Visit New Zealand
Whether you're visiting family and friends, enjoying a holiday, attending a sporting event or conference, exploring business opportunities, undertaking short-term study, or simply wanting to experience everything New Zealand has to offer, there are a range of visitor visa options available to suit different circumstances…
Visa Waiver Visitors (NZeTA)
Citizens of around 60 visa waiver countries can normally visit New Zealand without first obtaining a visitor visa. Instead, they need to obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before travelling.
An NZeTA is applied for online, is inexpensive and quickly issued, and is usually valid for two years. It allows multiple visits to New Zealand, with stays of up to three months on each visit (or six months for UK passport holders).
If you are eligible for an NZeTA, this will generally be the best option to gain entry to New Zealand - you must also hold an outward journey air ticket.
Visitor Visas
If you are not eligible for a visa waiver, you will usually need to apply for a visitor visa before travelling to New Zealand. In many cases, your partner and dependent children can be included in, or supported by, the same visa application.
The key requirement is that you genuinely intend to visit New Zealand for a temporary stay, and you will leave before your visa expires. Immigration New Zealand will assess whether you are a bona fide visitor by considering factors such as your travel history, employment, family commitments, financial circumstances, and the incentives you have for returning home after your visit.
You must also demonstrate you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay and hold, or have access to, an onward or return travel ticket.
Special Visitor Visa Pathways
In additional to general visitor visas New Zealand offers a variety of other visa options to meet different needs and circumstances.
These include visitor visas for:
- Parents and grandparents visiting family
- Business visitors
- Academics and researchers
- Entertainers and sportspeople
- Temporary retirees
- People travelling to New Zealand for specific short-term purposes
Each category has its own requirements and visa conditions.
What can you do on a Visitor Visa?
Most visitor visa holders can remain in New Zealand for up to nine months within an eighteen-month period, although the actual visa duration granted will depend on the circumstances and visa category involved.
Visitor visas do not generally allow work in New Zealand, although undertaking remote work for an overseas employer while holidaying in New Zealand is acceptable. Limited study is also permitted, typically for periods of up to three months. Anyone wishing to undertake longer-term study or employment will first need to obtain the appropriate visa.
Looking Beyond Your Visit
For many people, a visitor visa is simply an opportunity to experience New Zealand.
For others, a visit can provide the chance to explore future opportunities for study, business, or investment, or even long-term residence. Understanding these possibilities before you arrive can often help shape your future immigration plans and pathways.
More Information
How We Can Help
Every situation is different. Our experienced advisers can help you understand the options available, identify the pathway that best suits your circumstances and goals, and develop a plan that supports your future in New Zealand.
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Immigration News
Explore our Immigration News & Updates for further guidance on your visitor visa pathways.
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