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Visitors to the country are encouraged to apply for their visitor visas early, given the high volumes of such applications expected in the coming months.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced in August 2024 that it will be increasing visa charges, made up of fees and levies, effective 1 October 2024.
INZ said these new visa charges will be "set at an appropriate level to recover the costs of processing a visa and reflect the benefits received by people using immigration services."
Here is a list of some of the types of applications and the change to fees and levy rates:
For more information on the other types of applications, refer to the full table here.
In line with the above announcement, the INZ is encouraging visitors to apply for their visitor visas early, given the high volumes of such applications expected. In the statement, Jock Gilray, INZ's Director Visa, said this is "essential to ensure people travelling to New Zealand have the peace of mind of knowing their visa is sorted before they make their travel arrangements."
"New Zealanders are looking forward to welcoming friends, family and tourists from all over the world this summer.
"That’s why we are asking that anyone who plans to travel to New Zealand for Christmas to submit their application no later than 15 October 2024.
"Anyone travelling in the New Year, including Chinese Lunar New Year, should submit their application no later than 15 November 2024", he added.
Applications submitted after the recommended dates may not be processed in time for their intended travel.
The INZ said it is expecting to receive more than 260,000 visitor visa applications over the summer peak processing period.
To ensure a smooth and timely process, INZ strongly advises travellers to submit their visa applications well in advance and include all necessary documentation. This will help expedite processing and increases the chances of approval.
Gilray added: "Applications that are missing supporting documents or English translations are more likely to be declined.
"Making a complete visitor visa application early means you will receive your visa decision sooner, enabling you to spend more time planning your trip to New Zealand."
Tips shared for faster visitor visa processing:
- Ensure that your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your departure from New Zealand. This also applies to the passports of any accompanying travellers.
- Include a clear, scanned copy of the photo page in your passport in your visa application.
- Provide a photo that meets the specific requirements to avoid processing delays.
- Double-check your personal information, such as your name, passport number, and date of birth, to ensure it matches your passport and prevents issues with boarding your flight.
- Submit documentation that demonstrates your intention to visit New Zealand temporarily and return home afterward.
- Provide supporting documents in English or provide an English translation for non-English documents.
In addition to the above, INZ has reiterated that passport holders from certain countries and territories do not need to apply for a visa before traveling to New Zealand.
However, they must obtain an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) prior to their journey.
The list of visa waiver countries and territories are as follows:
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