- A copy of your current and older passport.
- You must submit the visa that entitles you to live in a country that is not your home country (if applicable).
- If a country has rejected your visa application, you must provide a copy of the letter from the country’s immigration authority rejecting your visa application or a letter explaining why your application was unsuccessful.
- A letter from your employer confirming that you will go back to work.
- A letter or student identity card from your school to prove that you are registered for study.
- A letter explaining your family connections in your home country.
Health Declaration
You must explain in your visa application that you will pay for any medical assistance or healthcare you receive in New Zealand.
Proof of Enough Money to Return Home
You must provide evidence that you have sufficient personal funds to buy a return ticket or be sponsored for your onward travel. You must provide the following:
- Proof you have enough money to buy a ticket out of New Zealand, or
- A ‘Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry‘ that your sponsor completed.
If you are sponsored, your sponsor must provide evidence they can look after you in New Zealand by submitting the following:
- Recent bank statements
- Pay slips
- Employment agreement
- Accommodation ownership or payment of rent
Proof of Your Relationship to Family Members
You must prove your relationship to the family members you will be bringing. Documents you must submit are:
- Marriage or civil union certificate
- A joint rental agreement or home loan
- Joint bank accounts
- Evidence that you own assets together
- Joint utilities account
- Joint credit cards
- Birth certificates of your children
Proof of Sufficient Financial Means
You must prove that you have enough money to live in New Zealand. You must have at least NZD $1,000 per month or NZD $400 per month if you’ve already paid for your accommodation. Documents you must submit are:
- Hotel pre-paid vouchers or receipts as proof of paid accommodation
- Credit card statements
- Bank statements
- Bank drafts
- Travelers’ cheques
- A ‘Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry’ filled out by an acceptable sponsor
If you are sponsored, your sponsor must prove they can support you in New Zealand. You must provide the listed documents:
- Recent bank statements
- Pay slips
- Employment agreement
- Accommodation ownership or payment of rent
Police Certificates
You must provide a police certificate as evidence that you are of good character if you stay in New Zealand for more than 24 months. The certificate must be in English and not older than six months.
Proof of Good Health
To apply for a Tourist visa, you may be required to prove that you are in good health. You are required to submit a chest x-ray, a medical examination, or both if you:
- will be staying in New Zealand for more than one year
- are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Visitor visa
How to Apply In Person For the New Zealand Tourist Visa?
To apply in person for a New Zealand Tourist visa, you must complete the paper application and submit it to your nearest visa application center. You must follow the steps below to apply for a New Zealand Tourist visa:
- Complete the application form. You must print the application form from the New Zealand Immigration webpage if the Visitor Visa. You can use this form to apply for a single person or family visa. The answers you provide must be in English and capital letters. Before you attach the photos, you must write your name on the back of them.
- Book an appointment at your nearest visa application center. To book an appointment, you must visit the VFS Global website. Check the Visa application centers outside New Zealand on the New Zealand Immigration website to find your nearest visa application center.
- Print the confirmation email. When you submit your booking application, you will receive a confirmation email with the appointment details. You must print the attachment email together with the booking details and means of payment when you visit the VAC.
- Attend the appointment. When you attend the appointment, you must:
- Submit the application form and all the required documents. Bring all the required documents to the appointment and avoid any possibility of your application being rejected.
- Pay the application fee and the required levies. You can pay the required fees when you attend the appointment. The Immigration Cost, VAC Service Fee, and (if applicable) courier fee should be combined into one payment. You can pay with Visa or MasterCard.
How to Apply Online For a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
To apply online for a New Zealand Tourist visa, you must follow the steps below:
- You must complete the online application. You can apply online for a Tourist visa by clicking ‘apply online’ on the Immigration New Zealand website of the Visitor Visa. To start the application, you must create a RealMe account. Provide correct information in each section.
- Upload your documents and photo. You must upload scanned documents that do not exceed 10MB. You must upload them as PDFs. The documents that are translated must be certified or official translations. You must submit your passport-style photo in jpeg format.
- Pay the application fee with your credit card. You must pay the required fee by using a Visa or MasterCard. The Immigration Cost, VAC Service Fee, and (if applicable) courier fee should be combined into one payment.
- Submit the application. When you complete the online application, you can submit it. You will be notified when your eVisa is issued. You must print your eVisa letter and bring it when you travel to New Zealand. You will use the eVisa to travel to and stay in New Zealand for the time allowed by your visa.
What Are the Fees for a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
To apply for a New Zealand Tourist visa, you must pay the following fees:
| Online application | On paper application | |
| Application fee | NZD $170 — $245 | NZD $230 — $390 |
| Passport fee | – | NZD $45 — $80 |
| Courier fee | – | NZD $12 — $100 |
| VAC Service Fee | – | NZD $75 |
What Is the Processing Time for a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
It usually takes 51 days to process a New Zealand Tourist visa application. 90% of applications are usually processed within this time.
What Is the Duration of a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
The duration of a New Zealand Visitor Visa is 18 months. You are allowed to stay for nine months within these 18 months:
- The 18 months are calculated backward from the last day you plan to enter New Zealand.
- If the last day you’ll be in New Zealand is December 1, your 18-month period will begin on June 1 of the year before.
You can apply to stay in New Zealand for another three months if you:
- need more time to finish your tourist itinerary
- cannot leave New Zealand for reasons beyond your control
- have applied for the first time for residence
What Are the Conditions of the New Zealand Tourist Visa?
Once you obtain a New Zealand Tourist visa, you must meet the conditions of the visa. The conditions are described in your eVisa, on the visa label in your passport, or in a letter sent to you. The conditions of the New Zealand Visitor visa are listed below:
- You must apply for entry permission when you enter the New Zealand border. You must provide your passport, a ticket back to your home country, and a completed Passenger arrival card which you will be given on your way to New Zealand.
- You can stay for nine months within 18 months.
- You must leave New Zealand before your Visitor visa expires.
- You must have a valid multiple-entry travel condition to return to New Zealand if you travel in and out of New Zealand.
- You cannot work in New Zealand under a Visitor visa.
- You can study for up to three months in any 12-month period.
- If your visa label or letter does not say “Return/Onward travel not required”, you must have a:
- Travel ticket to a country you can enter
- An acceptable sponsor who can pay for a ticket to a country you can enter
You can apply to change the conditions of the Tourist visa. You can apply to:
- study part-time for more than three months
- work in the horticulture or viticulture industries
- work up to 20 hours per week if you are a dependent child included in a 2021 Resident Visa application
- change the number of times you can travel to another nation and return to New Zealand before the expiration date of your visa
Can I Become a Permanent Resident With a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
A New Zealand Tourist visa does not allow you to become a permanent resident. You must apply for a Resident visa if you want to become a permanent resident of New Zealand.
Can I Work in New Zealand on a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
You cannot work with a New Zealand Visitor visa. If you want to work in New Zealand, you must apply for a NZ Work visa.
Can I Study in New Zealand on a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
You can study for up to three months in any 12-month period. If you want to study for more than three months, you can apply for a Student visa.
Can I Bring my Family Members With a New Zealand Tourist Visa?
The Tourist visa allows you to bring your partner and family members. Family members you can bring are:
- Your partner with whom you are in either:
- A legal marriage,
- A civil union, or
- A de facto relationship
- Dependent children who are:
- Under the age of 19
- Not married
- Financially reliant on you
- Not parents themselves
