New Zealand
New Zealand visa guide: every visa type, fee and application route
- 15 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for New Zealand work
Immigration New Zealand (INZ), part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, issues all New Zealand visas. Almost every application is made online through Immigration Online, and visas are issued electronically as eVisas linked to your passport. INZ is moving temporary visas to an enhanced Immigration Online system and phasing out paper forms, for example for the Transit Visa from 1 October 2026.
Visitors from visa waiver countries travel on a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), and Australian citizens need neither. Everyone else applies for a Visitor Visa before travelling and, to change planes at Auckland, a Transit Visa unless their nationality is on the transit visa waiver list. Cruise passengers are the main exception: they can use an NZeTA whatever their nationality.
Longer stays are built around employers and residence pathways: the Accredited Employer Work Visa needs a job offer from an accredited employer, the Skilled Migrant Category and the Green List lead to residence, and investors can use the Active Investor Plus and Business Investor visas. Young people from countries with a working holiday scheme can come for up to 12 months; each scheme has its own conditions. INZ publishes fees as 'from' amounts and shows the time within which 80% of applications were recently decided.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or family visit: NZeTA if you are from a visa waiver country or arrive by cruise ship; otherwise the Visitor Visa (up to 6 or 9 months).
Changing planes at Auckland: Transit Visa for up to 24 hours in the transit area.
Meetings, trade fairs or negotiations: Business Visitor Visa, up to 3 months in a year.
Full-time study: Fee Paying Student Visa; afterwards the Post-Study Work Visa.
Aged 18 to 30 (35 for a few countries) from a country with a scheme: a working holiday visa, usually 12 months; this guide details the Turkey scheme.
Job offer from an accredited employer: Accredited Employer Work Visa; residence later through the Skilled Migrant Category or the Green List.
Large investment: Active Investor Plus Visa (NZD 5 or 10 million) or Business Investor Work Visa (NZD 1 million in an established business).
Joining family: Partner of a New Zealander visas, Parent Resident Visa or the Parent Boost Visitor Visa.
Visa types for New Zealand
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visitor Visa
Travellers whose passport is not on the visa waiver list need a Visitor Visa for holidays and family visits.
Maximum stay: Multiple entry: 6 months in any 12; single entry: up to 9 months in 18 - Transit visa Transit Visa
Travellers passing through Auckland International Airport to another country need a Transit Visa unless they already hold a valid New Zealand visa, come from a visa waiver or transit visa waiver country, or are travelling to or from Australia.
Maximum stay: Up to 24 hours, inside the Auckland airport transit area - Medical treatment visa Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
The Medical Treatment Visitor Visa is for people already accepted for treatment or a consultation in New Zealand; everyone travelling for this purpose needs it, visa waiver nationals included.
Maximum stay: Up to 6 months; you are not asked to leave until it is safe to travel
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business Visitor Visa
The Business Visitor Visa is for short business trips of up to 3 months in any year: meetings, buying or selling goods and services, negotiating business set-ups and similar activities listed by INZ.
Maximum stay: Up to 3 months in any 1 year - Investor visa Business Investor Work Visa (replacing the closed Entrepreneur Work Visa)
The Business Investor Work Visa is for people who buy and actively run an established New Zealand business.
Maximum stay: Up to 4 years (12-month establishment stage, then operating stage); one renewal of up to 2 years
Study and training
- Student visa Fee Paying Student Visa
The Fee Paying Student Visa lets international students study full time on an approved course for up to 4 years.
Maximum stay: Up to 4 years, linked to the course
Work
- Work visa Post-Study Work Visa
The Post-Study Work Visa lets people who recently completed an approved qualification by studying in New Zealand stay and work for up to 3 years.
Maximum stay: Up to 3 years: 3 years for master’s or doctoral study of 30+ weeks; otherwise equal to the study period - Skilled worker visa Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
The Accredited Employer Work Visa is New Zealand's main employer-sponsored work visa.
Maximum stay: Up to 5 years in total (3 years for skill level 4 or 5 jobs), then time outside New Zealand - Working holiday visa Turkey Working Holiday Visa (Turkish citizens only)
This page covers only the Turkey Working Holiday Visa, open to citizens of Türkiye; New Zealand runs separate working holiday schemes for other countries, each with its own conditions.
Maximum stay: Up to 12 months
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Partner of a New Zealander Work, Visitor and Resident Visas
Partners of New Zealand citizens or residents who live together in a genuine and stable relationship can get a Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa (from NZD 1,630, up to 3 years) or Visitor Visa, and after living together for at least 12 months a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa (from NZD 5,360).
Maximum stay: Work visa up to 3 years (1 year if living together under 12 months); resident visa indefinitely - Family reunification visa Parent Resident Visa and Parent Boost Visitor Visa
Parents of New Zealand citizens or residents have two routes.
Maximum stay: Parent Boost: up to 5 years; Parent Resident: indefinitely
Residence
- Permanent residence Skilled residence: Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and Green List Straight to Residence and Work to Residence visas
New Zealand's skilled residence visas all require a job or job offer with an accredited employer and an age of 55 or under.
Maximum stay: Resident visa: live, work and study indefinitely - Golden visa and residence by investment Active Investor Plus Visa
The Active Investor Plus Visa gives residence to investors who place at least NZD 5 million in the Growth category for 36 months, or NZD 10 million in the Balanced category for 60 months, in acceptable New Zealand investments.
Maximum stay: Live, work and study indefinitely
Online travel permits
- Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
The NZeTA is an electronic authority, not a visa, for citizens of visa waiver countries, cruise and cargo ship passengers, Australian permanent residents and some transit passengers.
Maximum stay: 3 months per visit (6 months for UK citizens)
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Claim for refugee or protected person status
People in New Zealand who fear returning to their country can claim recognition as a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention or as a protected person under the Convention against Torture and the ICCPR.
Processing time: Allocation to a refugee and protection officer can take up to 18 to 24 months; some claims are prioritised
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a visa for New Zealand?
Everyone except Australian citizens needs either an NZeTA or a visa. Citizens of visa waiver countries request an NZeTA; all others apply for a Visitor Visa, or another visa matching their purpose, before travelling. Cruise ship passengers of any nationality can travel on an NZeTA.
How do I apply for a New Zealand visa?
Online through Immigration Online on the INZ website. Documents are uploaded, the fee is paid by card and the visa is issued as an eVisa; there is normally no need to visit an embassy.
How much does a New Zealand Visitor Visa cost?
INZ lists the Visitor Visa from NZD 441. The exact fee depends on your nationality and where you apply.
Does New Zealand have working holiday visas?
Yes, through schemes with a number of countries, normally for ages 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for a few) and generally for up to 12 months; INZ lists the participating countries and each scheme's conditions. This guide details the Turkey Working Holiday Visa.
Does New Zealand have a golden visa?
The Active Investor Plus Visa grants residence for investing at least NZD 5 million (Growth category) or NZD 10 million (Balanced category) in acceptable New Zealand investments.
How long does a New Zealand visa take?
INZ publishes the time within which 80% of recent applications were decided: for example 2 weeks for Visitor Visas and 7 weeks for Fee Paying Student Visas at the time of checking.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.