The rock arch and beach at Cathedral Cove, Coromandel, New Zealand

Who needs a visa for New Zealand?

Australia and New Zealand · Wellington

Photo: Krzysztof Golik / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Of 198 nationalities, 1 enters New Zealand with no paperwork at all. The rest: 197 must be approved before they travel.

Government fee
17 NZD
Typical decision
80% within 2 weeks
Stay permitted
Multiple entry: up to 6 months in each 12-month period. Single entry: up to 9 months in an 18-month period.
Apply on the official New Zealand government site

This is the government's own portal. We are not paid to send you there.

Checked 18 October 2026 — read the fees and rules on immigration.govt.nz

What New Zealand asks for

  • Copy of your passport, valid at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand
  • One acceptable photo
  • Proof of funds of at least NZD $1,000 a month (NZD $400 if accommodation is prepaid), or a sponsor
  • Proof of your plans in New Zealand
  • Proof you can leave New Zealand at the end of your stay
  • Police certificates, chest X-ray or medical examination, if asked for
  • English translations of any documents not in English

Worth knowing

  • Paper applications for the Visitor Visa are no longer accepted. Apply online.
  • Request an NZeTA only through the official NZeTA website or app. The app is cheaper than the online form.

Photo requirements

We have not yet read the photo rules for New Zealand on an official page, so we print no sizes. Photo rules we have checked, and official links for the rest

Resize a photo in your browser. It is never uploaded.

English test

Visitor visas need no English test. These study, work and migration routes do:

  • Skilled residence visas: An accepted English test taken in person, no more than 2 years old. Principal applicants need, for example, IELTS 6.5 overall or PTE Academic 58. immigration.govt.nz · read

What do you need?

Who needs what

Visa free 1

Nothing to apply for and nothing to pay before you travel.

eTA (electronic travel authorisation) 60

Not a visa. A short online form for travellers who are already visa-exempt, usually approved automatically in minutes to hours. No appointment, no interview, no documents.

Visa required 137

You must apply and be approved before you travel. Airlines will refuse to board you without it.

Guides for New Zealand

About New Zealand

Region
Australia and New Zealand
Capital
Wellington
Population
5,324,700 2025 · 124th of 197
Size
270,467 km² 75th largest of 199
Density
20 per km²
Languages
English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Currency
New Zealand dollar NZD

Capital, area, languages and currency from the open country dataset, pulled 21 September 2026. Population from the World Bank, series updated 13 July 2026. Density is calculated from the two figures above.