Non–New Zealand citizens wishing to enter the Realm of New Zealand must obtain a visa unless they are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or a citizen of one of the 60 visa waiver eligible countries and territories a holder of the United Nations laissez-passer or eligible for visa-free travel under other specific provisions (visiting force, cruise ship passengers and crew, aircraft crew, etc.).
Both Australian citizens travelling on a Valid Australian Passport and permanent residents of Australia that present a valid Permanent Visa or Resident Return Visa are deemed to hold resident status in New Zealand upon arrival under the Trans-Tasman travel arrangement.
Visitors must hold passports that are valid for at least 3 months beyond the period of intended stay. Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay: NZD 1,000 per person per month of stay or NZD 400 if accommodation has been prepaid. Visitors are required to hold documents required for their next destination.
New Zealand issues eVisas to nationals of visa waiver countries and China. Applications for Visitor, Student, Work, Transit and Residence visas can be lodged online.
Overview
Any person who is not a New Zealand citizen may only travel to New Zealand if holding a valid visa or is a person to whom a visa waiver applies.
While there are many different categories of visa, they can be fundamentally broken down into three classes:
Residence class visas allows the holder to work, study and remain in New Zealand indefinitely, and does not expire while the holder remains in New Zealand. Conditions may be placed on a Resident Visa: most commonly, these conditions specify a period of time where one may leave and re-enter New Zealand as a resident, but may also relate to other matters (for example, a migrant applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category may have a condition imposed of taking up an offer of skilled employment within 3 months of arrival). It is, however, possible for the holder of a Resident Visa to obtain a Permanent Resident Visa upon meeting all conditions and upon demonstrating a commitment to New Zealand, which allows the holder to work, study and remain in New Zealand unconditionally, as well as leave and re-enter New Zealand at any time, and the Permanent Resident Visa itself never expires. Temporary entry class visas have a set expiry date, and conditions placed upon them based on the category under which the holder applied for a visa. Visas intended for tourism, long-term study or foreign employment in New Zealand are typical examples of a temporary entry class visa. Transit visas allow the holder to pass through New Zealand on a journey between two sovereign states.
Holding a visa, or taking advantage of a visa waiver, does not in itself entitle a person to enter New Zealand itself: it only entitles the person to travel to New Zealand and apply for entry permission. Entry permission to New Zealand must be granted to a person for that person to be able to enter New Zealand; this is typically done by an immigration officer at the border. Refusal of entry permission results in automatic visa cancellation, and the person being made liable for turnaround if the person has arrived at the border. While most foreign nationals must apply for, and be granted, entry permission at the border, holders of a Permanent Resident Visa, a Resident Visa granted in New Zealand, or a Resident Visa granted outside New Zealand where the holder has previously travelled to New Zealand are granted entry permission as of right.
New Zealand issues electronic visas (an "eVisa") for all visa application types, though a physical label may be placed in a passport upon request. Electronic visas are linked to a specific passport, and it is necessary for a visa holder to formally request a visa transfer if a new passport is obtained.
New Zealand does not stamp passports of New Zealand citizens, residence class visa holders, or Australian citizens and permanent residents. Holders of a temporary entry class visa, or visa waiver travellers seeking a Visitor Visa on arrival may receive passport stamps if they enter through a staffed immigration counter instead of the automated eGates; however, Immigration New Zealand and the New Zealand Customs Service are investigating the possibility of removing passport stamps entirely.