# New Zealand Tourist Visa Insurance Requirements for Indians > Insurance is only recommended for a New Zealand Visitor Visa. See what INZ checks instead, how the NZD 100 levy differs from insurance and which NZ visas do make cover compulsory. _Published: 2026-11-02 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1103_ ## TL;DR Immigration New Zealand does not require travel insurance for a Visitor Visa, but recommends full medical insurance because visitors or their sponsors pay for any health care. The visa assessment rests on funds of NZD 1,000 a month, an onward ticket and genuine visitor intent. ## Key takeaways - Insurance is not a Visitor Visa requirement; INZ recommends full medical insurance for the stay. - Visitors or their sponsors must pay for any health care received in New Zealand. - INZ checks funds of NZD 1,000 a month (NZD 400 if accommodation is prepaid) and an onward ticket or funds to buy one. - The NZD 441 fee includes the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, which is a levy, not insurance. - Insurance is a visa condition for the Fee Paying Student Visa, unlike the Visitor Visa. **Travel insurance is not mandatory for a New Zealand Visitor Visa. Immigration New Zealand recommends that Indian visitors buy full medical insurance because you or your sponsor must pay for any health care. The visa costs NZD 441, and INZ instead checks funds of NZD 1,000 a month and proof that you can leave.** ## Article The rules below come from Immigration New Zealand (INZ), its Visitor Visa checklist for India (INZ 11223) and VFS Global, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. INZ's website was returning errors in mid-October 2026, so the Visitor Visa details were read from a capture of the official page dated 6 October 2026. For the full application process, see our New Zealand visa guide for Indians. ### Is travel insurance compulsory for a New Zealand tourist visa? No. INZ lists insurance as not mandatory for the Visitor Visa. Its advice is to have full medical insurance for your stay, because you or your sponsor must pay for any health care you receive. Insurance also does not appear on INZ's Visitor Visa checklist for India, INZ 11223. Because cover is not a visa requirement, the INZ pages captured for this record set no minimum sum insured for visitors. Not mandatory does not mean unimportant. A visitor in New Zealand is responsible for medical bills, and a sponsor who signs for you shares that exposure. ### What does INZ check instead of insurance? RequirementWhat INZ asks forMoney to live onAt least NZD 1,000 a month, or NZD 400 a month if accommodation is prepaid; or a sponsor using form INZ 1025Ability to leaveOnward ticket, or funds to buy one in addition to living funds, or the sponsor's agreementGenuine visitProof of your plans in New ZealandPassportValid at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New ZealandHealthChest X-ray if staying more than 6 months; medical examination if required, less than 3 months oldCharacterPolice certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longerFor funds, the India checklist accepts bank statements or payslips for the previous 3 months showing salary credits, credit card statements and limits, income tax returns for the last two years and bank deposit books showing a saving history. It also asks for evidence of ties to India, such as an employer letter approving leave and confirming your return. ### Why should Indian visitors still buy medical cover? INZ's reason is simple: health care in New Zealand is paid for by the visitor or the sponsor. Insurance shifts that cost away from you and from the relative or friend who sponsors you. INZ does not prescribe policy terms for visitors, so the points below are practical checks rather than visa rules: - Match the policy dates to your full stay, from departure to return. - Make sure medical treatment and hospital care in New Zealand are covered. - Include every traveller named in the application, including children. - Carry the policy schedule and the insurer's emergency contact on your phone and on paper. ### Is the NZD 100 IVL a type of travel insurance? No. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) is a NZD 100 charge built into the Visitor Visa fee of NZD 441, alongside a non-refundable immigration levy. It is not health cover, and it is not refunded if the visa is declined. The IVL applies to temporary entry visa applications, other than those made at the border. Business visitor visas, Accredited Employer and post-study work visas, visits for medical treatment and holders of a current Australian permanent residence visa are among the exemptions. From 20 October 2026, the India Iconic Work and India Skilled Work visas are exempt too. ### When does insurance become compulsory in New Zealand? It depends on the visa. The table compares the categories for which INZ states an insurance rule. VisaInsurance ruleVisitor VisaNot mandatory; full medical insurance recommendedFee Paying Student VisaInsurance acceptable to the education provider for travel and health care for the whole visa; a visa conditionPeak Seasonal VisaAcceptable medical insurance if the job offer is over 3 monthsBusiness Visitor VisaNot listed among the required documentsIf you later switch plans from a holiday to study or seasonal work, the insurance rule changes with the visa. ### Does a longer stay change the health checks? 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. Stays of more than 6 months bring a chest X-ray requirement, because India is not a low-TB country. The longer you stay, the more a medical bill could cost, which is when the INZ recommendation matters most. INZ's headline timeframe is 80% of Visitor Visa applications decided within 2 weeks, and it says processing is busiest between September and March. Since 1 October 2026, visitor applications are made online through Immigration Online. ### What should you sort out before you fly? - Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; by air it can be submitted from 24 hours before your journey begins. - Carry your onward ticket, or proof of money to buy one, and proof of money to live on. - Keep your insurance documents with your passport, even though no officer needs them for the visa. - Remember that entry can be refused if you cannot show onward travel or the money to leave. A verifiable travel itinerary and cover letter help show INZ your plans. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us through the contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do Indian parents visiting children in New Zealand need insurance? On a standard Visitor Visa, insurance is recommended rather than required, and the visitor or sponsor pays for any health care. The separate Parent Boost Visitor Visa, costing NZD 3,100, has its own conditions, so check INZ's page for it before applying. #### Is the New Zealand visitor visa fee refunded if INZ declines it? No. The NZD 441 fee, including the immigration levy and the NZD 100 IVL, is not refunded if the application is declined. #### Do Indian tourists need a medical examination for New Zealand? Only in some cases. A chest X-ray is needed if you will stay more than 6 months, because India is not a low-TB country, and INZ may ask for a medical examination; either must be less than 3 months old. #### Can a sponsor in New Zealand cover my costs instead of my own funds? Yes. A sponsor completes the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) and provides their sharing ID. The sponsor's agreement can also replace your own proof of onward travel. ## FAQ ### Do Indian parents visiting children in New Zealand need insurance? On a standard Visitor Visa, insurance is recommended rather than required, and the visitor or sponsor pays for any health care. The separate Parent Boost Visitor Visa, costing NZD 3,100, has its own conditions, so check INZ's page for it before applying. ### Is the New Zealand visitor visa fee refunded if INZ declines it? No. The NZD 441 fee, including the immigration levy and the NZD 100 IVL, is not refunded if the application is declined. ### Do Indian tourists need a medical examination for New Zealand? Only in some cases. A chest X-ray is needed if you will stay more than 6 months, because India is not a low-TB country, and INZ may ask for a medical examination; either must be less than 3 months old. ### Can a sponsor in New Zealand cover my costs instead of my own funds? Yes. A sponsor completes the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) and provides their sharing ID. The sponsor's agreement can also replace your own proof of onward travel. ## Sources 1. [Immigration New Zealand - Visitor Visa](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/visitor-visa/) — Immigration New Zealand 2. [Immigration New Zealand - Visitor Visa checklist for India (INZ 11223)](https://www.immigration.govt.nz/assets/inz/documents/checklists/india/inz-11223.pdf) — Immigration New Zealand 3. [Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2010/241/en/latest/) — New Zealand Legislation