People travelling on a passport from some countries must apply for a Visitor Visa to visit New Zealand. You can stay for up to either 6 months (multiple entry) or 9 months (single entry). You cannot work, but you can study for up to 3 months.
Length of stay
Up to either
6 or 9 months
Cost
From
NZD $211
Processing time
80% within
3 weeks
With this visa you can
- Holiday in New Zealand.
- Visit family and friends in New Zealand.
- Study for up to 3 months.
- Include your partner and dependent children in your visa application.
Things to note
- Full English language translations must be provided for any documents not in English.
Providing English translations of supporting documents - Some people including citizens of visa waiver countries can travel to New Zealand with an NZeTA instead of a visa.
Check if you need an NZeTA or visa - How long you can stay depends on if you have a single entry or multiple entry visa. Check the visa conditions to learn more.
Visitor Visa conditions - We advise travellers not to book any non-refundable travel until after their Visitor Visa is approved.
Apply early
If you are planning to travel to New Zealand for Christmas it is important that you apply for your Visitor Visa by 15 October so that your application can be processed in time.
Visitor Visa
Enter your country details
Use the filters below to display relevant tips as well as detailed fees and receiving centre information
Provide your country to make the experience more relevant to you.
Overview
What you need to apply
Process and costs
How to submit
Conditions
What you need to apply
Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.
View All Evidence
- 1 acceptable photo if you apply online, or 2 photos if you use a paper application form.
- your passport or certificate of identity.
If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you have applied.
Providing your passport for online applications
If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy. We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.
Tips
If you are a citizen of China and you submit a paper application form in China, you must also complete a supplementary form.
Supplementary form for Chinese citizens (INZ 1027) PDF 338KB
If you are submitting a paper application form, you must provide a supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students.
Supplementary form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) PDF 240KB
Also provide a copy of your Identity card.
Also provide your:
- Hukou (household registration book)
- Chineseidentity card.
Check that you enter your details correctly when you apply. If there are any errors or mistakes your application will be delayed. We also may decline your application or refuse you entry to New Zealand.
We may ask you to have a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both as proof of your good health.
If you are staying less than:
- 6 months you do not normally need a chest X-ray.
- 12 months you do not normally need a medical certificate.
Who needs an X-ray or medical examination
When we process your application we let you know if we need you to have a chest x-ray or medical examination.
Tips
You must provide a chest x-ray completed in the last 3 months, even if you've provided one to us previously, if:
- you have spent 6 consecutive months in China since the last x-ray certificate was issued, and
- you are now coming to NZ for more than 6 months.
If you have a criminal conviction or are a security risk to New Zealand we may not be able to grant you a visa.
Good character for temporary visas
You must provide police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer across all visits. This includes any time you have spent in New Zealand in the past on other visas, even if you have been out of the country since then.
You also must provide police certificates if we ask for them.
If you are 16 years old or younger you do not need to provide police certificates.
How to get a police certificate
If you have already sent us Police Certificates with a previous visa application and they are less than 24 months old, you do not need to send them again.
Police certificates must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application. They must be from any country you are a citizen of, or have spent more than 5 years in since you turned 17.
When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we consider all the information:
- you provide to support your application
- we have about your personal circ*mstances, and
- you provided in any previous applications.
Tips
If you will return to a Schengen member state after your visit, but are not a citizen of a member state, you should provide evidence of your right to return to that country.
Evidence of your right to return to that country is a current copy of your Schengen visa.
You may need to apply for a different visa if you are coming to New Zealand:
- to work — apply for a work visa.
- for a special purpose, such as joining a partner, or traveling for a work conference — check the other visitor visas to find one that matches your purpose.
- for medical treatment - apply for a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa.
- to conduct or undertake business — apply for a business visa.
To bring family:
- you must provide evidence of your relationship with them, like marriage and birth certificates
- you must provide proof of their identity
- they must be of good character
- they must be in good health.
Tips
A family can include yourself, your partner, and dependent children 19 and under.
You should provide copies offamily members Hukou (household registration book)included in your application.
You should provide copies of identity cards for family members included in your application.
If you are paying for yourself
You must have at least NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month if you have already paid for your accommodation.
To prove this, you can include:
- proof of accommodation pre-payment, like hotel pre-paid vouchers or receipts
- bank statements or credit card statements
- bank drafts or travellers’ cheques.
We may also ask for information about the source of your money that you will use for travelling.
If you are sponsored
Your sponsor must provide evidence that they meet the criteria, and can look after you while you are in New Zealand.
Criteria to sponsor a visa applicant
What sponsors must do while a visa holder is in New Zealand
Evidence they can provide includes:
- recent bank statements
- pay slips
- employment agreement
- accommodation ownership or payment of rent
You must have your sponsor's Sharing ID to complete your online application.
Tips
You may be eligible for streamlined visa processing arrangements.
If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.
You must declare in your visa application that you will pay the costs of any health care or medical assistance you receive in New Zealand.
Tips
We recommend that you have full medical insurance for the length of your visit.
When you arrive in New Zealand you may be asked to show that you intend to leave the country — for example, a return ticket or proof you have enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand. This is in addition to the funds you have to live on.
If you are sponsored and you do not have a return ticket your sponsor can provide recent bank statements to show they have enough money to buy you a ticket out of New Zealand.
Tips
If you are not a citizen of the country you will return to after your visit, you must provide evidence of your legal right to enter that country.
If you will return to Schengen member state after your visit, but are not a citizen of a member state, evidence of your right to enter that country is a current copy of your Schengen visa.
If you buy your ticket before we have processed your visa application, you risk losing the fare if we do not grant you a visa.
Documents must be translated by someone who meets our requirements for providing English translations.
Process and costs
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
Notes
We cannot display any process or costs information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.
Enter country details
How to submit
Payment methods and receiving centre details if applicable.
Notes
We cannot display any receiving centre or payment method information until you have provided your country details. Enter your country details in the panel above to view information relevant to your situation.
Enter country details
Conditions
These are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.
Entry permission
You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a digital New Zealand traveller declaration (NZTD), or an NZTD paper declaration.
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
Notes
You can be refused entry permission if you:
- are not a genuine visitor
- do not meet our character criteria
- have had a change in circ*mstances since you were granted a visa
- refuse to let us take your photo or to provide us with your fingerprints or an iris scan
- cannot provide evidence of any onward travel or funds required to leave New Zealand.
Before you travel make sure you carry all the documentation you need with you.
You may not be allowed to check in to your flight if your passport is close to expiring. Check that it will not expire while you are in New Zealand or close to when you plan to leave New Zealand.
How long you can stay
How long you can stay depends on if you have a multiple entry or a single entry visa.
Multiple entry Visitor Visa
If you have a multiple entry visa, you can visit New Zealand as a tourist as many times as you want and stay for a total of up to 6 months in a 12-month period.
The 12-month period is calculated back from the last day you intend to be in New Zealand (your intended departure date).
For example, if the last day you intend to be in New Zealand is 1 December 2024, then your 12-month period will begin on 1 December 2023.
To be eligible, you must have been out of New Zealand for at least 9 months in the 18-month period before you apply.
Single entry Visitor Visa
If you want to visit New Zealand for more than 6 months or extend your current 6-month stay in New Zealand, we consider issuing you a single entry visa. This lets you enter New Zealand once and stay for up to 9 months in an 18-month period.
The 18-month period is calculated back from your intended departure date.
For example, if the last day you intend to be in New Zealand is 1 December 2024, then your 18-month period will begin on 1 June 2023.
Alert
If you have a single entry Visitor Visa and you leave the country, your visa will expire.
Visa expiry
You must leave New Zealand before your visa expires.
Notes
Visa expiry dates are printed on a visa label or included in a visa letter.
Travel
If travelling in and out of New Zealand, a valid multiple entry travel conditionis needed to return to New Zealand.
Notes
If there are no multiple entry travel conditions and you leave New Zealand the visa will expire.
The travel conditions will be listed on the visa label or in a visa letter.
Onward travel
Unless your visa label or letter says 'Return/onward travel not required', you must have either of the following:
- a travel ticket to a country you can enter
- an acceptable sponsor who can pay for your travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you can enter.
Notes
Unless your visa label or letter states “Return/onward travel not required” you must have a ticket to leave New Zealand whenever you travel here.
Funds or sponsorship
You must have enough money to support yourself while you are in New Zealand or have a sponsor.
Notes
You may be asked for evidence you have enough funds to support yourself when you check in or arrive in New Zealand.
Work
You cannotwork in New Zealand on this visa,however you may be able to volunteer.
Notes
If you’re coming to New Zealand to take up an offer of employment, you should apply for a Work Visa.
If you’re coming to New Zealand for a special purpose, such as a work requirement, or as a partner or family member, you should first consider the Special Category Visitor Visas.
If you want to conduct business while in New Zealand, you should apply for a Business Visitor Visa.
Study
You may study for up to 3 months in any 12 month period.
Notes
School-aged children can study for up to 3 months in any calendar year. Children studying for more than 2 weeks must attend a school that is signatory to the ‘Code of Pastoral Care for International Students’.
