How long can you stay with visitor visa

[nzbie]

Hi guys, how long can a general visitor holding visitor visa stay in New Zealand?

For example, if I want to go there on February 1, 2016 and depart there March 1, 2016. They will issue me a visa to enter Feb. and expire March, right?

When I arrive at the airport in New Zealand, they will stamp my passport valid for 3 months after my arrival date or something? I am confused the difference between the visa and the stamp in the passport on arrival.

[JandM]

See here. http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/...ecountries.htm That's how it will work as long as you are a US citizen, as I guess from your location. You will get the visa stamped in your passport, of a three-month duration, regardless of when your ticket out is dated.

You can arrange to stay longer by contacting INZ while already in New Zealand. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...isit/visitors/

[nzbie]

Sorry I used me as an example but it's not for me. It's for my mom who needs a visa to New Zealand and we are applying in Thailand. I will fly to meet her in New Zealand though.

[nzbie]

I found an image online http://www.nz-visa.ru/images/nz/visa...ya_visitor.jpg - is the expiry date travel just the expired date that one can enter New Zealand? Or it's actually the date that one has to leave New Zealand?

I think it's the last date that one can enter new Zealand, and upon arrival at the airport, one can stay 3 months from the airport arrival/entry date?

[JandM]

This isn't the kind that you will have. This person comes from a country that isn't one of the visa-waiver ones, so would have had to apply to INZ beforehand, then send in their passport to have the visa sticker put in. Yours will just be stamped in your passport at the airport of arrival. (But your assumption is right - the holder would have had to travel before a certain date, then the three months allowed would start from their arrival.)