Plenty of people carry a New Zealand trip somewhere in the back of their mind. Whether the plan is a short visit to family or an open run through the landscape, a trip to New Zealand tends to stay with you. Before the bags are packed, though, it pays to know the entry requirements and which permission you actually need.
If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, read on for the practical points that make for a lawful, trouble-free entry.
What is a New Zealand tourist visa?
The New Zealand tourist visa, formally the visitor visa, is temporary permission for people travelling to New Zealand for sightseeing, to visit family and friends, or to take a short course. It also allows the holder to stay in the country and work remotely for an overseas employer for up to 90 days.
It applies to nationals of countries whose citizens need a visa, such as India and China, who must hold the visa before they travel. Nationals of visa-waiver countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and most of Europe, only need an NZeTA and payment of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). The visitor category has several sub-types, including family visitor, business visitor and medical treatment visas, each with its own conditions.
Types of New Zealand tourist visa
New Zealand is one of the world’s more popular travel destinations and receives visitors from across the world every year. Immigration to New Zealand draws steady interest as well. Depending on the purpose of the trip, the length of stay and your own circumstances, several visitor categories are available. Here are the main ones.
Read more: A full guide to the New Zealand investor visa
General visitor visa
This suits people travelling to New Zealand for sightseeing, to visit family and friends, or to take a short course of up to three months.
- Length of stay: up to 9 months
- Work: not permitted
- Study: permitted for up to 3 months
Business visitor visa
This is issued to people travelling to New Zealand for meetings, conferences, negotiations or trade fairs.
- Length of stay: up to 3 months in a year
- Work: business activities only, not employment with a New Zealand company
Working holiday visa
This is for young people aged 18 to 30, or 35 depending on the country of citizenship, who want to work in a limited way alongside travelling.
- Length of stay: usually 12 months, and for some countries up to 36 months
- Work: permitted
- Study: permitted for a limited period
Transit visa
If you are changing flights at a New Zealand airport and do not qualify for an exemption, you need this visa.
- Length of stay: a short stop only, on the way to a third country
- Leaving the airport: not permitted
Remote work on a visitor visa
New Zealand has no dedicated digital nomad visa, but visitor visa holders can work remotely for a limited period for an employer based outside the country.
- Length of stay: up to 9 months
- Work conditions: for an overseas company or overseas clients only, with no employment relationship in New Zealand
Parent and grandparent visitor visa
This is issued to people visiting a child or grandchild who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
- Length of stay: up to 18 months within a three-year period
- Work: not permitted
Partner of a New Zealander visitor visa
People in a recognised relationship with a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident can apply for this visa.
- Length of stay: the period granted is set by Immigration New Zealand, so check it on immigration.govt.nz
- Work: not permitted
Culturally arranged marriage visitor visa
This is for people whose marriage has been arranged in line with cultural tradition and who are entering New Zealand for the ceremony.
- Length of stay: up to 3 months
- Main condition: the marriage must take place within that period
Read more: A full guide to the New Zealand work visa
Temporary retirement visitor visa
People aged 66 and over with sufficient means can apply to stay in New Zealand temporarily.
- Length of stay: up to 2 years
- Financial conditions: an investment, separate maintenance funds and a minimum annual income are all required; confirm the current amounts on immigration.govt.nz before you rely on them
Academic and research visitor visa
Academics, researchers and university faculty can travel to New Zealand on this visa for short academic work.
- Length of stay: up to 3 months
- Work: academic and research activity only
Temporary visa for dismissed workers
Someone dismissed during a trial period of employment in New Zealand can use this visa to remain in the country briefly.
- Length of stay: up to 3 months
- Purpose: finding new work
- Work: not permitted
For the documents, conditions and renewal rules attaching to any individual category, see the official Immigration New Zealand website.
Requirements for a New Zealand tourist visa
To be granted a New Zealand tourist visa you need to meet the following conditions:
- Passport and travel documents: your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you leave New Zealand. Depending on nationality, you will need either a tourist visa or an electronic travel authority (NZeTA).
- Health and character: you must be in good health. For stays over 3 months a chest x-ray or a medical examination may be required. You must also meet the character requirements, and for a stay over 24 months a police certificate may be required.
- Funds and supporting evidence: you must show that you can pay for your stay: at least NZD 1,000 for each month, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is already paid for. You also need a return ticket, or enough money to buy one.
- A genuine purpose of travel: you must satisfy the officer that you are a genuine visitor and that you intend to leave New Zealand when the visa ends.
- A sponsor in New Zealand, where there is one: if someone in New Zealand is supporting you financially, a family member or a friend for instance, they must supply financial evidence and details of where you will stay.
Documents for a New Zealand tourist visa
| Document Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Passport and photo | Passport, passport photo, copy of the passport bio-data page |
| Travel documents | Flight booking or travel itinerary |
| Financial documents | Bank statement or credit card, proof of prepaid accommodation, sponsorship form |
| Accommodation documents | Hotel receipt, accommodation vouchers, invitation letter from a host |
| Health documents | Chest X-ray certificate, medical examination (if required) |
| Police certificate | Police clearance certificate (for longer stays or extensions) |
| Document translation | English versions of non-English documents |
How to apply for a New Zealand visitor visa
Applying for a New Zealand tourist visa takes a few straightforward steps, and following them in order keeps the process simple. Here is the sequence.
Check that you qualify
Start by confirming that you meet the general conditions for a New Zealand tourist visa: a valid passport, no health or character issues, and the funds to cover your travel and stay. The detail varies somewhat with your country of citizenship and the purpose of the trip.
Read more: Everything about the New Zealand dependant visa
Prepare the documents
A visa application calls for a set of documents, usually these:
- A passport valid for at least three months beyond your departure from New Zealand
- Recent photographs meeting the passport standard
- Evidence of funds, such as bank statements
- A travel plan, including accommodation bookings and a return ticket
- Health and character documents, where required
Choose how to apply
There are two ways to lodge a tourist visa application:
- Online: the quickest and simplest route. You upload the documents, pay the fee online and track the application in your account.
- On paper: you can complete paper forms and send them by post, but this normally takes longer.
Pay the application fee
The fee varies with nationality and visa type, and you pay it as you complete the online application. Check the exact amount on the Immigration New Zealand website before you start.
Wait for a decision
Immigration New Zealand assesses the application and notifies you of the outcome. Processing times vary, so apply early rather than close to your travel date.
If you want professional help with a New Zealand tourist visa application, the advisers at Aval Visa can take you through it.
New Zealand tourist visa fees
The fees for a New Zealand tourist visa are as follows:
- Standard visitor visa: NZD 341
- Parent and grandparent visitor visa: NZD 441
- Group visitor visa: from NZD 271
- International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): NZD 100
How long a New Zealand tourist visa lasts
The validity of a New Zealand tourist visa depends on your nationality, the purpose of the trip and the category applied for. In general, a tourist visa is issued for somewhere between 3 and 9 months.
- Standard visitor visa: usually issued as a multiple-entry visa allowing a stay of up to 6 months. Some are issued as single-entry visas valid for up to 9 months, which is less common.
- Visa-waiver countries: citizens of some countries do not need a tourist visa and can travel directly to New Zealand. British citizens, for example, can stay for up to 6 months without a visa, while nationals of many other countries can stay for up to 3 months.
- Remote work: since January 2025, visitor visa conditions have allowed remote work for an overseas employer, generally for stays of up to 90 days, within a visitor visa that can run to 9 months.
- Parent visitor visa: this lets parents of New Zealand citizens and residents hold a multiple-entry visa and stay for up to 6 months at a time.
For detail that matches your own situation, check the Immigration New Zealand website or contact the New Zealand embassy.
Can a New Zealand tourist visa be extended?
If you are in New Zealand on a tourist visa and want to stay longer, you must apply to extend it before the current visa expires.
- You will need a valid passport, a completed application form, financial evidence, valid health insurance and documents showing your departure plans, such as a return ticket.
- Apply at least 6 to 8 weeks before the visa ends, so there is time for the application to be assessed.
- An assessment fee is payable on the extension application.
- Processing usually takes several weeks, which is another reason to apply early.
- Never stay on in New Zealand after your visa has expired unless an extension application is already lodged, or you risk serious legal consequences.
- Repeated extensions without a sound reason can lead to a refusal.
For more detail and to lodge an application, go to the Immigration New Zealand website.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I travel to New Zealand on a tourist visa and then apply for permanent residence?
No. The tourist visa is for a temporary stay, and residence is applied for under a different category. - Can I travel from New Zealand to Australia on a New Zealand tourist visa?
No. A New Zealand visa does not admit you to Australia. You need a separate Australian visa. - Do I need an invitation letter to apply?
An invitation letter from a host in New Zealand is not required, but it can strengthen an application, particularly where you are visiting family or friends. - Can I rent a car on a tourist visa?
Yes, renting a car on a tourist visa is normally possible, provided you hold a valid driving licence.
