--- title: "New Zealand Visa-free stay (6 months) requirements 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/new-zealand/visa-free-6m/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-10 --- New Zealand # New Zealand Visa-free stay (6 months) **First stay:** 6 mo Visa-free visit of up to 6 months (United Kingdom citizens) First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Savings needed:** NZD 1,000 a month ≈ $560 (Savings of at least NZD 1,000 a month (≈ $560) · Minimum funds to live on; NZD 400 per month if accommodation is already paid) - **First stay:** 6 mo (Up to 6 months per visit and 6 months in any 12-month period) - **Renewal:** Not renewable - **Who can apply:** 1 nationalities (United Kingdom citizens (other visa waiver nationalities: 3 months).) - **Work:** Remote only (No local employment. Remote work for a business overseas is allowed. Study is allowed for up to 3 months in any 12-month period.) - **Tax residence:** Below the 183-day test (This route allows up to 6 months in total. Tax residence in New Zealand: more than 183 days in any 12-month period.) ## Key facts Visa-free stay (6 months) is a long-stay route for New Zealand. You can work remotely for foreign employers or clients, not for local ones. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source. - **First stay:** 6 mo ## Cost **Shown, not spent: NZD 1,000+/mo ≈ $560** - NZD 1,000 a month (≈ $560) Minimum funds to live on; NZD 400 (≈ $220) per month if accommodation is already paid ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Can't be renewed - No local jobs: remote work for employers or clients abroad only - Only for passports from United Kingdom ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Travel on a United Kingdom citizen passport. - Be in good health and of good character. #### What you must show - Have at least NZD 1,000 (≈ $560) per month, or NZD 400 (≈ $220) per month if accommodation is already paid. #### Documents - Hold a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel. - Show a paid ticket out of New Zealand within 6 months of arrival. - Passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave. #### Steps 1. Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration to get entry permission. #### After you arrive - Total time in New Zealand is capped at 6 months in any 12-month period. ## What happens at day 183 How New Zealand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **This route:** **Up to 6 months in total**, shorter than the 183-day test below. - **Tax residence:** - **More than 183 days in any 12-month period** Tax residence begins by more than 183 days in New Zealand or a permanent place of abode - **Foreign-source income:** **New-resident relief (4 years)** New migrants and returning New Zealanders who qualify get roughly four years of exemption on most foreign-source income while they are New Zealand tax residents. [All tax rules for New Zealand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/new-zealand/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Accommodation** Have at least NZD 1,000 (≈ $560) per month, or NZD 400 (≈ $220) per month if accommodation is already paid - **Money to show** This route asks for savings of NZD 1,000+ a month ≈ $560. Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** UK citizens can visit New Zealand without a visa for up to 6 months with an NZeTA, against 3 months for other visa waiver countries. (source 1) #### What you must show - Savings of at least NZD 1,000 a month (≈ $560) · Minimum funds to live on; NZD 400 (≈ $220) per month if accommodation is already paid (source 1) #### Requirements - Travel on a United Kingdom citizen passport. (source 1) - Be in good health and of good character. (source 1) - Have at least NZD 1,000 (≈ $560) per month, or NZD 400 (≈ $220) per month if accommodation is already paid. (source 1) - Hold a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel. (source 1) - Show a paid ticket out of New Zealand within 6 months of arrival. (source 1) - Passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave. (source 1) - Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration to get entry permission. (source 1) - Total time in New Zealand is capped at 6 months in any 12-month period. (source 1) #### Stay - Up to 6 months per visit and 6 months in any 12-month period - Initial permitted stay: 6 months. - Not renewable according to our source. #### Nationality United Kingdom citizens (other visa waiver nationalities: 3 months). Open to: United Kingdom. #### Work No local employment. Remote work for a business overseas is allowed. Study is allowed for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. #### Family A partner and dependent children can travel on their own NZeTA if they are citizens of a visa waiver country and meet the same requirements. Checked 2026-10-10 ## Official sources 1. [Visa Waiver Visitor Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/visa-waiver-visitor-visa/) · Immigration New Zealand · checked 2026-10-10 ## Visa-free stay (6 months) and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Visa-free stay (6 months) | – | 6 mo | Remote only | | [Free movement by treaty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/new-zealand/free-movement-tta/) | – | – | Yes | | [GCC citizens](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/free-movement-gcc/) United Arab Emirates | – | – | – | | [Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/visa-free-180d/) Hong Kong | – | 6 mo | No | | [Free movement by treaty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/australia/free-movement-tta/) Australia | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Visa-free stay (6 months)? Savings of at least NZD 1,000 a month (≈ $560). Minimum funds to live on; NZD 400 (≈ $220) per month if accommodation is already paid. ### How long can I stay on the Visa-free stay (6 months)? Up to 6 months per visit and 6 months in any 12-month period ### Can I work on the Visa-free stay (6 months)? Remote only. No local employment. ### Can I bring my family on the Visa-free stay (6 months)? A partner and dependent children can travel on their own NZeTA if they are citizens of a visa waiver country and meet the same requirements. ### Who can apply for the Visa-free stay (6 months)? United Kingdom citizens (other visa waiver nationalities: 3 months). Open to: United Kingdom. ## Similar visas elsewhere [🇰🇬 Visa-free stay (6 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kyrgyzstan/visa-free-180d/) [🇫🇯 Visa-free stay (4 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/fiji/visa-free-4m/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-10 against 1 official source.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Visa Waiver Visitor Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/visa-waiver-visitor-visa/) · Immigration New Zealand · checked 2026-10-10 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.