Reviews collected under Lending Room, the team behind Moola
Visa Holder Loans NZRated 5.0 out of 5 by 1,280+ Kiwis. Many NZ lenders decline visa holders outright. Apply once through Moola and we match you across multiple vetted NZ lenders to the one most likely to say yes. AEWV, Essential Skills and Partnership work visas welcome.
Most applicants hear back the same business day.
Rates 8.99%–29.95% p.a. (AIR). The 8.99% rate is offered to applicants with strong credit profiles on secured loans. Your rate depends on your credit profile, loan amount, term and security. Soft credit check only from us, no score impact. Moola is operated by Lending Room Limited (FSP486566), an FSPR-registered NZ broker.
We work with lenders who understand the visa holder market and are willing to lend where most decline. We are not a lender. We are a broker working on your side.
Most mainstream NZ lenders decline visa holders outright. Our panel of non-bank lenders and specialist finance providers includes ones who accept AEWV, Essential Skills and Partnership work visas.
We run one soft credit check that does not affect your score. Once matched, some lenders accept our check while others may run their own. We let you know before we submit anything.
Some lenders charge visa holders a premium. We find the most competitive rate available for your situation from lenders who treat visa holders fairly. Secured from 8.99%, unsecured from 10.99%.
Most applicants hear back the same day. Same-day funding is possible for applications approved before 3pm on business days. Need funds urgently? Let our team know.
Personal loans, car loans, debt consolidation and more. We match you to the right lender for your specific need regardless of your visa status.
Checking your options through Moola costs nothing and commits you to nothing. You decide whether to proceed once you have seen the approval. No pressure at any stage.
Lenders on our panel assess each visa type differently. Here is where you stand based on what is in your passport. All accepted types need at least 13 months remaining.
The AEWV is NZ's main work visa pathway since 2022. We work with lenders who accept AEWV holders in stable employment through an accredited employer, with at least 13 months remaining on the visa.
Common terms: usually issued for 2 to 3 years
If you hold an Essential Skills Work Visa issued before the AEWV replaced it in 2022, you are still eligible to apply provided you have at least 13 months remaining and verifiable NZ income.
Partner of a NZ citizen, resident or work visa holder. Treated similarly to an open work visa as it allows work for any employer. At least 13 months remaining required.
Available to recent NZ graduates. Acceptance depends on the visa duration remaining, your employment situation and your NZ credit history. Apply and we will assess your specific case.
Issued for specific roles, secondments or events. Acceptance depends on the duration remaining and employment stability. Apply and we will confirm what is possible for your situation.
Student visas, visitor visas and working holiday visas are not accepted by lenders on our panel. These categories typically do not meet lender residency and income stability criteria.
Visa categories and durations sourced from Immigration New Zealand. Lender criteria may change. Talk to our team if your visa type is not listed.
One short form. We handle the lender matching and the follow-up so you do not have to chase anyone.
About 5 minutes. Tell us your loan amount, purpose and a bit about your situation including your visa type and expiry date. Just the once.
We run a soft credit check with no score impact and identify the lender on our panel who caters for visa holders and is most likely to approve you at a competitive rate.
Our team contacts you with your approval. If it works for you, we guide you through to settlement. No obligation at any stage and no pressure to proceed.
Ready to check your options?
One form. We match you to the right lender. You choose the deal.
As a visa holder, going direct means one application, one lender, one hard credit check, and no way of knowing if they even accept your visa type. A broker like Moola flips that. One application, one soft check, matched to lenders who work with visa holders.
Approaching one lender at a time
NZ finance broker. We work for you, not the lender
Every lender and broker is different. Always compare your options before committing. Moola is operated by Lending Room Limited and bound by the responsible lending principles in section 9C of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, supervised by the Commerce Commission.
Slide to match your situation and see estimated repayments. Confirm your visa has 13+ months remaining to check you are eligible to apply.
Your loan
Estimate only. Actual rates from 8.99–29.95% p.a. (AIR). The rate offered to you depends on your credit profile, loan amount, term and whether the loan is secured. Broker fee up to $1,500 and lender establishment fees up to $450 may apply. Figures exclude fees. See fee disclosure.
Moola suits employed work visa holders with a good credit history. Here is what lenders on our panel look for.
An open or employer-specific work visa
AEWV, legacy Essential Skills or Partnership, with at least 13 months remaining when you apply. See accepted visa types.
Regular NZ income you can show
Employed with income paid into a NZ bank account. Self-employed, benefit or overseas income is not accepted. Lenders want to see repayments comfortably fit your budget.
18 or over with a NZ bank account
So funds can be paid out and your application followed up. Borrow $1,000 to $250,000 over terms of 6 to 84 months.
We don't accept applications from people on a benefit or WINZ support, in financial hardship, or seeking a payday loan. Student, visitor and working holiday visas are not accepted either.
What to have ready
Having these on hand keeps your application moving. It takes about 5 minutes.
Real feedback from New Zealanders and visa holders we have matched to the right lender.
Reviews collected under Lending Room, the team behind Moola
Being on a work visa doesn't rule you out of a personal loan in NZ, but it does narrow the field. Many mainstream lenders decline visa holders outright on residency grounds. The trick is knowing which lenders work with your visa type before you apply. Here is how it works.
Yes. Personal loans are available to employed work visa holders in NZ, though not all lenders accept non-residents. Specialist non-bank lenders are generally more willing to work with visa holders who have stable NZ income and a good credit history. Moola works with lenders on our panel who specifically cater for visa holders, so one application reaches the ones most likely to say yes for your situation. Apply for a personal loan, car loan or debt consolidation loan through one short form.
Lenders on our panel accept the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), the legacy Essential Skills Work Visa and the Partnership Work Visa. Post-Study and Specific Purpose Work Visas are assessed case by case. Student, visitor and working holiday visas are not accepted. Whatever your visa, it needs at least 13 months remaining at the time you apply. Visa categories and durations are defined by Immigration New Zealand.
When you apply through Moola, we run a soft credit check to assess your options. It does not leave a mark on your file the way separate direct applications to several lenders would.
Lenders want confidence the loan can be serviced for a reasonable period before visa renewal becomes a question. Requiring at least 13 months remaining means the bulk of the assessment risk is covered while you are still working in NZ. If your visa is close to expiry but you are renewing, apply once the renewal is confirmed and your new expiry date is at least 13 months away.
Lenders assess visa holder applications against the same core criteria as resident applications, income, employment stability, credit history and existing debt, with two extra factors specific to visa status. The first is visa duration remaining, where 13 months is the standard threshold. The second is NZ-based employment income paid into a NZ bank account. A NZ credit history strengthens your application significantly, since lenders assess your NZ credit file rather than your history from your home country.
Visa holder loans cover the same range of purposes as any personal loan: a car purchase, debt consolidation, medical or dental costs, relocation and settling-in expenses, and travel. A visa holder loan is a type of personal loan, so the same rate and eligibility principles apply. Tell us what you need it for and we match you to the lender best suited to your purpose and profile.
Your loan doesn't end when your visa does. A loan obligation continues regardless of your visa status, so plan your loan term with your visa duration in mind and only borrow what you can comfortably repay. Free budgeting guidance is available at Sorted.org.nz.
Applying takes about five minutes. You will need your passport (not a NZ driver licence alone), your visa details including type, number and expiry date, three months of bank statements showing your regular NZ income, and details of any existing debts. We run a soft credit check, match you to the lender best suited to your situation and contact you with your options the same day in most cases. Moola is operated by Lending Room Limited and bound by the responsible lending principles in section 9C of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, supervised by the Commerce Commission.
Common questions about debt consolidation in NZ, rates, eligibility and how applying through a broker works. Can't find what you're after?
Debt consolidation combines several debts, such as credit cards, personal loans and buy now pay later balances, into a single loan with one repayment. Instead of juggling multiple due dates and interest rates, you make one payment at a fixed rate with a fixed end date. Moola matches you to the right consolidation lender from a panel of multiple vetted NZ lenders. Your existing debts are paid out and you are left with one manageable repayment.
It can, if the consolidation rate is lower than the average rate across your current debts. Credit cards in NZ typically charge 19% to 28% p.a., while consolidation loans through Moola start from 8.99% p.a. secured and 10.99% unsecured. Moving high-interest debt to a lower rate reduces the total interest you pay. Use the calculator on this page to estimate your saving. A longer term lowers the monthly payment but can increase total interest, so compare the full picture.
Most unsecured consumer debts can be consolidated, including credit cards, personal loans, buy now pay later balances, store cards and some vehicle finance. Up to $250,000 of total debt can be consolidated across loan terms of 6 to 84 months. Our team confirms which of your debts can be included once we review your application.
Applying through Moola does not affect your credit score. We run a soft credit check during our assessment which does not appear on your credit file. Once we match you to a lender, some accept our soft check while others may run their own standard check. You will be informed before any hard check is submitted. Over time, consolidating and making consistent repayments can help your credit position.
Applying direct to a lender means one application gets you one lender's offer and a hard credit check on your file. Each additional application stacks another hard check. Using a broker like Moola means one application and one soft credit check gives you access to a panel of multiple vetted NZ lenders. We match you to the lender most likely to offer your best overall deal across rate, term and fees.
The minimum loan amount through Moola is $1,000 and the maximum is $250,000, depending on the lender and your circumstances. Loan terms range from 6 to 84 months.
Most applicants hear back the same business day they apply. Same-day funding is possible for applications approved before 3pm on a business day, depending on the lender and verification requirements.
Yes. We work with lenders who accept employed visa holders with at least 13 months remaining on an open or employer-specific work visa, stable NZ-based income and a good credit history. The panel available to visa holders may be smaller than for citizens and residents, but consolidation is achievable for those who meet the criteria. Learn more about visa holder loans →
We don't accept applications from people on a benefit or WINZ support, in financial hardship, or seeking a payday loan. We work with employed New Zealanders who have a good credit history and want to bring their debts under control.
A broker and introducer fee of up to $1,500 applies when your loan is successfully funded. This fee is GST inclusive and disclosed clearly before you commit, with no obligation to proceed. Lender establishment fees up to $450 may also apply. See our full disclosure statement.
Yes. Moola is operated by Lending Room Limited, an independent NZ finance broker registered on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSP486566) and bound by the responsible lending principles in section 9C of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003. We are supervised by the Commerce Commission.
One application, matched to lenders who specifically accept work visa holders. One soft credit check, no impact on your score. Most applicants hear back the same business day.
Rates 8.99%–29.95% p.a. (AIR). The 8.99% rate is offered to applicants with strong credit profiles on secured loans. Your rate depends on your credit profile, loan amount, term and security. Broker and introducer fee up to $1,500 (GST inclusive) on successful funding. Lender establishment fees up to $450 may apply. See the disclosure statement.
