time. An NZeTA allows three months per visit and six months in any twelve, a visitor visa nine months in any eighteen, and the new tax exemption 275 days in eighteen months. Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch attract most longer stays, but the visa is national and there is no address registration, so the base is a matter of accommodation and connectivity rather than paperwork.

What applicants report about the process

Immigration New Zealand publishes decision targets of 80 percent within two weeks for visitor and working holiday visas and 80 percent within eight weeks for the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Reporting on the remote-work change suggests carrying an employer letter or recent payslip showing the paying entity is outside New Zealand, since border officers may ask how a long stay is funded and what work will be done.

Working holiday applicants report the once-only rule and the full medical insurance requirement as the two conditions most often missed. Guides published in 2026 describe a tightening on self-employment for working holiday holders; the official page wording is a prohibition on operating a business as owner, so the extent of that change is disputed between sources and should be checked against the scheme page before relying on it.

Tax and money in practice

Until April 2026 a remote worker relied on the 92-day rule for non-residents, or the 183-day treaty relief, and risked backdated tax residence on day 184. The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025-26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Act 2026 replaced that uncertainty with a defined non-resident visitor category: stay 275 days or fewer in any 18 months, remain tax resident in a comparable-tax country, keep no permanent place of abode in New Zealand, serve no New Zealand clients, and the foreign employment or contracting income is exempt, with the foreign employer relieved of PAYE, ACC and KiwiSaver obligations.

Banking remains the awkward part. Banks want a New Zealand address and the visa, and secondary guides report that stays under six months are routinely refused a full account, so most short-stay remote workers run on foreign cards and pre-arrival limited-access accounts opened with the larger banks. An IRD number is only essential once there is local income or interest to tax.

What is changing

The direction since 2024 has been higher fees and clearer conditions. Visa charges rose on 1 October 2024 and the visitor levy nearly tripled to NZD 100, then the remote-work permission followed in January 2025 and the tax exemption in April 2026. Paper visitor applications end on 1 October 2026, and the English-language exemption for skill level 3 Accredited Employer Work Visa holders expires on 1 December 2026, so anyone converting a remote stay into local employment should check the current thresholds before applying.

Researched from immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · immigration.govt.nz · ird.govt.nz · the authority