If you think you meet our criteria to travel to New Zealand you must first submit an expression of interest using our online request form. If you are coming here as an 'other critical worker' then your employer or other supporting agency must do this for you using the Employer request for critical worker exception.

If we agree you have a critical purpose, we will invite you to apply for either:

• a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa — if you do not already have a visa — or
• a variation of your visa conditions if you already have a work or student visa.

Provide in your request:

• as much information as possible about the reason you want to travel to New Zealand
• the full details of your partner or children if they are included in your request to travel.

NOTEBefore submitting a request, consider the availability of flights to New Zealand and travel restrictions for any country you may need to transit on the way.


Once you submit your requestWe aim to respond to requests within 5 working days. However, it may take longer depending on the volume and complexity of requests. Requests from employers and agents for approval in principle to bring other critical workers to New Zealand generally take 2 weeks.
If we agree you have a critical purpose to travel, we will send you a link to the form you need to use to apply for a visa or variation of conditions.
You may need to pay a feeMost applicants are charged a fee to apply for a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa or Critical Purpose Variation of Conditions. The fee you have to pay may change depending on your country of citizenship and where you are now.
The fee for a Critical Purpose Variation of Conditions is NZD $190.


Forms for border exceptionsIf you have been invited to apply for a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, submit your application using the online form. The form will ask you what type of visitor visa you are applying for. Select Special Category Visitor Visa, then Critical Purpose Visitor Visa.

Amendments have been made to the general instructions as to the order and manner of processing of visa applications. 

Applicants who are in and have lodged applications from within New Zealand or a Quarantine-Free Travel (QFT) Zone are given first priority. 

This includes residence class as well as temporary entry class visas. Applications from a QFT Zone are given first priority as a reflection of the applicants’ ability to travel to New Zealand while being exempt
from border restrictions.

​Please find Amendment Circular 2021-12 attached. This circular contains immigration instructions that form part of Immigration New Zealand’s response to COVID-19.
 
Changes have been made to immigration instructions for a new border exception designed to reunite partners and dependent children with temporary visa holders working in New Zealand.
 
Other changes have been made to add Innovative Partnerships and the NZTE Investment Attraction to the list of major government-approved programmes for the ‘other critical workers’ border exception, and to renew the class exception for individuals travelling to or from the five Pacific ‘gateway’ countries or territories.
 
These instructions are effective on and after 30 April 2021.

Announced by INZ, 27th April 2021.
​Changes have been made to immigration instructions to clarify Chest X-Ray requirements for RSE limited visa applicants.
 
These instructions are effective on and after 26 April 2021.

On 19 April 2021, New Zealand opened quarantine-free travel with Australia. 
​This means that people can travel from Australia to New Zealand without having to secure a place in MIQ. 

Travellers from a QFT zone must meet New Zealand immigration requirements: 

• If you’re an Australian citizen, you do not need to hold a valid NZeTA or visa to travel. 
• If you’re from a visa waiver country or you’re an Australian permanent resident, you must hold a valid NZeTA to travel. 
• If none of the above applies to you, then you must hold a valid visa before travelling.