An Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa is suitable for those intending to perform in or support a performance at an established music or arts festival in New Zealand.
Providing that the performer or support staff meet the eligibility criteria, and the event is suitably established and promoted, this may be a relatively straightforward and inexpensive visa option for individuals working at a festival in New Zealand.
See also:
- Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa
- Entertainers Work Visa
- Talent (Arts, Culture, Sports) Work Visa
Who can apply for an Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa?
To be eligible for this visa, individuals must:
- have received a formal, written invitation to perform at or provide support to a festival in New Zealand, setting out:
- the date/s you will be required at the festival
- the activities you will be carrying out
- be intending to perform at a festival which is approved by Immigration New Zealand. Approval must be sought in advance by the festival’s organisers and is dependent on:
- the festival having been hosted in New Zealand for at least three years
- a minimum of 10 performers and/or support staff from overseas taking part in the festival
- be able to provide evidence that their promoter is an Approved Promoter in New Zealand
- be able to demonstrate they have a sponsor, or sufficient personal funds to support themselves while in New Zealand:
- at least NZD $1000 per month if accommodation has not been paid for
- at least NZD $400 per month if accommodation has already been paid for
- be able to show that they have a ticket booked to leave New Zealand/sufficient funds to purchase one, or a sponsor who can cover their travel costs
- meet the minimum health and good character requirements for a visa to New Zealand
Note that if you meet the above criteria but are from a country which has a visa waiver arrangement with New Zealand, you may not need to apply for a visa before you travel to New Zealand. However, you must apply for and secure an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
If successful, applicants for this visa are permitted to:
- travel to New Zealand in order to take part in or support an established arts or music festival
- spend up to three months in New Zealand in order to prepare for, travel to and perform in or support this act
- bring their partner and/or dependent children (19 or younger) to New Zealand with them
Before applying, check if you would normally require a visa to visit New Zealand. If not, then you can apply for an NZeTA providing that you meet the other eligibility criteria above. The cost of applying for an NZeTA is NZD $17 for applications submitted via the app or NZD $23 for applications submitted via website, plus an NZD $35 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
If you need to submit an application for an Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa, this can be done either online or on paper via a designated New Zealand Visa Application Centre. Application fees vary depending on the number of applicants and their nationalities, ranging from NZD $35 to NZD $246.
Around 80% of applications for Short-term Entertainment Visitor Visas receive a decision within six weeks.
Mohamed Anas Sirajur Raheem
BA (Political Studies), LLB (VUW)
Mohamed is a New Zealand Immigration Consultant with VisaEnvoy and an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
He is a former New Zealand Immigration Officer (Visa Services) and Border Officer at Auckland International Airport. He has several years of experience working in various Government Departments in New Zealand and has also worked as a Licensed Immigration Adviser at a prominent New Zealand Immigration firm.
His areas of expertise and interest are in the fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child Visa streams.
Mohamed was inspired to pursue a career in immigration by his own migration experiences. Over the years he has assisted individuals, families, large corporations, Professional sportspeople, and Entertainers (singers, speakers, and actors) to come to New Zealand.
