Remote work for overseas clients is allowed under qualifying visitor conditions, not a separate digital-nomad visa. Affected Visitor Visa applications now use enhanced Immigration Online.
Route overview
Typical timeline / duration: Depends on visitor visa/NZeTA conditions; policy applies while holding visitor status.
Important notes
All visitor visas applied for on or after 27 Jan 2025 allow remote work for an overseas business/client; self-employed digital nomads can work for clients outside New Zealand.
Remote work must not be for a New Zealand employer/business/person, must not require being in New Zealand, and local work requires a work visa.
Administrative change from 24 September 2026: new applications for the affected Visitor Visa products must use enhanced Immigration Online. Old-system drafts were deleted when those forms closed on 8 October; start afresh if a draft was not submitted. Already-submitted applications remain accessible in the old system for requested documents until the decision is communicated. This does not expand remote-work or local-work rights.
For mainland Chinese passport holders, check the Visitor Visa or any specific visa-waiver eligibility; do not assume that an NZeTA alone authorises entry. The application-system notice concerns the listed visa forms, not every travel product.
Preparation checklist
Identify the correct Visitor Visa product and start its application through the linked INZ service.
Restart any unsent old-system draft; retain the receipt and continue monitoring any already-submitted application.
Gather overseas employment or client contracts showing that the work is not for a New Zealand customer and does not require a New Zealand location.