New Zealand Visa

You can’t say you’ve seen everything if you haven’t seen New Zealand. One of the ultimate travel destinations in the world, New Zealand has something for everyone: mountains, volcanoes, beaches, big cities, tiny villages, you name it. This paradise in the southern hemisphere also offers a lot of extremely enjoyable activities and adventures. Yes, you have to visit New Zealand, but first you need a New Zealand visa.

Types Available

As in many other countries, there are several types of visas that foreign nationals may choose from. If you are not a diplomat or national government official, you can choose the one that suits you, depending on the purpose of your visit.

Visitor Visa. If you want to visit New Zealand to see relatives and friends, play sport, study (up to three months), undertake medical treatment, undertake a business trip, or simply to have fun, this type of visa is for you. This multiple-entry visa is valid for up to nine months. All foreign nationals are expected to carry a visitor visa when traveling to New Zealand. You need not apply for one if you are:

• an Australian citizen or an Australian resident with a permanent resident return visa
• a British citizen or a tourist with a British passport
• you are a citizen of a country with which New Zealand has a visa agreement waiver and you are visiting New Zealand for less than three months

You must also have a passport and proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the country. You must also show evidence that you will leave the country and not stay there for good.

Student Visa. If you wish to take a three-month course in New Zealand, what you need is a visitor visa. If you want to study there longer, what you need is a student visa. If you’re an Australian citizen, however, you don’t need to apply for one. You must meet character and health requisites and prove that you have sufficient funds during your stay.

Working Holiday Visa. This visa scheme gives people aged between 18 and 30 an opportunity to travel to New Zealand and work during their stay. It allows visa holders to undertake employment in order to supplement their travels. However, these “jobs” must be incidental and fall within the restrictions stipulated on the visa. With a working holiday visa, you can stay in the country for up to 12 months (23 months if you’re a British citizen).

To qualify for the working holiday visa scheme, you must be a citizen of a country with which New Zealand has a working holiday agreement. You must also meet basic requirements, such as age and health. You must also fulfill other criteria based on your country of origin and available funds. It must also be your first time participating in this scheme.

Business Visa. This type of visa contributes to New Zealand’s economic development by attracting investors and entrepreneurs. Under this type are two categories: temporary entry and permanent residence. The temporary entry category can also be called the work to residence category. If you’re a business owner interested in exploring business options in New Zealand before applying for permanent residency, this is for you.

On the other hand, the business residence category is for investors, entrepreneurs and skilled workers who intend to reside in New Zealand permanently. If this is what you want, you must meet all the prerequisites, such as English proficiency and health tests, to receive residence.

Family Visa. If you want to reunite with your family, who are already permanently residing in New Zealand, you should apply for a family visa. This is available to family members of New Zealand residents and citizens. To qualify under this category, you must be a parent, sibling or a dependent child of a citizen.

Requirements

The requirements vary according to the type of visa you are applying for.

Tourist Visa. If you’re an American, Australian or British citizen and you want to stay in New Zealand for less than three months, you don’t need a visa. However, if you wish to stay longer, you must apply for one. Here are the requirements:

• passport with remaining validity of six months or more
• accomplished visa application form
• passport-size photograph
• evidence of legal residence in your country
• copy of itinerary and round trip airline tickets
• proof of enough funds (a letter of reference from bank or a recent bank statement showing more than NZ$1000 per month of stay)

Business Visa. You don’t need a business visa if you’re an American, British or Australian citizen and you wish to stay in New Zealand for less than three months. However, if you’re performing installations and start-ups, a visa is required. Here are the requirements.

• passport with six months or more remaining validity
• accomplished visa application form
• passport-size photograph
• evidence of legal residence in your country
• copy of itinerary and round trip airline tickets
• business letter of responsibility (printed on your company letterhead)

Whatever type of visa you are applying for, you also have to write a letter explaining the purpose of your travel and the duties you need to perform in New Zealand, apart from the requirements enumerated above, Submit all the requirements to the New Zealand consulate or embassy near you.

Additional Information

The government of New Zealand has implemented a new system designed to tighten the security of the country’s borders. You may not be allowed to board your flight to New Zealand if you do not have the right type of visa, if your visa has expired or has been transferred to your new or current passport. To avoid this kind of disruption to your travel plans, ensure that all your travel documents are with you and are up-to-date.