A Visitor Visa is ideal for individuals who are intending to make a short trip to New Zealand, particularly as tourists or to visit friends and family. It also allows holders to study in New Zealand for up to three months.
Who can apply for a Visitor Visa?
In order to be eligible for a New Zealand Visitor Visa, you should:
- be genuinely intending to visit New Zealand on a temporary basis, and to leave the country at the conclusion of your visit
- have enough funds to support yourself during your visit
- have insurance or sufficient funds to pay for any healthcare needs during your visit
- meet the standard health and good character requirements for New Zealand visas
You may be eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), which allows you to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa first. Check your eligibility for an NZeTA here.
What does a Visitor Visa offer?
A Visitor Visa allows you to:
- visit New Zealand on a temporary basis for:
- up to 6 months in a 12 month period (multiple entry) or;
- up to 9 months (single entry)
- travel to and from New Zealand freely providing your visa permits multiple entries and do not exceed your 6 month maximum stay time
- study for up to 3 months out of a single 12 month period
You are permitted to include your partner and dependent children (19 or younger) in your application.
You are not permitted to work for an employer in New Zealand on the basis of a Visitor Visa. Self-employed and freelance workers (including ‘digital nomads’) are allowed to work for employers based outside New Zealand for up to 90 days on a Visitor Visa without needing additional permissions or being required to pay tax as a resident of New Zealand.
It is generally not permitted to use a Visitor Visa as a basis for applying for another visa, unless you are applying to extend your Visitor Visa to its maximum length of 9 months.
How do I apply for a Visitor Visa?
Applications for a Visitor Visa can be submitted either online or on paper, and must be submitted from outside of New Zealand. Application fees vary depending on the applicant’s nationality and range from NZD $100 to NZD $341, with a NZD $100 charge for each additional person included in the application.
Around 80% of applications for Visitor Visas are reviewed and receive a decision within four weeks.
How long is an NZeTA valid for?
Once approved, an NZeTA is valid for multiple entries to New Zealand over a period of two years. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) is also valid for multiple entries over two years – it costs NZD $100 and is payable by most non-resident visitors with some exceptions, such as citizens of Australia and some Pacific Island countries.
Visitor visa fee reduction for the Pacific
From 1 June 2026, the visitor visa fee for Pacific Islands Forum country nationals visiting New Zealand will be reduced for 12 months, lowering the total cost to $161 from $216 (including the standard immigration levy of $41).
This fee reduction only applies to individuals applying outside New Zealand. Parent Boost Visitor Visas and Group Visitor Visas are not included in this fee reduction.
Pacific visitors already pay lower fees than other visitor visa required nationalities and are not required to pay the International Visitor and Conservation Levy. For comparison, the total visitor visa cost for other visa‑required nationalities is $441.
The reduced fee will apply to people visiting from:
– American Samoa
– Federated States of Micronesia
– Fiji
– Kiribati
– Nauru
– Palau
– Papua New Guinea
– Republic of the Marshall Islands
– Samoa
– Solomon Islands
– Tonga
– Tuvalu
– Vanuatu.
This builds on other changes now in place for Pacific travellers, including longer visa durations and the trial of a visa-free pathway for Pacific visitors coming from Australia.
Reducing the fee for 12 months gives time to understand the impact of the change before any long-term fee decisions are made.
