From glowworm caves and Māori tradition to Auckland’s harbours, Wellington’s arts scene and Queenstown’s mountains, New Zealand is definitely worth the admin. South African passport holders want a visa earlier than travelling, however most Customer Visa purposes might be accomplished on-line. This information explains find out how to apply for a New Zealand visa, which paperwork chances are you’ll want and what to test earlier than you journey.
Essential: Visa guidelines, prices and processing occasions can change. All the time affirm the most recent necessities with Immigration New Zealand earlier than making use of or reserving non-refundable journey.

Do South Africans want a visa for New Zealand?
Sure. South African passport holders should receive the suitable visa earlier than travelling to New Zealand. For holidays, visiting household or different brief stays, it will often be a Customer Visa.
A Customer Visa could help you:
- vacation in New Zealand
- go to pals or household
- research for as much as three months
- embrace your accomplice and dependent kids aged 19 or youthful in your utility
You can’t take up employment in New Zealand on a Customer Visa. Totally different circumstances could apply to distant work carried out for an abroad employer or shopper, so test the most recent remote-working guidelines earlier than travelling.
Travelling for conferences, negotiations or a convention? Verify whether or not you want a Enterprise Customer Visa as a substitute.
How lengthy are you able to keep in New Zealand on a Customer Visa?
The permitted keep is dependent upon the visa Immigration New Zealand grants you.
- A multiple-entry Customer Visa could enable stays totalling as much as six months in a 12-month interval.
- A single-entry Customer Visa could enable one keep of as much as 9 months in an 18-month interval.
Your eVisa will present your precise journey circumstances, entry permissions and expiry date. Leaving New Zealand could trigger a single-entry visa to run out, even when time stays on it.

New Zealand Customer Visa necessities
Immigration New Zealand assesses each utility individually. You’ll typically want to indicate that:
- you’re a real customer
- you might be in good well being and of fine character
- you find the money for to your keep or a suitable sponsor
- you may go away New Zealand on the finish of your go to
- your cause for travelling matches the visa you chose
Paperwork chances are you’ll want
Put together clear digital copies of the paperwork related to your utility. These could embrace:
- your legitimate passport
- a suitable visa {photograph}
- current financial institution or bank card statements
- proof of pay as you go lodging, the place relevant
- your journey plans or itinerary
- proof of a return or onward flight, or sufficient cash to buy one
- proof of employment, research, household tasks or different ties to South Africa
- lodging particulars or an invite out of your host
- a accomplished sponsorship type and supporting proof, if somebody is sponsoring you
- marriage or start certificates in case your accomplice or dependent kids are included
- English translations of paperwork issued in one other language
Your passport ought to stay legitimate for no less than three months after the date you propose to depart New Zealand.
Immigration New Zealand may request a medical examination, chest X-ray or police certificates, relying in your age, supposed size of keep, well being historical past and private circumstances. Don’t prepare these unnecessarily. Observe the directions offered throughout or after your utility.

How a lot cash do you want for a New Zealand Customer Visa?
In case you are paying to your personal journey, Immigration New Zealand presently requires proof of no less than:
- NZ$1,000 per thirty days, or
- NZ$400 per thirty days in case your lodging has already been paid for.
You need to even have a ticket out of New Zealand or sufficient further cash to purchase one. A qualifying sponsor could cowl your lodging, residing bills and onward journey as a substitute.
These quantities could change, so affirm them on the official Customer Visa web page.
The way to apply for a New Zealand Customer Visa on-line
Step 1: Affirm the right visa
Use Immigration New Zealand’s visa finder to test which visa matches your passport, journey function and supposed keep.
Step 2: Collect your supporting paperwork
Acquire your passport copy, {photograph}, monetary proof, itinerary and any paperwork that help your cause for visiting and intention to return dwelling.
Your title, passport quantity and different private particulars should match your passport precisely. Incorrect info can delay the appliance or lead to it being declined.
Step 3: Create a web-based account
Observe the Apply on-line hyperlink on the official Customer Visa web page. Create an account, full the shape and add the requested paperwork.
Step 4: Pay the appliance value
Pay the visa payment and any relevant levies via the official utility system. Prices depend upon elements similar to the place you apply and might change with out discover. Verify the quantity displayed by Immigration New Zealand while you apply fairly than counting on transformed rand estimates from third-party web sites.
Step 5: Submit and monitor your utility
Evaluate each reply and attachment earlier than submitting. Immigration New Zealand will contact you if extra info is required. You possibly can register to your account to test your utility standing.
Step 6: Verify your eVisa
If authorized, you’ll usually obtain an eVisa by e mail. Verify that your title, passport quantity and visa circumstances are appropriate. Carry a replica when travelling and make sure you use the identical passport linked to the visa.

How lengthy does a New Zealand Customer Visa take?
Processing occasions change all year long and could also be longer throughout busy journey intervals. Incomplete purposes or requests for extra info can even trigger delays.
Verify the reside processing estimate on the official Customer Visa web page and apply nicely earlier than your supposed departure. Immigration New Zealand recommends avoiding non-refundable journey bookings till your visa has been authorized.
Earlier than travelling to New Zealand
An authorized visa doesn’t mechanically assure entry. Border officers could ask for proof that you simply meet the circumstances of your visa.
Earlier than departure, be sure to have:
- the passport linked to your eVisa
- your return or onward ticket, or proof you can afford one
- proof of ample funds to your keep
- your lodging particulars
- appropriate journey and medical insurance coverage
- a accomplished New Zealand Traveller Declaration
New Zealand has strict biosecurity guidelines. Declare meals, crops, animal merchandise and outside gear when required. In case you are uncertain, declare it.
Continuously requested questions

Can South Africans apply for a New Zealand visa on-line?
Sure. Most South African travellers can full their Customer Visa utility on-line via Immigration New Zealand.
Do I have to submit my authentic passport?
On-line candidates typically add a transparent copy of their passport. Immigration New Zealand could request the unique passport or further id proof after submission if wanted.
Ought to I purchase flights earlier than making use of for the visa?
You need to present you can go away New Zealand, however this can be confirmed with a journey reserving or ample funds to buy an onward ticket. Immigration New Zealand recommends that you don’t guide non-refundable journey earlier than your visa is authorized.
Can I embrace my household in my utility?
You might be able to embrace your accomplice and dependent kids aged 19 or youthful. You’ll need proof of your relationship and id paperwork for every individual. Relations may apply individually.
Do I would like a medical examination or police clearance certificates?
Not everybody does. The necessities rely in your well being, character, age, supposed keep and journey historical past. Immigration New Zealand will let you know what’s required to your utility.
Do South Africans want an NZeTA?
A New Zealand Digital Journey Authority isn’t a substitute for the Customer Visa required when travelling on a South African passport. In case you maintain one other passport or have uncommon journey circumstances, use Immigration New Zealand’s official checker.
Do I would like a Transit Visa for New Zealand?
Transit necessities rely in your passport, route and whether or not you qualify for an exemption. South African passport holders ought to test the official Transit Visa necessities earlier than reserving a journey via a New Zealand airport.
Can a New Zealand Customer Visa be prolonged?
You can’t merely prolong the expiry date on an current visa. In case you are already in New Zealand and want to remain longer, you typically want to use for a brand new Customer Visa earlier than your present visa expires. Most-stay guidelines nonetheless apply.
Prepared for New Zealand?
As soon as the paperwork is sorted, the enjoyable half begins. Examine flights to New Zealand and begin planning all the pieces from Waitomo’s glowworm caves and Christchurch’s gardens to Queenstown’s mountain adventures.
*Disclaimer!
All info on this weblog web page was appropriate on the time of publishing and will change at any time with out prior discover. Travelstart isn’t affiliated with immigration authorities or their utility centres and won’t be chargeable for loss or inconvenience arising from the usage of this unstable info.
