New Zealand Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Indian and Filipino passport holders need a Visitor visa for New Zealand, allowing stays of up to 9 months per entry. Some other nationalities can enter New Zealand visa-free under bilateral agreements. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
New Zealand visa at a glance
- Government fee
- NZD 211 (~$130 / ₹10,800) per entry — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- 20–30 working days (Immigration New Zealand ETA)
- Validity / stay
- Up to 9 months per entry
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for New Zealand?
Check the Immigration New Zealand visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a Visitor visa.
New Zealand visa types
- Visitor visa
- Tourism, family visits, short business trips — Up to 9 months per entry
- Visa-free entry
- Short stays under bilateral agreement — Up to 6 months
- Transit visa
- Passing through New Zealand to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for New Zealand depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or immigration authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter New Zealand visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically up to 6 months.
Visa-required nationalities need a Visitor visa for tourism, family visits, or short business trips.
Documents required for a New Zealand visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisitor visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formVisitor visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoVisitor visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservationVisitor visa · not a purchased ticket).
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking)Visitor visa · Proof of accommodation (hotel booking).
- Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter)Visitor visa · Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter).
- Return ticketVisitor visa · Return ticket.
- Medical certificateVisitor visa · may be required for longer stays.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
- Valid passportVisa-free entry · 6+ months validity.
- Return or onward ticketVisa-free entry · Return or onward ticket.
- Proof of accommodationVisa-free entry · Proof of accommodation.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stayVisa-free entry · Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
New Zealand visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- NZD 211 (~$130 / ₹10,800) per entry — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 9 months per entry
- Official processing
- 20–30 working days (Immigration New Zealand ETA)
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a New Zealand visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Immigration New Zealand visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from Immigration New Zealand. Requirements differ by nationality
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a New Zealand visa above (passport, form, photo, itinerary, accommodation, proof of funds).
Submit your application
online at immigration.govt.nz. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
the official ETA is 20–30 working days. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Receive your visa
when a decision is made, you'll be notified by email.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check New Zealand's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the immigration portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into New Zealand is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A visitor visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a visitor visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a New Zealand visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
New Zealand visa questions, answered.
More for your New Zealand trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.