Immigration officials deny they have granted controversial former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson a visa to enter New Zealand.

Tyson, who has been convicted and jailed for rape, is planning to come to Auckland in November as part of a motivational roadshow.

The tour promoters, Australia's Markson Sparks, this week said Tyson had been granted a visa after being given special permission to apply for one.

But Immigration NZ's Michael Carley, in a statement on Friday, said that was not the case.

"No visa application has yet been lodged for Mike Tyson so no decision has yet been made," he said.

Immigration NZ earlier said it was allowing Tyson to apply for a visa under a section of the Immigration Act that allows exceptions for people not normally eligible for visas.

Immigration laws stipulate that no one who has been sentenced to five years or more in prison can be given one.

Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison in 1992 for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in the US.