New Zealand Visa Policy

Visa Policy for New Zealand

New Zealand has shown the world the way to fight the coronavirus. They are opening up their borders once again, all you need is a valid passport and a New Zealand visa to visit the beautiful country.

As per the current New Zealand visa policy, people of more than 190 nationalities can visit New Zealand without a visa for a period of up to 3 months! However, you must note that you might not need the consular visa from New Zealand but you will definitely need a few other travel documents.

The NZeTA is the electronic travel authorization provided by the government of New Zealand for all travelers who wish to visit New Zealand. This travel document can let you enter New Zealand multiple times. You must receive official approval for your NZeTA before you depart for New Zealand from the country of your residence.

Citizens of Australia are exempted from this travel authorization because they already hold resident status once they arrive in New Zealand according to the Trans-Tasman agreement signed by the two nations. All visitors who wish to stay longer than the travel authorization allows them will need to apply for a New Zealand visa.

Click here to apply for the New Zealand visa

New Zealand Tourist Visa

Your visa status for New Zealand depends upon several factors. According to the guidelines of the New Zealand visa policy, the purpose of your stay, duration of your stay, and your nationality can change the procedure for your visa application.

More than 190 countries of the world are already allowed to visit New Zealand without a visa for a short period of time. All they need is the electronic travel authorization which they can avail online through a simple online application form.

Members belonging to the nationalities that are not allowed to visit New Zealand via the electronic travel authorization shall have to apply for the New Zealand visa for tourism. This can be done by coming in contact with the officials of the New Zealand embassy in their country of residence.

Citizens of Chinese nationality can also apply for their New Zealand visa for tourism online. All visitors that are traveling to New Zealand, whether by visa or via electronic travel authorization- should have their valid passport with them. The passport should be valid for at least two months after their trip to New Zealand is over.

Electronic Travel Authorization for New Zealand

New Zealand visa policy states that all 190 countries that do not need a visa to stay in New Zealand for a short period of time need an electronic travel authorization for their stay. This ETA is an electronic visa waiver that is a mandatory travel document for all visitors. This electronic travel authorization should also be required for all airline and cruise crew members. All visitors can apply for the electronic travel authorization with the help of a very simple online application form. This ETA will then have to be approved by the New Zealand authorities. Once the document is approved, the waiver will be linked to the visitor’s passport without coming in contact with any other middlemen.

As per the current New Zealand visa policy, an electronic travel authorization for New Zealand allows the individual to stay in the country for 3 months. Special exceptions include British citizens who can stay in New Zealand for 6 months with every entry. In total, the New Zealand travel authorization document is valid for two years after the date on which it was issued.

The New Zealand travel authorization is valid for up to five years for all airline and cruise members that are applying for their traveling in New Zealand. This travel document is also mandatory for people who will be visiting New Zealand in transit at the Auckland airport in New Zealand.

Travel enthusiasts that are visiting New Zealand will also have to pay an additional sum of 35 NZD as tourism tax. This amount belongs to the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. The amount is used to maintain the nature and infrastructure of New Zealand and to ensure that all visitors have a pleasant stay in the country. The amount is deducted in addition to the ETA charges.

Consular Visa for New Zealand

The current New Zealand visa policy dictates that there are around 50 nationalities in the world that cannot enter New Zealand without an embassy visa. This is the case regardless of the duration or intent of their stay in New Zealand.

These aspiring visitors of New Zealand will have to come in contact with the nearest New Zealand embassy and make an appointment for their visa. They are required to visit with their visa application form and the supporting documents as mentioned. You will have to specify the duration and purpose of your stay very clearly. You will have to prove if you are visiting New Zealand for tourism, business, work, or education purposes. You might also need a consular visa when in transit if your nationality is exempted from electronic travel authorization.

As per the New Zealand visa policy, folks that are eligible for the New Zealand ETA do not need the consular visa; however, they might need this if they are planning to extend the duration of their stay in New Zealand. The validity of your visa will depend upon the reasons behind your stay in New Zealand. You must try the visa eligibility tracker on iVisa.com to know if your nationality requires you to have an embassy visa for your trip to New Zealand. Regardless of the rules, obtaining your New Zealand visa is a quick and hassle-free process.