It is essential to follow the correct procedures to ensure a successful New Zealand visa application and avoid any potential rejections. Most New Zealand visas offer the option to apply online or using a paper application. However, certain visas specifically require either an online or paper application.
To apply for a visa to travel to New Zealand, you must prepare all the required documents, fill out the appropriate application, pay the necessary fees, and submit your application online or at a visa application center if you complete a paper application.
How to Apply Online for a New Zealand Visa?
Follow the steps below to apply online for a New Zealand Visa:
- Start the online application.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the application fee.
- Submit your online application.
Start the Online Application
You must find the online visa application of the visa you want to apply for and start completing it. For example, if you want to apply for an Exchange Student Visa, you must start completing that visa application. The form will include personal details, travel history, employment/educational background, and other relevant information.
Before you apply, you need to create a RealMe account, or you can log in to your already existing account. This account will allow you to access the online application forms, track the progress of your application, and receive communication from Immigration New Zealand.
Upload the Required Documents
You must upload all the required documents for your visa application. The documents must be accepted file formats specified by the INZ online application, which usually include PDF, JPEG, or PNG. Make sure that your files are within the specified size limits.
Don’t forget to upload all the required documents because your visa application may get rejected. You also need to upload two photos of yourself that meet the NZ photo requirements.
Pay the Application Fee
You must pay the application fee during your online application by providing your bank (credit or debit) card details. After your payment has been successfully processed, you will receive a confirmation email. It’s important to keep a copy of this confirmation email or receipt as proof that you completed the payment for the visa application. Immigration New Zealand typically accepts Visa or Mastercard. Enter your card details as instructed on the payment page.
Submit Your Online Application
You must submit your visa application after you are done providing all the required information. If you need to submit any other document, Immigration New Zealand will reach you. The processing time for each visa differs, but when they process your application, you will be notified via email or through other contact details you provided during the application process.
How to Apply On Paper for a New Zealand Visa?
Follow the steps below to apply on paper for a New Zealand Visa:
- Complete the visa application.
- Pay the application fee.
- Book the appointment.
- Submit the visa application.
Complete the Visa Application
You need to find the appropriate paper visa application form for the desired visa you wish to apply for. It is crucial to accurately fill out the form with truthful information using uppercase letters. Remember to include two identical photos of yourself. The photos should not be more than six months old, and your full name must be written on the back of each photo.
Book the Appointment
You must schedule an appointment with VFS.GLOBAL to submit your visa application at a visa application center. You must enter the required information, such as your full name, contact details, passport information, and any additional details requested by the appointment booking system.
If your country doesn’t have a visa application center to process visa applications for New Zealand, you need to submit your application to the nearest one in another country. When you complete your booking, you will receive a confirmation email and a letter of appointment.
Attend the Appointment
You must submit your application after you have completed it. You must submit your visa application at the visa application center where you scheduled your appointment. You must be there on time and bring all the required documents. If you are part of a family or group, you’ll have to book individual appointments for each member of the family or group. When you attend your appointment, you must also pay the application fee. You may be able to pay by cash, credit/debit card, or bank transfer, depending on the Visa Application Center.
Once you have submitted your visa application, you will receive your documents back or have them returned to you through a courier service for an extra charge in case of postal applications. In certain Visa Application Centers, the return of documents is exclusively done via courier.
You will receive an answer via email from Immigration New Zealand when your visa application is processed. If you want more tracking information about your return courier, you can get updates by SMS sent directly to your phone. Check if the Visa Application Centre where you apply provides such a service.
What Is the Processing Time for a New Zealand Visa?
The processing time for NZ visas varies. Some visa applications have priority in processing, while others may take longer:
- Residence Visas —- 14 months to 47 months
- Work Visas —16 days to 5 months
- Business Visas —- 19 days to 47 days
- Study Visas —-15 days to 70 days
- Visitor Visas — 40 days to 56 days
- Family Visas — 47 days to 5 months
How Much Does an NZ Visa Cost?
New Zealand visa fees vary depending on the type of visa. For example, application fees for visitor visas may cost NZD $170 — $245, whereas business visas may cost up to NZD $5300. The application fees also depend on the type of application and the country you apply from.
How to Apply for Entry Permission?
Upon arrival at the New Zealand border, it is necessary to request entry permission, regardless of whether you possess a visa or NZeTA. This procedure is typically fast, although immigration officers may ask you additional questions before granting permission to enter New Zealand. It is crucial to answer these questions honestly.
Immigration officers have the authority to request evidence to support your application for entry into New Zealand. You may be required to show your departure ticket or proof of financial means to support yourself during your stay in the country. There are two available methods to apply for entry permission:
- Submitting your documents directly to an immigration officer.
- Utilizing an eGate or Smartgate, which is not accessible to all passport holders.
You need to have the following proof to enter New Zealand:
- Passport or travel document. The passport must be valid for three months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
- Passenger arrival card. Upon arrival on the plane, you will receive a passenger arrival card that must be filled out before reaching passport control. At passport control, you will present the completed card to the immigration officers.
- Ticket out of New Zealand. You must have a travel ticket to leave New Zealand if:
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- we requested this information during the visa approval process, or
- you are visiting New Zealand on a passport from a visa-waiver country.
The ticket must be to enter a country you have the right to enter as proof that you will leave New Zealand when your stay ends.
What Can I Do If My NZ Visa Application Is Rejected?
If your visa application is declined, you can ask Immigration New Zealand to reconsider their decision if:
- you are in New Zealand when you make your request
- you still hold a valid visa — this could be an Interim Visa, and
- you make your request no more than 14 calendar days after your visa application is declined
If you submitted a paper visa application or used an alternative online system, you are required to contact us in writing to request a reconsideration of our decision. Please provide us with the following:
- A letter written in English and signed by you explaining the specific aspects you would like us to reconsider.
- Include any supporting evidence or documentation to support your request.
- Your passport or certificate of identity.
- Credit card details to cover the fee, including the card number, expiry date, name of the cardholder, and the cardholder’s signature.
If Immigration New Zealand’s first decision was wrong, you will be granted a visa. If their first decision was correct, you will not be granted a visa. It takes six months for your request to be processed, and it costs NZD $250.