What are Interim Visas?
Interim Visas are for current visa holders who have applied for their next required visa, but their current visa expires before the new one has been granted by Immigration New Zealand.
The Interim Visa allows the visa holder to remain in New Zealand lawfully. Conditions and work rights of the Interim Visa depend on the original visa type held, and the type of visa they have applied for next.
An Interim Visa will only be granted to those who have already applied for their next visa before their current visa expires.
What work rights are involved with Interim Visas for those that held a Partnership-based Work Visa and have applied for another one?
These Interim Visas have open work visa conditions, and the holder may work for any employer in any role. There are no requirements to work for an accredited employer or to earn a specific wage.
Scenarios where work rights are not granted:
If going from a Partnership-based Work Visa to a different type of work visa (e.g. AEWV), the Interim Visa granted will not have work rights (i.e. they will have Visitor Visa conditions only). The same applies for those going the other way – from another visa type to a Partnership-based Work Visa.
If you have employees in the above scenarios, we recommend planning ahead and applying for the next visa in advance to avoid them being caught in a situation with no work rights.
Remind your employees also, to keep you updated so you don’t find them in breach of visa conditions.
If you have questions on Interim Visa conditions, including for those on or applying for other visa types, don’t risk losing their ability to work. Contact our team for a chat – we are always happy to advise you on the best pathway to securing your people.
