Looking To Apply For A Visa To New Zealand? Here’s What You Need To Know

If you are planning to visit New Zealand anytime soon, here are some visa requirements that you must know about if you don’t want to land in any trouble in a foreign land, because it is always good to be prepared in advance than to be sorry later, right?

1. Criteria for holidaying in New Zealand:

You won’t need a visa to visit New Zealand if you are:

– An Australian or a New Zealand citizen or resident

– A UK citizen and/or passport holder (you are allowed to stay for up to 6 months)

– A citizen of a country which has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand (you are allowed to stay up to 6 months)

2. If you don’t meet the above criteria, you’ll need a visitor visa that allows you to holiday in New Zealand for up to nine months. The best way to apply for a visa is online.

3. Visitors from visa-waiver countries have to request for an Electronic Travel Authority before visiting New Zealand and you may also have to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy from 1st October 2019. Click here to know more about ETA and IVL.

4. You need to make sure your passport is valid for at least 3 months longer than your expected departure date or you might land into some serious trouble. Please apply well in advance if you come from a country that needs a New Zealand visa to enter.

5. If you own a bio-metric ordinary passport and are over 12 years of age, you will be able to use New Zealand Customs eGate Service that allows you to complete your Customs and Immigration checks relatively faster than the others.

6. Criteria for working holiday visa:

A working holiday visa is available to young people who are usually aged between 18-30. This type of visa lets you travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or 23 months if you are from the UK.

Here is the eligibility criteria for applying for this visa:

– You must have a return ticket or enough money to pay for one

– You are visiting New Zealand mainly for a holiday, with work being a secondary intention

7. Criteria for work visa and staying permanently:

You’ll need a work or resident visa if you are traveling to New Zealand to work for a few years or maybe to settle down. To be eligible for these two types of visas, you’ll need a job.

Click here for information on working in New Zealand, tips on job hunting and list of job sites to check out.

After landing in New Zealand, you’ll need to complete a Passenger Arrival Card before passing through Customs Passport Control. You’ll be given this card during your flight but, in case you are not given the card, it will be available in the arrival area.