Holidays and family visits
New Zealand Visitor Visa
Whether you are planning a holiday, attending a family occasion or visiting relatives, check the travel permission that applies to your passport and circumstances before making firm arrangements.
Enquire About Visiting New Zealand
Visitor Visa or NZeTA?
A Visitor Visa and a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) are not interchangeable. Some eligible travellers can use visa-waiver arrangements with an NZeTA, while others need to apply for a visitor visa. Entry requirements still apply when you arrive.
For a Visitor Visa, Immigration New Zealand considers genuine temporary intentions, funding or acceptable sponsorship, onward travel arrangements, health, character and the other requirements. The visa granted determines how long you may stay and whether repeat entry is permitted.
Explain the visit clearly
Prepare a straightforward account of why you are travelling, where you intend to stay and how the trip will be funded. A short, realistic plan is more useful than an elaborate itinerary that does not match your circumstances.
When visiting family, explain the relationship and the proposed accommodation arrangements. Keep the details consistent with the person hosting you. Where someone else will pay for the visit, make that arrangement clear rather than presenting their funds as your own.
Keep work and study plans separate
Do not use a visitor application as a substitute for permission to take a New Zealand job. Check the applicable conditions for any work, study or remote-working activity. Requirements can differ by activity, and permission for one activity does not automatically authorise another.
Explore the Accredited Employer Work Visa for an eligible New Zealand job, or student visa options where study is the main purpose.
Plan the practical details
Check passport validity, insurance arrangements, expected costs and whether your travel bookings can be changed. Keep copies of your application, supporting documents and any decision. Read your eVisa carefully before booking a later return trip.
For parents considering a longer family visit, compare the Parent Boost and parent visa options. A long-stay visitor category should not be confused with residence.
Common questions
Does a family invitation guarantee approval?
No. It can explain the purpose of a visit, but the applicant and any sponsor still need to meet the relevant requirements.
Can I assume the maximum advertised stay will be granted?
No. Use the duration and conditions on your own visa, not a general maximum from an article or another person's visa.
What happens after a previous refusal?
Keep the decision letter and identify the concerns that need to be addressed. A new application should not simply repeat the same unsupported information. Personalised advice may be appropriate.
General information checked 18 September 2026. Official source: INZ: Visitor Visa. Check the linked official guidance for current travel, visa-waiver and entry requirements.