In plain English
Since 1 October 2026, applications for the Transit Visa and 24 visitor visa types must be submitted through enhanced Immigration Online instead of on paper.
Key points
- Includes the general Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa and Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa.
- Paper applications lodged before 1 October are processed as normal.
- Online applications give real-time status updates and fewer physical documents.
Who’s affected
Anyone applying for the listed visitor or transit visas.
What you should do
Apply online. If you need help with the enhanced system, we can lodge for you.
Immigration New Zealand, “Paper applications end for selected visitor and transit visas”, published 4 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
