In plain English
Summer is one of INZ’s busiest periods — about 284,000 visitor visa applications arrived between September and March last year. Complete applications are decided faster.
Key points
- Upload a clear passport bio page and a photo that meets INZ requirements.
- Make sure details match your passport exactly.
- Translate any documents not in English.
- Some Chinese and Pacific Island Forum passport holders coming from Australia may use an NZeTA instead.
Who’s affected
Families and travellers planning Christmas and New Year visits.
What you should do
Start now if you plan to arrive in December.
Immigration New Zealand, “Coming for summer? Apply early for your visitor visa”, published 29 September 2026. Read the full announcement. Summary by Destination NZI; INZ content © Crown, licensed under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
Related visas
For people whose passport needs a visa to visit. You can’t work, but you can study for up to 3 months.
- Stay
- Up to 6 or 9 months
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $441
- Processing
- 80% within 2 weeks
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
Some passport holders can travel on an NZeTA instead of applying for a visa first. It depends on your passport and how you travel.
- Stay
- Visa-waiver visits
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $17
- Processing
- Allow 72 hours
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
Visit New Zealand for business reasons, supported by your own funds or your employer.
- Stay
- Up to 3 months in 1 year
- INZ visa fee
- From NZD $341
- Processing
- 80% within 1 week
+ our service fee, quoted upfront
