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New Zealand

New Zealand visa

Oceania · Australia and New Zealand

Prepare your trip to New Zealand with guidance from Immigration New Zealand on visitor visas, NZeTA, transit, group travel and business visits. The right application depends on your passport, itinerary and purpose of travel. Find the documents to prepare, how to apply online and the official links to check your circumstances.

Updated on 18 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 18 October 2026

At a glance

Authority
Immigration New Zealand — Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Find the right application
Check your passport, the purpose of travel and any stopovers with the official tool before applying for a visa or an NZeTA.
Travel authorisation
The NZeTA is a travel authorisation. It does not guarantee entry or a stay throughout its validity.
Submission
Visas: Immigration Online portal. NZeTA: official website or app. Follow the link on the page for your process.

Do you need a visa?

Kuwait passport: electronic travel authorization to apply for online for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

No visitor visa for a stay of less than 3 months; NZeTA mandatory before travel (Immigration New Zealand, list of visa-waiver countries).

Official source: Immigration New Zealand — Visa waiver countries and territories (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

New Zealand visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 1

List of nationalities

Electronic travel authorization 60

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

Visitor Visa
For holidays or visiting relatives. Depending on the visa granted: up to 6 months in total over 12 months with multiple entries, or 9 months over 18 months with a single entry. Immigration New Zealand determines the allowed stay. Official page (new tab)
Electronic Travel Authority — NZeTA
Depending on passport and journey. Ordinary visits: 2-year validity, stays up to 3 months (6 months for British citizens), at most 6 months in 12 months. Entry depends on the visa granted on arrival. Australian residents and crew: separate routes. Official page (new tab)
Group Visitor Visa
For a group arriving together and travelling for the same purpose. The stay is normally limited to 1 month; a longer stay may be possible depending on the plan. Each member must have their own Visitor Visa application and meet its conditions. Official page (new tab)
Transit Visa
For a connection at Auckland international airport: 24 hours maximum in the transit area, without leaving that area or visiting the country. This visa cannot be used at other airports. Depending on your passport and journey, an NZeTA or a waiver may apply. Official page (new tab)
Business Visitor Visa
For meetings, exploring business opportunities or negotiating contracts: up to 3 months in 1 year. Other activities may require a work visa. Also check whether your passport allows the NZeTA route. Official page (new tab)
Work, study and residence
To work, study or settle, use the Work, Study and Live sections of the official portal. Compare the visas matching your plan: tourist stay conditions are not enough to choose these routes. Official page (new tab)

Where to submit your application?

Open the official page for your visa, then its application button. Since 1 October 2026, Visitor Visa, Group Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa and Transit Visa applications go through the new Immigration Online portal. A paper application requires exceptional circumstances to be reviewed with Immigration New Zealand; paper files submitted before that date continue to be processed.

For an NZeTA, use the official website or app indicated on its page. For other visa categories, follow their own channel: not all are affected by the 1 October 2026 change. The portal explains creating the RealMe account used for online visa applications.

Steps to prepare your trip

  1. Choose your process based on your passport, itinerary, purpose of travel and intended duration. Use the official comparison tool.
  2. Read the page for the chosen process, then gather its documents. Check the requirements applicable to each family or group member.
  3. Enter your identity exactly as on the travel document; prepare the required translations.
  4. Submit the application on the corresponding official service and pay the applicable fees. Keep the confirmation.
  5. Check progress and respond to requests for additional documents. For a Visitor Visa, the authority recommends waiting for approval before any non-refundable travel purchase.
  6. Before departure, check the visa or authorisation received, the evidence to carry and arrival formalities. A travel authorisation does not replace admission at the border.

Documents: distinguishing the visa and the NZeTA

Documents and conditions depend on the process and your situation. The Visitor Visa list does not replace the requirements specific to transit, business travel, groups or the NZeTA.

Fees and timeframes: plan without confusing the processes

As of 18 October 2026, the Visitor Visa page shows a price from 441 NZD and states that 80% of applications are processed within 2 weeks. This timeframe is indicative; an incomplete file or further checks may lengthen processing.

For the NZeTA, allow 72 hours; further checks may take longer. The price depends on the website or app, and the IVL is added when due. See the NZeTA page for the applicable total and its exemptions.

Group, transit and business travel fees are specific to each process. Check the amount and payment methods on its official page before submitting, without using the Visitor Visa price.

Tracking the application and respecting the allowed stay

For a visa application, log back into the account used to submit it to track the file and information requests. For the NZeTA, use the official tracking and keep the confirmation email. Immigration New Zealand makes the decision; the authorisation does not guarantee entry.

Respect the duration and conditions of the visa granted. The NZeTA's 2-year validity does not allow you to stay for 2 years. To extend a stay under a Visitor Visa, apply for a new visa before the current one expires; approval is not automatic. A new NZeTA does not extend the stay.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa or an NZeTA for New Zealand?

This depends on your passport, the purpose of travel and your itinerary, including stopovers. Start with your nationality, then check your situation in the official tool: visa, NZeTA and waiver are different routes. Transit or residence in Australia may require particular review.

Is the NZeTA a visa valid for a 2-year stay?

No. For ordinary visitors, it is valid for 2 years for multiple trips, but each visit is limited to 3 months, or 6 months for British citizens, with a maximum total of 6 months in 12 months. This period is calculated back from the planned departure date. Entry depends on the conditions of the visa granted on arrival.

Can I still submit a paper application?

Since 1 October 2026, Visitor Visa, Group Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa and Transit Visa are applied for via the new Immigration Online portal. Paper remains exceptional: contact Immigration New Zealand to explain your situation. Paper applications submitted before that date continue to be processed; other categories follow their own channel.

What budget and timeframe should I plan for a Visitor Visa?

As of 18 October 2026, the official page shows a price from 441 NZD and 80% of applications processed within 2 weeks. Check the amount corresponding to your situation before paying; this timeframe is not a guarantee. Fees and timeframes for the NZeTA, transit or other visas are separate.

Can I leave the airport with a Transit Visa?

No. This visa is limited to the transit area of Auckland international airport for 24 hours maximum. It does not allow leaving that area, visiting the country, or transiting through another New Zealand airport. Check the appropriate process if your connection requires entry into the country.

How can I stay longer in New Zealand?

The allowed stay depends on the visa granted. To extend a stay under a Visitor Visa, submit a new application before the current visa expires. If you travel with an NZeTA, a new travel authorisation is not enough: a suitable visa is required. Immigration New Zealand decides whether the conditions are met.

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