Good news — if you’ve dreamed of working with a laptop beside a New Zealand beach or in a cosy café under tall trees, the rules have changed. From 27 January 2025, people who come to New Zealand on a New Zealand Travel Visa or travel under the NZeTA system can do remote work for an overseas employer or overseas clients while they are in the country. This change makes it much easier to combine a holiday with your normal job. 

Below I’ll explain everything in plain, simple English. I’ll cover who can do this, what you must not do, how long you can stay, what to put on your NZeTA Application Form, how to check your NZeTA Status, and important money and tax points. Read through — by the end you should feel confident about planning a New Zealand workcation.

What exactly changed?

Until this change, visitor visas normally did not allow work. Now the official rules say visitor visas (and NZeTAs) applied for on or after 27 January 2025 allow remote work for employers or clients who are outside New Zealand. That means you can keep doing your usual online job while visiting as a tourist. But the change does not let you take a job in New Zealand or provide services to New Zealand businesses.

Who can use this — tourists and more

If you normally come on a New Zealand Tourist Visa, or you need to apply for a New Zealand Visitor Visa, or you come under the NZeTA scheme, this update likely covers you — as long as the work you do is for people or companies outside New Zealand. Partners and guardians on some longer visitor visas may also be included. Always check your visa conditions carefully. 

How long can I stay and work?

Most visitor visas allow stays of up to six months, and in some special cases up to nine months. The new remote-work permission does not create a new unlimited stay — it simply lets you work while you remain on the visitor visa term you were given. If you entered with an NZeTA, check your NZeTA Status to confirm how long you may stay.

How to apply — NZeTA Application Form and visitor visa steps

If you come from a country that needs a visa, apply for a New Zealand Visitor Visa using the usual online process. If your country is in the visa-waiver group, you will fill in the NZeTA Application Form online before you travel. The NZeTA Application Form is quick for most travellers: you give passport details, answer health and character questions, pay the fee, and wait for approval. After you apply, regularly check your NZeTA Status online so you know when it is approved and when you can travel. 

Practical tips — make arrival easy

• Carry a printed copy or PDF of your work contract or recent invoices showing you work for overseas clients. This helps if a border officer asks.

• Keep the NZeTA Application Form confirmation and visitor visa grant on your phone. Also check your NZeTA Status before flying.

• If you plan to stay in rural spots, check internet speed first — cities are fast but remote places can be slower.

• Do not accept paid work for New Zealand companies or clients unless you first change to a proper New Zealand work visa. Doing local paid work on a visitor visa can lead to fines or visa problems.

Money, tax and other legal things to watch

Working remotely while visiting feels simple, but tax rules can be complicated. New Zealand authorities and tax advisers are looking at how long-term remote work should affect tax residency and obligations. For example, long stays or regular work done while in New Zealand could create tax responsibilities. If you plan to stay many months or earn a lot while here, get professional tax advice before you travel. This part matters — it can affect your taxes back home and in New Zealand.

Why New Zealand made this change

The government wants to bring more visitors who will spend money locally and stay longer. Letting tourists work remotely makes New Zealand more attractive to digital nomads, freelancers, and remote employees who can travel but still earn from overseas work. Officials also stress the rule protects local jobs — visitor visas still do not allow working for New Zealand employers. The change is meant to grow tourism while keeping the rules fair for local workers. 

A short checklist before you book

1. Confirm whether you need a New Zealand Visitor Visa or an NZeTA.

2. Complete the NZeTA Application Form (if eligible) or apply for the visitor visa.

3. Check your NZeTA Status or visa grant and length of stay.

4. Bring proof your work is for overseas clients (contract, invoices).

5. Check internet availability where you’ll stay.

6. Seek tax advice if staying many months or earning significant income while in NZ.

Final, friendly note

New Zealand now welcomes visitors who want to work while they travel. A New Zealand Visitor Visa or NZeTA can let you keep your job and enjoy the country at the same time — as long as your work is for people outside New Zealand and you follow the visa rules. If you want, I can help you by: (a) writing a simple document you can show at the border proving you work for an overseas employer, or (b) walking you through the NZeTA Application Form field-by-field. Which one would you like?