Reference ยท Jurisdiction
Can you work remotely while visiting New Zealand?
New Zealand allows remote work for overseas businesses or clients on visitor visas applied for from 27 January 2025. Work for a local employer or work that requires being in New Zealand falls outside that permission.
Sources checked
- 01Identify the employer or customer
A qualifying remote activity is for an overseas business, employer or client. Source 1
- 02Check any local exchange
A payment or benefit from a New Zealand business or person changes how the activity is treated. Source 1
- 03Check the location requirement
Work that requires you to be physically in New Zealand falls outside the remote work condition. Source 2
The visitor conditions distinguish offshore remote work from work tied to New Zealand.
The rule applies to qualifying visitor conditions
Immigration New Zealand says visitor visa applications made on or after 27 January 2025 allow remote work under the published conditions. Its announcement also covers eligible visitors arriving with an NZeTA. Check the conditions governing your own stay, including its end date. Source 1 Source 3
Payment can take the form of a benefit
The guidance describes gain or reward as including cash as well as something with a monetary value, such as food or accommodation. A hotel stay given in exchange for a review can therefore be relevant to the test even if no money changes hands. Source 1 Source 2
Offshore work still has a location test
The operational instructions also exclude work that requires the visitor to be physically present in New Zealand. If the role or client requires local work, consult the applicable work visa conditions before starting. Source 1 Source 2
Tax residency follows a separate test
Immigration permission answers whether the activity is permitted under the visitor conditions. Inland Revenue publishes a separate test for non-resident visitors and lists conditions beyond time spent in the country. Review those conditions for your situation. Source 1 Source 4