New Zealand Visitor Visa: Application guide for 2023

Apply Today for a New Zealand Visitor Visa with us!

New Zealand is one of those destinations that have it all! From breathtaking landscapes and beautiful cities to great wine and iconic places for Lord of the Rings fans, like the famous Middle Earth. But before you go, make sure you have a valid New Zealand Visa.

Good news! You can now easily apply for your New Zealand Visitor Visa online with us. Our iVisa experts will carefully review your application for your peace of mind.

Find out more about the Visitor Visa for New Zealand below or start your application now!

What is the New Zealand Visitor Visa?

The New Zealand Visitor Visa allows eligible travelers to visit the country for tourism and other activities described below.

What you can do with the New Zealand Visitor Visa:

• Tourist activities.

• Play sports and participate in cultural activities.

• Visit family and friends.

• Short studies for no longer than 3 months.

• Get married (additional conditions may apply).

What you can’t do with the New Zealand Visitor Visa:

• Work or do business activities that involve any sort of payment. In that case, you must apply for a Work Visa or Business Visa through the New Zealand government.

What are you waiting for? Apply now!

Who can apply for the New Zealand Visitor Visa?

You need the New Zealand Visitor Visa if you:

• Are not from a visa-exempt country or territory - check them on the government website.

• Want to visit for more than 3 months (or 6 months if you’re from the United Kingdom).

• Do not have a criminal history or certain health problems that can be harmful to New Zealand society.

Travelers from visa-waiver countries, including Australian citizens and U.S. nationals, should apply for the New Zealand ETA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) instead. This travel document is also available online with us.

You can include your partner and any dependent children up to 19 years old by clicking ‘Add another person’ during the application process. Dependent children also need to meet the health, character, and financial requirements.

Quickly check your eligibility for the New Zealand Visitor Visa or ETA, using our handy Visa Checker Tool, and apply instantly online!

How long is the New Zealand Visitor Visa valid?

You can visit New Zealand as a tourist for up to 9 months in an 18-month period with the Visitor Visa.

When applying with us, you can choose between a multiple-entry and a single-entry visa. However, the immigration officer ultimately decides the number of entries according to your travel plans.

Get your New Zealand Visitor Visa now!

Is it possible to extend the New Zealand Visitor Visa?

Before your visa expires, you can apply for another 3 months’ stay and extend the visa to 12 months in a 24-month period if:

• You want more time for your tourist itinerary.

• You can’t leave New Zealand for reasons beyond your control.

• You applied for residency for the first time.

You must again prove that you have enough money to support yourself. If you already visited New Zealand for 12 months, you must leave New Zealand and wait for another 12 months before you can apply for another Visitor Visa.

Required document to apply online for the New Zealand Visitor Visa

To apply online for the Visitor Visa, you must submit the following documents and information:

• Applicant photo: If you don’t have one, don’t worry! Get a photo that meets all government requirements affordably using our digital photo service from the comfort of your own home.

• Copy/scan of your valid passport and proof of residency if you live in another country than where your passport is issued.

• Travel itinerary such as a hotel reservation and return ticket to your home country to show you’re a genuine tourist.

• Provide evidence of enough funds to pay for all expenses during the trip and onward travel. For example, bank statements, credit card statements, term deposits, or loan statements.

• Australian Visa (if applicable): This document is only necessary if you plan to visit Australia during or after your stay in New Zealand.

• Provide proof of good health (if applicable): Certain travelers need to provide a chest x-ray or medical examination as evidence of good health. Read more here.

• Police certificates (if applicable) are part of the character requirements if you intend to stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months.

Certain you meet all requirements? Apply now!

How to apply online for the New Zealand Visitor Visa

To apply for the New Zealand Visitor Visa online, simply follow the below three steps:

• Step 1: Complete our simplified visa application form with your personal details and travel information. We will carefully double-check your info to be government-compliant.

• Step 2: Pay the government fee and iVisa processing fee with a credit/debit card or PayPal.

• Step 3: After the payment, you will receive a complete PDF guide from your iVisa Expert to gather all the correct documents, where to drop them off, how to make an appointment for a medical examination and biometrics, and more.

Your documents and biometric information are usually submitted at a Visa Application Center (VAC). As mentioned, we will guide you through from start to finish!

Apply now with the guidance of iVisa

Benefits of getting the New Zealand Visitor Visa with iVisa

• 100% government-compliant: Our team of iVisa Experts will review all information and make sure it’s 100% compliant with the government requirements of New Zealand.

• Unlimited access to your iVisa Expert: You’ll be assigned a personal iVisa Expert to guide you through the entire online application process and answer any questions you may have.

• Simplified process: Visa applications can be confusing and tedious. At iVisa, we only include relevant questions, making the form up to 50% shorter than usual.

• Fill out at your own pace: Save your progress, make changes, and come back to it later whenever you need a break.

• Step-by-step guide: Apply with us and receive a PDF manual with all the tips you need to answer difficult sections and a step-by-step guide to get your Visitor Visa without problems.

• iVisa values your safety: We have a solid security system to protect your personal information and payment details.

Apply now with iVisa!

Costs and processing time of the New Zealand Visitor Visa

The costs for the New Zealand Visitor Visa can vary according to your nationality.

Use our Visa Checker Tool to find out the exact price of the government fee and iVisa processing fee for you. Simply select your nationality as in your passport and go through the application steps.

It takes around 48 days to process New Zealand Visitor Visas (in 90% of cases), but there is no guarantee. To ensure enough time to process your info, we recommend to plan ahead and *apply at least two months in advance.

Remember that with us, an iVisa Expert will double-check your application and do all the legwork for you. Forget about stressful visa applications and enjoy planning your trip!

Apply now without hassle!

Do I need a transit visa to transit through New Zealand?

You don’t need a (transit) visa to transit in New Zealand if you:

• Are from a visa-waiver country - see the section ‘Who can apply’ for more info.

• Are from a transit visa-waiver country.

• Are an Australian citizen.

• Have an Australian Visa and are transiting to fly to Australia.

Other things to know before you go to New Zealand

Here is some extra information that visitors to New Zealand may find important to know before they travel.

Differences between the New Zealand Visitor Visa and the ETA

Besides that different nationalities are eligible for an ETA or a Visitor Visa, there are a few more distinctions:

• An ETA is not a traditional visa but rather an authorization that allows eligible travelers to visit the country without a visa.

• It’s usually easier to apply for an ETA, as it just needs a few details and can be done online. Luckily, with our help, you can now apply for the Visitor Visa more quickly and easily!

• The Visitor Visa allows you to stay longer in New Zealand, unlike the ETA which is meant for shorter visits.

About the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy

Some tourists, travelers on working holidays, and students coming to New Zealand must pay the so-called International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZ$35.

Check if you need to pay this fee on the New Zealand government website.

The IVL fee is a contribution towards maintaining the natural environment that you will enjoy during your stay. Usually, the payment is part of the visa application process.

Where can I learn more?

In case you have any questions about the New Zealand Visitor Visa or any other travel documents, you can reach out to our outstanding customer support team via online chat or by email at [email protected].

They are available for free to assist you in case you run into any difficulties!