Visitor visa proof of funds: what you must show

Immigration New Zealand does not publish a single fixed amount that every visitor visa applicant must show as proof of funds. The amount you need depends on your nationality, the type of visitor visa you apply for, and your individual circumstances. You must check the specific requirements on the visa page for your situation, and be prepared to show evidence of sufficient funds to cover your stay, plus a return or onward ticket or the means to buy one. The official pages do not state a fee for a visitor visa application, so you must verify the current fee on the Immigration New Zealand website before you apply.

Where the funds requirement comes from

Visitor visas come with conditions, and one of the common conditions is that you must have a ticket to leave New Zealand, enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand, or an acceptable sponsor who can pay for your ticket. This is stated in the common conditions for visitor visas published by Immigration New Zealand. The requirement is not expressed as a fixed dollar figure in the official guidance — it is expressed as a condition you must meet.

What this means in practice is that you need to be able to demonstrate that you can support yourself during your stay and that you can leave New Zealand when your visa expires. The exact amount will be assessed by an immigration officer based on your circumstances, including how long you plan to stay and what you plan to do.

How to find the exact amount for your situation

Because there is no single published figure, you need to look at the specific visa page for the visa you are applying for. Immigration New Zealand states that the visa requirements for each country will tell you how much money you need to bring with you. This applies to working holiday visas, and the same principle of country-specific requirements applies across visa categories.

For a visitor visa, the relevant page will set out any specific financial requirements. If the page does not state a figure, you should assume that you must show enough funds to cover your intended stay and your departure, and be prepared to provide evidence such as bank statements, proof of income, or a sponsor’s undertaking.

What counts as proof of funds

The official guidance does not list specific documents that are accepted as proof of funds for a visitor visa. It does, however, state that you can find your visa conditions in your visa approval letter, on a visa label in your passport, or online using the Visa Verification Service. The conditions on your visa will tell you what you can and cannot do.

For proof of funds, the general principle is that you need to show you have access to money that is genuinely yours or that has been provided to you by a sponsor. Bank statements are the most common form of evidence, but the official guidance does not confirm this. You should check the specific requirements on the visa page or contact Immigration New Zealand if you are unsure what evidence is accepted.

Visitor visa costs and processing times

The official guidance does not state the fee for a visitor visa application, nor does it state how long a visitor visa takes to process. It does state that if you are in New Zealand and want to stay past the date your visa expires, you cannot extend your visa — you must apply for another temporary visa before your current one expires. You should apply for another visa at least one month before your current visa’s expiry date.

If your current temporary visa is going to expire while you are waiting for a decision, Immigration New Zealand will normally issue you an Interim Visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully. The conditions on an Interim Visa depend on the visa you previously had and the new visa you have applied for.

What you need to know	Where to find it
Proof of funds amount	Not published as a fixed figure — check your specific visa page
Return/onward ticket requirement	Common visitor visa condition — stated on the visitor visa conditions page
Visitor visa application fee	Not stated in official guidance — check the Immigration New Zealand website
Processing time	Not stated in official guidance — check the Immigration New Zealand website
Applying for another visa while in NZ	Apply at least 1 month before your current visa expires

Changes to how you apply

From 1 October 2026, applications for selected visitor and transit visas must be submitted through Immigration New Zealand’s enhanced Immigration Online system. This includes the General Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa, and many other visitor visa types. Paper applications submitted before 1 October 2026 will continue to be processed as normal.

Paper application forms will only be accepted after that date where exceptional circumstances apply. If you believe you need to apply using a paper form, you must contact Immigration New Zealand to discuss your circumstances. The move to online application is intended to reduce paperwork, provide real-time application updates, and reduce the risk of errors.

What to do next

Before you apply for a visitor visa, you should:

1. Identify the specific visitor visa category that applies to you.
2. Check the visa page for that category to find any stated financial requirements.
3. Check the current application fee on the Immigration New Zealand website, as it is not stated in the official guidance.
4. Prepare evidence of sufficient funds for your stay and your departure.
5. Apply online through enhanced Immigration Online, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

If you are already in New Zealand and need to stay longer, apply for a new temporary visa at least one month before your current visa expires. Do not let your visa expire without a new visa or an Interim Visa, as you may be deported.