Visa Requirements for New Zealand Citizens
Visa requirements for New Zealand citizens apply to citizens of New Zealand.
The rules and regulations of New Zealand determine whether/what type of visa they need for international travel.
Currently, there are no less than 105 countries that welcome New Zealand citizens without a visa.
Additionally, New Zealand passport holders can easily travel to Australia under the Trans-Tasman Agreement, even for an indefinite period, to work, study or live in Australia.
34 countries allow New Zealand citizens to apply for a visa online using the existing electronic visa system.
This is an extremely simple way to manage your visa as it can be completed entirely online without the need to visit the embassy.
There are also 45 destinations that offer a visa on arrival option for all visiting New Zealand passport holders.
This type of visa requires travelers to prepare for the application process before departure and often have to wait in long lines at the nearest border checkpoint upon arrival to apply. Embassy-issued visas, which normally require visitors to go through an in-person application process, are currently required for New Zealand citizens in 34 countries.
Processing this type of visa can take some time, even weeks. This is why embassy visas are considered the most difficult to obtain.
Detailed information on each visa/entry type applicable to New Zealand citizens when traveling abroad is available below, along with a list of countries offering each visa/entry type.
Electronic visa
An e-visa is a short-term travel permit issued by a foreign authority and can be issued entirely online.
Travelers simply complete the quick registration process at home to receive a PDF file with their e-visa via email a few days later.
List of countries offering eVisas for New Zealand citizens
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Myanmar
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- USA
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
34 countries currently offer electronic visas to New Zealand passport holders.
The registration process takes just a few minutes and usually only requires a valid passport, a working email address and access to any online payment method. Most eVisa applications are approved within 72 hours while approved documents are sent to each applicant via email. An approved eVisa allows its holder to stay abroad for a short period of time, usually 30, 60 or 90 days.
The stay may be for leisure, business or transit purposes, including going on vacation, visiting family and friends, conducting business, attending trade shows, conferences and seminars or simply a stopover in transit to another final destination.
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is a short-term travel permit that can be obtained after completing the application process at the nearest border control point upon arrival at the chosen destination.
List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival option for New Zealand citizens
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- The Maldives
- The Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- The United Arab Emirates
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
45 countries allow New Zealand passport holders to apply for a visa on arrival at the nearest border crossing. To obtain a VoA, New Zealand citizens must first check whether there are any specific requirements to meet or supporting documents to collect.
This should be done before departure to be ready for the application process upon arrival.
Once arriving at their chosen destination, travelers should go to the nearest border checkpoint and ask to fill out a VoA form.
The form must be filled out carefully and have accurate data.
Documents accompanied by necessary documents (if any) must be submitted at the border gate. Some countries may require additional steps before visa approval, such as payment of visa fees, which may need to be paid in cash and local currency. Approved documents can be used for short-term stays abroad, usually 30, 60 or 90 days.
The trip can be for leisure, business or transit reasons.
Embassy visa
An embassy visa is a traditional paper visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country a New Zealand citizen intends to visit after completing the in-person application process.
List of countries that require New Zealand citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bhutan
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Mongolia
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Russia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkmenistan
- Yemen
27 countries require New Zealand passport holders to present a valid embassy visa on arrival.
This means that New Zealand citizens must apply for a regular visa at least several weeks before planning to depart to one of the destinations listed above.
To obtain an embassy visa, visitors must first prepare the necessary supporting documents.
It’s best to check which documents need to be collected at least a few weeks before your planned trip abroad to allow enough time to collect. Next, all applicants must fill out the embassy’s visa application form providing accurate data.
The completed application form along with the required supporting documents must be submitted to the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit. Some countries may require additional steps, such as completing a visa interview or paying a visa fee.
There are many types of embassy visas, some even include long-term documents that allow the holder to work, study or reunite with relatives abroad.
Therefore, the application process and required supporting documents may vary. The embassy’s visa processing time can even take up to several weeks, which is why it is important to apply in advance to receive approved documents before departure.
Visa-free countries
105 countries allow New Zealand citizens to visit without any type of visa.
Visa-free stays can be short-term and for leisure, business or transit reasons.
List of visa-free countries for New Zealand citizens
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- The Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
To travel visa-free, New Zealand passport holders must present a valid passport or identification document upon arrival.
This requirement depends on each destination. Some countries may require additional documents; however, this can usually be collected easily.
Documentation may include proof of hotel reservation, return ticket or proof of sufficient funds for the trip. New Zealand passport holders can enjoy leisure, business and transit stays in countries without the need for a visa.
Additionally, under the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement with Australia, New Zealand passport holders can even live, work and study for an indefinite period on a special category visa on arrival!
