Does New Zealand Offer Visa on Arrival to Indians?

New Zealand sits on many Indian travellers' wish lists alongside countries that do allow arrival visas, which is where the confusion starts. The rule for Indian passport holders is clear, and it even extends to a short connection at Auckland. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full picture of visitor, student and work visas, see our New Zealand visa guide for Indians.

Why does New Zealand not give Indians a visa on arrival?

New Zealand decides visa-free entry through a list in its immigration regulations, the visa-waiver list in Schedule 2 of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010. India is not on it. Without that listing, an Indian citizen must hold a visa before boarding, and there is no arrival-visa counter to fall back on.

The New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi does not assist with visa enquiries. Applications go to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), not to the mission.

How do Indians apply, if not at the airport?

Online. INZ is the decision-maker, and from 1 October 2026 visitor and selected transit visa applications must be made through its enhanced Immigration Online system. INZ emails the decision. Your passport goes to a VFS Global centre only if INZ asks for it on the "Thank You" page or in the application PDF.

• VFS centres: New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai, by appointment.
• Passport handling fee: INR 1,460 when INZ asks for your passport on an online application; INR 2,085 for a paper application. Both include courier and are non-refundable.
• Passport return: since 18 August 2026 VFS returns passports by courier, with a maximum of two passports per courier bag; pre-paid self-addressed envelopes are not accepted.

What does the Visitor Visa cost, and how quickly is it decided?

The Visitor Visa fee includes a non-refundable immigration levy and the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. It is not refunded if the visa is declined. INZ says Visitor Visa processing is busiest between September and March, with a high number of applications over summer, especially for Christmas, so apply early if you are travelling in that season.

A Visitor Visa allows up to 9 months in an 18-month period. INZ issues either a multiple-entry visa, with up to 6 months in each 12-month period, or a single-entry visa for one stay of up to 9 months. You will need to show at least NZD 1,000 a month to live on, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is prepaid, or a sponsor, plus an onward ticket or the money to buy one.

Do you need a visa just to change planes in Auckland?

Usually, yes. Indian passport holders need a Transit Visa to pass through Auckland Airport, because India is not on the visa-waiver or the transit visa waiver lists. The exceptions are travellers who hold a valid New Zealand visa, are an Australian permanent resident, or are travelling to or from Australia; in those cases an NZeTA is used instead.

• Transit is possible only at Auckland, not at other New Zealand airports.
• You may stay in the airport transit area for up to 24 hours.
• You need an itinerary with arrival and departure times, a statement explaining why you are travelling to your destination, and tickets to a country you have the right to enter (a valid Australian visa if you are going to Australia).

Are Australian permanent residents treated differently?

Yes. Holders of a current Australian permanent resident visa or resident return visa travel to New Zealand on an NZeTA instead of a visa and are normally given a visa at the border. That border grant depends entirely on Australian residence status, not on the Indian passport. These travellers are also exempt from the NZD 100 visitor levy.

Changes under the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, which enters into force on 20 October 2026, concern work and youth mobility. MFAT lists temporary employment entry visas and a working holiday scheme of up to 1,000 places a year, but INZ had not published application details for either when we checked.

What happens at the border, even with a visa?

A visa is permission to travel, and the border check still applies. Before flying, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD), which air travellers can submit from 24 hours before the journey begins. On arrival, carry:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand, or proof of money to buy one, or your sponsor's agreement
• Proof of money to live on during your stay
• A passport valid at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand

INZ says entry can be refused if you are not a genuine visitor, do not meet character requirements, your circumstances have changed since the visa was issued, you refuse photographs, fingerprints or an iris scan, or you cannot show onward travel or the money to leave.

For the onward-travel and itinerary parts of your file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-to-day itineraries and cover letters. A flight reservation costs INR 1,000 and the complete set INR 3,000. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to send my passport to VFS for a New Zealand visitor visa?

Only if Immigration New Zealand asks for it on the Thank You page or in your application PDF. In that case VFS charges a passport handling fee of INR 1,460, which includes courier and is non-refundable.

How long can I stay in New Zealand on a Visitor Visa?

A Visitor Visa allows up to 9 months in an 18-month period. INZ issues either a multiple-entry visa with up to 6 months in each 12-month period, or a single-entry visa for one stay of up to 9 months.

Is travel insurance compulsory for a New Zealand visitor visa?

No. Insurance is not mandatory for a Visitor Visa, but INZ recommends full medical insurance for your stay because you or your sponsor must pay for any health care in New Zealand.

Can Indians get a New Zealand working holiday visa?

Not as at October 2026. India is not on INZ's list of working holiday countries. The New Zealand-India FTA commits to a scheme of up to 1,000 places a year, but no opening date or criteria had been published.