Master prompt
Visitor to other visa transition — study, work, residence (New Zealand)
Map the pathway from current visitor visa to a study visa, work visa, or residence application. Cover Variation of Conditions, new applications, Section 78 interim visas, and offshore-vs-onshore filing logic.
New ZealandVisitor visaTransitionVariation of conditionsSection 78AEWVStudent visaSMC
[CLIENT_NAME] holds a visitor visa expiring [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY] and wants to transition to: [TARGET_VISA]. Trigger: [TARGET_TRIGGER]. Filing: [ONSHORE_OR_OFFSHORE_FILING]. Constraints to neutralise: [V_CONDITIONS_BARRIERS].
INSTRUCTIONS
Reply with ONLY the transition advisory below in seven sections. Use ASCII only — no emojis.
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SECTION 1 — TRANSITION FRAMEWORK
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NZ allows visitor-to-other transitions under three mechanisms:
Mechanism 1 — NEW VISA APPLICATION
- File a fresh application in the target visa class
- If onshore + lodged before [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]: Section 78
interim visa may be granted while target visa is processed
- If offshore: filed at INZ Mumbai / Beijing region post; no
interim visa needed (client is overseas)
Mechanism 2 — VARIATION OF CONDITIONS (V of C)
- Only varies specific conditions of the CURRENT visa
- Cannot change the underlying visa class
- Useful for: removing "no work" condition for SHORT specific
employer (rare in NZ for visitors), removing study <= 3 month
condition (also rare; usually triggers new student visa)
- Fee NZ$400 // 2026-05 - verify
- NOT the right path for visitor -> student / AEWV transitions
Mechanism 3 — DEPART + REAPPLY OFFSHORE
- End current visitor stay; apply for target visa from offshore
- Cleaner audit trail; mandatory for some categories (e.g., some
residence streams expected to be filed offshore)
- Use if [V_CONDITIONS_BARRIERS] are insurmountable onshore
Pick the right mechanism for [TARGET_VISA] + [ONSHORE_OR_OFFSHORE_FILING].
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SECTION 2 — VISITOR -> STUDENT VISA (U Instructions)
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Pathway: NEW APPLICATION (Mechanism 1).
Eligibility checks:
(a) NZQA-approved provider has issued Offer of Place
(b) Course is at NZQF Level 3 or above (typically)
(c) Tuition paid (or payment plan letter) — full year or first
semester
(d) Funds for living expenses (NZ$20,000/year baseline)
// 2026-05 - verify current threshold
(e) Comprehensive medical + travel insurance per NZ Code of Practice
for Pastoral Care of International Students
(f) English language proof (varies by course level)
(g) Health screening: chest X-ray for India + courses > 6 months;
full medical > 12 months
V3.5 study-limit issue:
- Visitor visa allows study up to 3 months total without student visa
- Master of IT typically 12-15 months -> cannot start under visitor
- Must hold a student visa BEFORE course commencement
- File NEW student visa onshore before [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]:
Section 78 interim visa may permit lawful continuation (interim
typically carries study rights for student-visa applications;
confirm in interim conditions)
// 2026-05 - verify s.78 interim study rights for visitor-to-
student transition
Fee: NZ$375 + Levy + medicals // 2026-05 - verify
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SECTION 3 — VISITOR -> WORK VISA (W Instructions; AEWV)
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Pathway: NEW APPLICATION (Mechanism 1).
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) sequence:
Step 1 — Employer Accreditation: NZ employer must hold current
INZ accreditation (Standard / High-volume / Triangular / Franchisee)
Step 2 — Job Check: NZ employer files Job Check for the specific
role; must clear median wage threshold (currently NZ$29.66/hour;
verify) and ANZSCO skill level
// 2026-05 - verify current median wage
Step 3 — Migrant Check: [CLIENT_NAME] files AEWV application
V3.5 no-work issue:
- Visitor cannot work
- Cannot start AEWV role until AEWV granted (even if Job Check
cleared)
- File AEWV onshore before [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]: Section 78
interim visa typically permits work for the SAME employer in the
SAME role pending grant (only after Job Check approved)
Green List Tier 1 fast-track:
- If [TARGET_TRIGGER] mentions Green List Tier 1 occupation:
consider Straight to Residence pathway INSTEAD of AEWV
- Filed via Green List Residence application — bypasses AEWV
- Faster route to PR
Fee: NZ$750 + Levy // 2026-05 - verify
Job Check fee (employer): NZ$735 // 2026-05 - verify
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SECTION 4 — VISITOR -> PARTNER VISA / RESIDENCE
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If [TARGET_VISA] indicates Partner-based pathway:
Partner of NZ citizen / resident (residence):
- Relationship genuine + stable + exclusive (s.49A definition) for
typically >= 12 months
- Cohabitation evidence (joint accounts, lease, photos, statutory
declarations)
- Apostilled marriage cert if foreign
- Police certificate from country of citizenship + any country
lived in >= 5 years past 10 years
- Medical cert via INZ panel physician
- Fee NZ$3,310 // 2026-05 - verify
Partner of NZ worker / student (temporary):
- Lower threshold than residence
- 12-month relationship still typical for V2 stable test
- Fee NZ$575 // 2026-05 - verify
Filing window:
- Can be filed onshore before [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]
- Section 78 interim visa may be granted
- For partner-of-NZer residence: filed at INZ branch; may include
interview
Red flag: if relationship formed during the visitor visit and not
yet 12 months stable + exclusive, file a temporary Partner of NZer
visa first; residence later.
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SECTION 5 — VISITOR -> RESIDENCE (SMC; Green List)
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Direct visitor -> residence transitions are limited:
Skilled Migrant Category (SMC):
- 6-point system (reformed 2023-24)
- Typically requires existing NZ work experience or qualifying job
offer
- Filed via Expression of Interest (EOI) -> Invitation to Apply
- Can be filed onshore on visitor IF you hold a qualifying job offer
- Residence fee NZ$4,890 // 2026-05 - verify
Green List Straight to Residence (Tier 1):
- Qualifying occupation + qualifying job offer + minimum wage
threshold + qualifications match
- Can apply directly; no prior NZ work required
- Fastest residence route
Parent Resident Visa (capped, queued):
- Long queue; not realistic for "transition now" scenarios
Verdict for [CLIENT_NAME]: SMC or Green List only if qualifying job
offer + employer accreditation + ANZSCO match are all in place.
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SECTION 6 — SECTION 78 INTERIM VISA STRATEGY
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When transitioning onshore, the s.78 interim visa is the bridge:
- Granted on case-by-case basis after timely in-time lodgement of
target visa application
- Default duration: up to 6 months OR until target visa decision
- Conditions usually mirror PRIOR visa (visitor) — so cannot start
new work or course of study unless interim explicitly varies
conditions
- Single-entry typically: departure ends interim visa
- Operations Manual A12 governs interim visa policy
For [CLIENT_NAME]'s [TARGET_VISA] transition:
(a) Lodge target visa BEFORE [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]
(b) Wait for interim visa grant notification
(c) Review interim conditions: do they permit the new activity?
- Student transition: interim usually grants study rights once
student visa application progresses
- AEWV transition: interim typically grants work rights for
same employer in same role once Job Check approved
(d) Do NOT start work or study under visitor conditions before
interim conditions are explicit
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SECTION 7 — RECOMMENDED PATH + DOCUMENT INDEX
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For [CLIENT_NAME]:
Target visa: [TARGET_VISA]
Mechanism: [Mechanism 1 / 2 / 3 from Section 1]
Filing channel: [ONSHORE_OR_OFFSHORE_FILING]
Filing deadline: [n days before CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY for onshore]
Section 78 interim visa: [available / not available]
Conditions to neutralise: [V_CONDITIONS_BARRIERS] -> resolution
Document index (top 10 items)
Total fee envelope: [NZD]
Expected timeline: [grant date estimate]
Contingency: [if interim refused or target visa refused]
End with: "DRAFT NZ visitor-to-other-visa transition advisory for
[CLIENT_NAME] — for IAA-licensed immigration adviser review. Verify
current Section 78 interim visa policy (Operations Manual A12),
current AEWV median wage threshold, current SMC 6-point framework,
and current Green List occupations against the INZ Operations Manual
before client lodgement. Onshore transitions live or die on lodgement
timing relative to [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt