New Zealand eVisa for Indians: Who Can Apply Online

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is the government agency that decides every New Zealand visa. The New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi does not assist with visa enquiries. The rules here are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. India is not on New Zealand's visa-waiver list, so there is no visa on arrival.

Which New Zealand visas can Indians lodge online?

Most temporary visas an Indian traveller, student or worker needs are filed online. INZ's headline processing times are the share of all applications decided within the period shown.

The Visitor Visa total includes a non-refundable immigration levy and the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Business visitor and Accredited Employer work visas are exempt from the IVL. INZ fees are charged in NZD and paid by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card; INZ publishes no rupee amount. The fees are not refunded if your application is declined. Read the INZ Visitor Visa page for the current figures.

When does VFS still come into it?

VFS Global is INZ's official partner in India. It runs Visa Application Centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai, and appointments are required. After an online application, VFS has a narrow role:

• Passport handling. You submit your original passport only if INZ instructs you on the 'Thank You' page or in the application PDF. VFS charges a handling fee of INR 1,460.00 (USD 24.00), paid by demand draft to VFS GLOBAL SERVICES PVT LTD.
• Paper or postal applications. VFS still accepts these where INZ allows them. The fee is INR 2,085.00 (USD 34.00), and you need two demand drafts: the visa fee to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, and the service fee to VFS.
• 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.

VFS fees include courier to the lodging country and are non-refundable. Details are on the VFS notice on the visitor and transit visa changes.

Who does not need a New Zealand visa at all?

One group of Indian passport holders skips the visa. If you hold a current Australian permanent resident visa or resident return visa, you travel on an NZeTA instead and are normally given a visa at the border. Australian permanent residents are also exempt from the IVL.

Transit is different. An Indian passport holder needs a Transit Visa to pass through Auckland Airport, unless they 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. Transit is possible only at Auckland, in the airport transit area, for up to 24 hours.

What do you need ready before starting the online form?

• Passport valid at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
• One digital photo: JPG or JPEG between 512 KB and 3.14 MB, portrait at a 3:4 ratio, face covering 70-80% of the image, plain background, no filters or AI edits.
• Funds: at least NZD 1,000 a month, or NZD 400 a month if accommodation is prepaid, or a sponsor using form INZ 1025.
• Proof you can leave: an onward ticket or money to buy one, on top of your living funds.
• Home ties: an employer letter approving leave, business registration and tax returns, or student ID. The India checklist (INZ 11223) also lists 3 months of bank statements or payslips and income tax returns for the last two years.
• Health: a chest X-ray if you will stay more than 6 months, because India is not a low-TB country.

INZ 11223 is dated July 2024 and still mentions paper form INZ 1017 and two photographs. Online lodgement needs one acceptable photo. A day-to-day itinerary and cover letter are listed as optional extras that strengthen a file; a clear travel itinerary helps show genuine visitor intent.

How long can you stay, and when should you apply?

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

INZ says Visitor Visa processing is busiest between September and March, with a high number of applications over summer, especially for Christmas. Apply early if you are planning a December trip. Escalation for urgent cases is considered only for compelling reasons, and it changes only when your application is allocated.

If you are declined while in India, you cannot ask for a reconsideration. That is available only to people who applied while in New Zealand. You must make a new application instead.

What about the new India-specific work visas?

The New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement enters into force on 20 October 2026. Regulations in force from that date exempt two new visas, the India Iconic Work visa and the India Skilled Work visa, from the NZD 100 IVL. As at the sources checked, INZ had not published opening dates, criteria or how to apply for them. Treat any offer to lodge them now with caution.

Mistakes Indians make with the online application

• Couriering a passport to VFS before INZ asks for it.
• Uploading a photo outside the 512 KB to 3.14 MB range or with a filter applied.
• Showing funds without an onward ticket or the money to buy one.
• Applying during the September to March peak with only a few days to spare.

Our New Zealand visa guide for Indians covers student, work and residence routes in more detail.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or message us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the New Zealand visitor visa fee refunded if my application is declined?

No. INZ states the Visitor Visa fee of NZD 441, which includes the immigration levy and the NZD 100 IVL, is not refunded if the application is declined. VFS fees are also non-refundable.

Can I pay the New Zealand visa fee in rupees?

INZ fees are published in NZD and paid online by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card. Only the VFS charges are published in rupees: INR 1,460.00 for passport handling and INR 2,085.00 for paper applications.

Can I include my spouse and children in one online visitor application?

Yes, a partner and dependent children can be included with relationship and identity evidence and their photos. INZ may ask for the Additional Dependants for a Visitor Visa form (INZ 1205). If a dependent child is included, add a letter of consent from any non-travelling parent.

Where are the New Zealand visa centres in India?

VFS Global runs New Zealand Visa Application Centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai, and appointments are required. They handle passports for online applications only when INZ asks, plus paper or postal applications.