Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa New Zealand

To meet the requirements for New Zealand temporary retirement visitor visa, all applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their stay and for up to the 24-months. This can be provided through bank, or pension statements, or proof of investment.

You must:

• Be at least 66 years old at the time of submitting your application
• Pass a health and character check with Immigration New Zealand. This normally consists of police clearance and a medical
• Have valid private health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay

You must also meet the financial requirements, either by having enough funds in passive income or in savings. You can also invest in a New Zealand business. You must do all of the following:

• Prove that you have an annual income of at least NZ$60,000.
• Make an investment in a fund in New Zealand of at least NZ$750,000. This must be in an approved commercial or managed fund for 2 years.
• Have at least NZ$500,000 in maintenance funds in a bank account held separately from your business.

While those are the general requirements to obtain a retirement visitor visa, there are a few additional requirements that you need to be aware of. These include:

• Your NZ$750,000 investment funds cannot be in personal property or cash deposits. It must be in approved assets like bonds or managed funds.
• While you can freely enter and leave New Zealand, you cannot spend more than 6 months at one time outside the country in any given 12-month period.
• Your application may be denied if you have a criminal record or have been associated with activities deemed harmful to New Zealand.

There are several documents you need to provide when applying for a Temporary retirement visa for New Zealand:

• Proof of identity to prove you are at least 66 years old (valid passport, or birth certificate).
• Two recently taken passport sizes photographs
• Provide evidence confirming your NZ$750,000 investment.
• Financial statements (bank statements, property valuation, pension statements).
• Medical certificates to prove you are in good health.
• Police certificates to prove your good character in your own country.
• Private health insurance documentation.
• If you do not speak English, you may need to pass a language skills test.
• Completed application form.

While not mandatory, you can have a New Zealand citizen or resident sponsor your application. This can potentially strengthen your application but doesn’t guarantee approval. They must agree to sign a legally binding declaration guaranteeing they will financially support you.

The person who is sponsoring you must be over 18 years old, and have good character in New Zealand, so they cannot have any criminal history. If they or you fail to uphold the agreed sponsorship obligations it can lead to you both experiencing legal issues.

If you are able to meet the criteria, you can begin the application process for a New Zealand Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa.

Step 1: Double-Check Eligibility

Before starting the process, making sure you meet all the criteria, including age, investment requirements, and health insurance, will give you a better chance of your application being approved.

Step 2: Gather Documents

To begin your visa application, start by organising your documents, including;

• Your financial evidence
• Your passports, marriage and birth certificates.
• A valid health insurance certificate
• Proof of genuine intentions.

Step 3: Choose Your Application Method

To apply for this visa, you have two options. Either online which is the most secure and efficient way to apply, or if you choose, you can apply for the visa through a paper form.

Start An Online Application

1. Create an Immigration Online Account and register and complete your profile.
2. Enter your nationality, then choose the TRV Visa application and fill out the form.
3. Answer all the questions making sure to provide accurate information.
4. Upload all of the required documents and in the correct format.
5. Pay Application Fees, typically starts at NZD $7,891 per person but varies by nationality
6. Submit your application. You can track it through your account.

Depending on your circumstances, you might need to attend an interview at the embassy. If this is the case, it is important that you arrive on time and be prepared to discuss your application.

Create a Paper Application

1. Download the relevant TRV Visa application forms from the Immigration NZ website.
2. Fill out the forms, ensuring they are accurate and legible information.
3. Include all required documents as outlined in the instructions.
4. Send your completed application and documents to the specified address with the application fee (payable by money order or bank cheque).
5. Check the application status by contacting Immigration New Zealand.

Step 3: Pay the application fees:

The application fee varies based on your nationality and application method (online or paper). They start at NZD $7,891

The NZ$750,000 investment is separate from application fees. Additional costs might apply for required medical examinations depending on your age and health history.

Step 4: Wait for a decision:

After submitting all your paperwork and paying the fees, you will need to wait for a decision. If successful, you will receive notifications to collect your travel documents.

The cost of the New Zealand Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa starts from NZD $7,891. Additional expenses, such as medical examinations, document translations, and travel or health insurance, may also apply.

Depending on the complexity of your application, nationality and workload at the embassy, the processing times for Temporary Retirement Visitor visa can vary. However, if you have provided accurate information and the documents you have uploaded are up to date, and the forms are complete, it can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to process it.

Contact our team at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or message us online to get started.

While the TRV Visa unlocks many benefits in New Zealand, you must also understand the conditions before applying. These include, maintaining your NZ$750,000 investment for at least two years and making sure that you comply with any asset restrictions.

While in New Zealand, you cannot work or apply for public funds from the government. At any given time, you must also show you have the funds in your bank account to support yourself.

In addition to those conditions, you must;

• Maintain a valid private health insurance certificate.
• Not stay outside of NZ for more than six months within a 12-month period.
• Update the Immigration authorities in New Zealand if any of your details change, including your contact details, passport, or health insurance.
• Understand that you are liable to pay income tax on any income earned while you reside in New Zealand.

Limitations

The TRV Visa does not guarantee permanent residency or a pathway to citizenship. You can not work or study for more than six months or engage in any type of business activity. It is also imperative that you be a good citizen and comply with all of the laws while in NZ.

Validity Period

The temporary retirement visitor visa New Zealand (TRV Visa) is valid for a maximum of two years. If you wish, you can apply for an extension for a further three months. For reasons such as needing more time to sell an investment or to arrange your departure.

• Visa expiry does not automatically grant an extension.
• You must apply well in advance if you wish to stay longer.

It is also worth noting, you can be refused entry into the country if you don’t meet the character requirements or your circumstances have changed since you initially received your visa.

The authorities can also refuse you entry if you do not provide your biometrics on arrival. (photograph and fingerprints). Failure to comply with any of the conditions or if you overstay your visa you can receive fines, be deported, and even banned entry into NZ in the future.