A New Zealand transit visa must be applied for, especially when you are transiting through the country. However, if you are travelling from a visa waiver or transit visa waiver country to Australia, then you will not require a New Zealand transit visa.
The New Zealand transit visa allows travelers to enjoy a maximum length of stay of up to 24 hours in the country, and the transition process will only be allowed through the Auckland International Airport. Additionally, travelers are recommended to only stay within the airport’s transit area at all times.
What are the Eligibility and Requirements?
As mentioned previously, fliers transiting through New Zealand will be required to apply for a transit visa. However, you do not need to apply for a transit visa if you are a citizen of a visitor visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country. A transit visa will also not be required if you are a citizen of any other country but are passing through New Zealand to reach Australia, which is your final destination, while also possessing a visa for Australia.
In addition to that, if you are an Australian permanent resident and have a valid visa that will allow you to return to Australia from overseas, then a New Zealand transit visa is also not necessary. However, it should be known that if you are travelling from a visitor visa waiver country or a transit visa waiver country, then you must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) proof.
Before applying for a transit visa, ensure that your passport has a validity of at least three months after you plan to leave New Zealand. This is because your passport details will be primarily used to check your identity. Additionally, you must be of good character and have not recently been convicted in the last 10 years or deported or prohibited from New Zealand at any time.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, a transit passenger must also show proof of a genuine intent to travel through New Zealand to his or her final destination country. Evidence of travel arrangements must be shown to the visa authorities, which should include an itinerary confirming your time of arrival and departure from New Zealand. The transit passenger should also provide a statement explaining the reasons for travelling to his or her destination country, while also showcasing the travel tickets. The travel tickets should state the transit journey through New Zealand to the destination country, where the transit passenger must have the right to enter.
Lastly, if you are also applying for your partner and dependent children (aged 19 or under) with your visa application, proof of their identity and tickets to leave New Zealand must be submitted. Additionally, they should be of good character and have the intention to travel through New Zealand only as a transit passenger.
How to Apply For New Zealand Transit Visa Online?
The New Zealand visa authorities accept transit visa applications either in-person or via mail/post. To apply for a transit visa today, follow the below-mentioned steps judiciously.
- Start your application process by first downloading the “Transit Visa Application” form here.
- Once downloaded, print the form, and then start filling it out.
- Proceed to provide your personal details, contact information, travel arrangement details, partner’s personal details (if any), and dependent children’s personal details (if any). Additionally, you also have to provide your character details, your declaration, your immigration and adviser’s details, and the adviser’s declaration.
- After that, send the filled-out form along with the supporting documents to your nearest New Zealand Visa Application Centre. Alternatively, you can also visit the Visa Application Centre in person and submit the same.
To find the nearest New Zealand Visa Application Centre in your country, visit the official link here. Under “Enter Your Country Details,” select your passport nationality and the location from where you are applying. The online system will then provide you with the address, operating hours, phone number, and email address of the nearest New Zealand Visa Application Centre.
It should be noted that the standard fee for applying for a New Zealand transit visa is $125. However, the cost might change depending on your selected country and currency. Additionally, you also have to provide the return courier fee (to have your mailed documents returned to you) when applying via post or the Visa Application Centre fee when applying in person.
Once you have submitted your transit visa application, you will receive an email directly from Immigration New Zealand stating whether your application was accepted or rejected. If your application is considered accepted, then you will receive further updates via SMS (Short Messaging Service) directly to your provided phone number. The processing time should not exceed 30 days.
