New Zealand digital nomad visa: Complete guide for UK expats

Love the idea of being a digital nomad, working remotely while you explore the world?

A popular place to do it is New Zealand, which has recently changed its visa rules to encourage more digital nomads to visit the country.

In this guide, we’ll give you the full lowdown on the digital nomad visa for New Zealand. This includes how it works, how much it costs, eligibility requirements, the documents you’ll need and the steps to apply.

New Zealand digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

New Zealand doesn’t have a dedicated digital nomad visa, unlike many countries that do.

However, in 2025 the country relaxed the rules on another visa type - the Visitor Visa - to allow remote work. If you have this visa, you can live in New Zealand and work remotely for clients based overseas for a period of either 6 months or 9 months.¹

However, you can’t use it to work for a New Zealand company, or start a business in New Zealand.

This visa also lets you bring family members with you.¹

To meet the New Zealand digital nomad visa requirements, you must be able to prove you have enough money to pay your living expenses while in the country. You must also be in good health, of good character and have genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand.¹

How much does it cost?

The New Zealand digital nomad visa costs $441 NZD in application fees. This is the fee for one person with UK nationality, applying from the UK through the New Zealand Immigration website.¹

This fee includes a $100 NZD International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), so you don’t need to pay it separately.¹

Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting private travel/health insurance.

📚Cost of living in New Zealand

What documents do you need?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a digital nomad visa for New Zealand:¹

• A passport valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand
• One photo of yourself (if applying online - you’ll need 2 photos if applying on paper)
• Evidence of good health - this may include evidence of a medical examination and/or chest X-ray, if required
• Proof you have enough money to live on, such as a recent bank statement. If you’re bringing cash, make sure to check the rules on how much you can bring into New Zealand.
• Proof of your plans in New Zealand, to show you are a genuine visitor - if you’re visiting the country for remote work, you could provide details of freelance contracts or employment for an overseas company.
• Police certificates if required (these can act as proof of good character)
• Proof you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay, such as a return ticket or a bank statement showing you have enough money to buy one.
• Documents showing your relationship with your partner and dependent children (plus proof of identity for each person), if you’re including them in your application.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa in New Zealand

There are two ways to apply for the New Zealand digital nomad visa - online or by post.

Online is generally considered to be much quicker and easier. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Check your eligibility - in particular, that you’re able to meet the health requirement and have enough money to support yourself while living in New Zealand
2. Get your documents together
3. Go to the New Zealand Immigration website and click ‘Apply online’ to start your application.
4. Complete all required steps and upload supporting documents when prompted
5. Pay the application fee - you can only pay by debit or credit card,¹ so you might want to use the Wise card to pay in NZD and avoid unnecessary currency conversion costs
6. Wait for a decision - you can log into your account at any time to see the current status of your application
7. You’ll get an email once a decision has been made - if your application has been approved, you’ll get an eVisa.

Once your visa comes through, you can get on with your preparations for moving to New Zealand and starting to work remotely.

This may include finding somewhere to live if you don’t already own property in NZ, and getting a New Zealand SIM card for your phone.

📚Moving to New Zealand

How long can you stay in New Zealand as a digital nomad?

As a digital nomad on a New Zealand Visitor Visa, you’ll be able to stay in the country for either 6 or 9 months.

It all depends on whether you have a single-entry or multiple-entry Visitor Visa.

A single-entry visa is the most likely option for digital nomads, as it lets you stay for up to 9 months in an 18 month period. However, you can’t come and go as you please - once you leave the country, your visa will expire.¹

The other option lets you stay for up to 6 months in a 12 month period, but you can leave and return multiple times. This is handy if you need to return to the UK at any point and then go back to New Zealand.¹

Taxes for digital nomads in New Zealand

While you’re living and working in New Zealand as a digital nomad, you may need to pay taxes on your income.

Here’s what you need to know:

• There’s no specific New Zealand digital nomad visa tax - it’s the country’s income tax system that may apply to your earnings
• The UK and New Zealand also have a double taxation treaty, to prevent tax being paid twice on the same income
• If you spend less than 183 days in New Zealand in a 12 month period, your income won’t be taxed there. If you exceed this threshold though, you may be considered a tax resident in New Zealand and have to pay local income taxes.¹

Tax between countries can be really complicated, so it’s best to get professional advice to make sure you understand your obligations.

📚 Can you keep your UK bank account when moving abroad?

Save on your relocation costs with Wise

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in New Zealand. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.

Before moving to New Zealand, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

FAQs

Can I apply for a New Zealand bank account with a digital nomad visa?

Yes, you may be able to apply for a New Zealand bank account on a Visitor Visa, but it depends on the bank.

Some New Zealand banks such as ANZ ask for at least 6 months duration on your visa, which should be covered by the Visitor Visa. You may also need to meet other requirements.²

Does a New Zealand digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

No, the New Zealand Visitor Visa is temporary and doesn’t offer any direct route to citizenship.

If you want to move there permanently and explore routes to citizenship, you’ll need to be eligible for a different, long-term visa, such as a skilled work or residence pathway.

Sources used:

1. New Zealand Immigration - Visitor Visa info and requirements
2. ANZ - moving to New Zealand

Sources last checked on date: 07-Nov-2025