This page lists exactly what documents you need for a New Zealand visa in 2026 — the paperwork immigration actually checks, drawn from New Zealand's official requirements. Prepare these correctly and you remove the most common cause of delays and refusals.
New Zealand visa at a glance
| Visa required? | Yes, for many nationalities |
|---|---|
| Main visa type | NZeTA + International Visitor Levy (IVL) |
| Government fee | NZeTA NZ$17 (app) / NZ$23 (web) + IVL NZ$100 = NZ$117–123 |
| Processing time | Usually within 72 hours (often minutes) |
| Validity | 2 years, multiple entry |
| Permitted stay | Up to 3 months per visit (6 months UK) |
| Where to apply | NZeTA app or immigration.govt.nz — apply ≥72 h before travel |
| HolidaySG assistance fee | S$50 per applicant (usually S$100) |
New Zealand visa documents checklist
For the NZeTA + International Visitor Levy (IVL)
- Passport from a visa-waiver country
- Photo (app scan)
- Card payment
For the Visitor Visa
- Passport valid ≥6 months with blank pages
- Recent passport photo (white background)
- Confirmed return/onward flight
- Accommodation booking
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement)
- Evidence of ties to home country
- Employment / income proof
- Chest X-ray if staying >6 months
- Travel itinerary
For the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- Passport matching travel document
- A photo
- Proof of funds (NZD 1,000/month, or 400 if accommodation prepaid)
- Onward/return travel proof
For the Visitor Visa
- Valid passport
- Photos
- Proof of funds
- Return/onward ticket
- Evidence of ties to home country
- Possibly medical/chest x-ray for longer stays
For the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- Passport matching travel document
- A photo
- Proof of funds (NZD 1,000/month, or 400 if accommodation prepaid)
- Onward/return travel proof
For the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- Passport matching travel document
- A photo
- Proof of funds (NZD 1,000/month, or 400 if accommodation prepaid)
- Onward/return travel proof
Photo and passport specification
Most New Zealand rejections at the document stage are avoidable: use a recent colour photo with the correct size and background, no glasses or headwear (unless religious), and a passport with at least six months of validity and free pages. Names and dates must match exactly across your form, passport and bookings.
New Zealand visa for children and families
Children usually need their own visa or entry authorisation, even infants. For family applications, prepare each traveller's passport and photo, and add birth certificates for minors and, where a child travels with one parent or a guardian, a consent letter. Applying for the whole family together keeps travel dates and reference numbers consistent.
Common mistakes, delays and rejection reasons
From handling New Zealand visa applications, these are the issues that most often cause delays or refusals. Avoiding them is the single biggest thing you can control:
- Passport validity: many countries require at least six months' validity beyond your travel dates — renew early if yours is close.
- Insufficient proof of funds: bank statements that are too thin, too new, or not in your name are a common reason for delays. Show a stable balance over the last 3–6 months.
- Photo specification errors: wrong size, background colour, glasses or a smile can bounce an application. Follow the exact spec for New Zealand.
- Applying too late: submit well before departure — allow the full processing window plus a buffer, not the minimum.
- Mismatched documents: names, dates and passport numbers must match exactly across your form, flight and hotel bookings.
- Weak ties to your home country: employment letters, leave approval and return bookings help show you intend to return.
- Prior overstays or refusals: declare them honestly; hiding history causes more problems than the history itself.
- Forgetting the arrival card: New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) — free, within 24 h before departure — complete it in the correct window or you can be delayed at the border.
Before you travel to New Zealand
- Arrival card / declaration: New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) — free, within 24 h before departure
- Onward or return ticket: carry proof — airlines and immigration can ask for it.
- Funds: have evidence of enough money for your stay (card and some NZD (New Zealand Dollar)).
- Travel insurance: strongly recommended, and mandatory for some destinations.
- Copies: keep a digital and paper copy of your visa/approval and passport photo page.
Requirements by New Zealand visa type
| Option | Official fee | Max stay | Processing | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZeTA + International Visitor Levy (IVL) | NZeTA NZ$17 (app) / NZ$23 (web) + IVL NZ$100 = NZ$117–123 | Up to 3 months per visit (6 months UK) | Usually within 72 hours (often minutes) | NZeTA app or immigration.govt.nz — apply ≥72 h before travel |
| Visitor Visa | NZ$341 + IVL NZ$100 (≈ NZ$441; varies slightly by country) | Up to 6 months (9 in 18 months) | Most within 3–5 weeks; can be longer | Immigration Online (immigration.govt.nz) |
| New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) | From NZD 17 (app) / NZD 23 (web form) | 90 days | Allow up to 72 hours | https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/new-zealand-electronic-travel-authority-nzeta/ |
| Visitor Visa | — | 270 days | — | https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/about-visa/visitor-visa |
| New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) | From NZD 17 (app) / NZD 23 (web form) | 90 days | Allow up to 72 hours | https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/new-zealand-electronic-travel-authority-nzeta/ |
| New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) | From NZD 17 (app) / NZD 23 (web form) | 90 days | Allow up to 72 hours | https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/new-zealand-electronic-travel-authority-nzeta/ |
Apply for your New Zealand visa with HolidaySG
Flat S$50 assistance fee per applicant (usually S$100) — official government fee: ETA: NZ$17 · Visitor Visa: NZ$341 · New Zealand Electronic: from NZD 17. We check your eligibility, send a personalised document checklist, complete the forms and track your application until the outcome.
Things to do once your New Zealand visa is sorted
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Official sources
- Immigration New Zealand — verified 16 August 2026
- Immigration New Zealand — verified 16 August 2026
- Official government source — verified 19 August 2026
- Official government source — verified 19 August 2026
Last updated 20 August 2026. Written and reviewed by the HolidaySG visa team and checked against the official sources above (facts verified 19 August 2026). Visa rules change and depend on your passport, residence and purpose of travel — always confirm with the official source before booking, or use our visa checker. HolidaySG re-confirms current requirements at the time of your application.