New Zealand Visa for Indians 2026: Types, Fees and How to Apply

This overview covers the main visa types, what each costs, the documents INZ expects and the exact steps from India, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For a shorter summary, see our New Zealand visa page for Indians.

Which New Zealand visa do Indians need?

India is not on New Zealand's visa-waiver list, so the visa depends on why you are going:

• Visitor Visa: holidays and family visits. It 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).
• Business Visitor Visa: meetings, exploring business opportunities or negotiating contracts, for up to 3 months in 1 year.
• Group Visitor Visa: a group arriving and travelling together for the same purpose; the stay is normally up to 1 month.
• Transit Visa: needed to pass through Auckland Airport, the only New Zealand airport where transit is possible, for up to 24 hours in the transit area.
• Long stay: Fee Paying Student Visa, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), Post-Study Work Visa and residence categories.

There is no working holiday visa for Indians as at October 2026. The New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, entering into force on 20 October 2026, commits New Zealand to a working holiday scheme of up to 1,000 places a year, but INZ had not published criteria or an opening date.

How much does each New Zealand visa cost for Indians?

INZ charges in New Zealand dollars and publishes no INR amounts for its fees. The figures below are for an Indian citizen applying from outside New Zealand.

The visitor, group visitor, Parent Boost and student totals include the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Business visitor, AEWV and post-study work visas are exempt from it. The Visitor Visa fee is not refunded if the application is declined, and online payment is by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay. Timeframes other than the Visitor Visa are INZ's headline figures for all applicants.

How do you apply for a New Zealand visitor visa from India?

1. Pick the right visa. Use the Business Visitor Visa only for specific business reasons; working, training or performing may need a different visa.
2. Prepare your evidence. Gather funds, travel plans and proof of your circumstances in India (see the next section).
3. Apply online. From 1 October 2026, visitor and selected transit visa applications must be made through Immigration Online. Upload 1 acceptable photo and pay the fee.
4. Respond to requests. A chest X-ray is needed if you will stay more than 6 months, and police certificates if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or longer.
5. Submit your passport only if told to. INZ's 'Thank You' page or application PDF tells you if the original passport is needed at VFS.
6. Get the decision by email. Before flying, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration, which can be submitted from 24 hours before your journey begins.

What documents and funds does INZ expect from Indian visitors?

The core requirements on the Visitor Visa page are:

• A passport valid at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
• At least NZD 1,000 a month for your stay, or NZD 400 a month if accommodation is prepaid, shown with bank or credit card statements, prepaid hotel vouchers or traveller's cheques; or a sponsor using form INZ 1025.
• Proof you can leave: an onward ticket, or funds to buy one in addition to your living funds.
• Proof of your plans showing you are a genuine visitor.

INZ's India checklist (INZ 11223) adds India-specific evidence: bank statements or payslips for the previous 3 months showing salary credits, income tax returns for the last two years, and an employer letter approving leave and confirming your return. It also suggests an optional cover letter, a day-to-day itinerary, visas from earlier trips and your Aadhaar card.

The online photo must be a JPG/JPEG of 512 KB to 3.14 MB, portrait with a 3:4 aspect ratio, with your face covering 70-80% of the image. Travel insurance is not mandatory, but INZ recommends full medical insurance because you or your sponsor must pay for any health care.

When do you need to visit a VFS centre?

VFS Global is INZ's official partner in India and runs Visa Application Centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Mumbai, by appointment. For online applications, you go only if INZ asks for your passport. The New Zealand High Commission does not assist with visa enquiries.

• Passport handling for online applications: INR 1,460, paid by demand draft to VFS GLOBAL SERVICES PVT LTD.
• Paper applications: INR 2,085.
• Both fees include courier to the lodging country and are non-refundable.

Since 18 August 2026, VFS India returns passports by courier with a maximum of two passports per courier bag, and pre-paid self-addressed envelopes are not accepted.

What changes should Indian applicants know about in late 2026?

• 1 October 2026: online-only lodgement for visitor and selected transit visas.
• 20 October 2026: the New Zealand-India FTA enters into force, with the equivalent of 1,667 three-year temporary employment entry visas a year and new India Iconic Work and India Skilled Work visas exempt from the IVL. INZ had not published application details.
• 16 November 2026: Post-Study Work Visa eligibility extends to holders of an NZQCF level 7 graduate diploma studied full-time in New Zealand who also hold a bachelor's degree.
• Peak season: INZ says Visitor Visa processing is busiest between September and March, especially around Christmas, so apply early.

For the travel-plan part of your file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indians get a New Zealand visa on arrival?

No. India is not on New Zealand's visa-waiver list, so Indian passport holders must get a visa before travelling. Holders of a current Australian permanent resident visa or resident return visa are the exception: they travel on an NZeTA and are normally given a visa at the border.

Do Indians need a visa to transit through Auckland?

Yes, unless they hold a valid New Zealand visa, are an Australian permanent resident or are travelling to or from Australia. The Transit Visa costs NZD 235, allows up to 24 hours in the Auckland Airport transit area and needs onward tickets to a country you can enter.

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 because you or your sponsor must pay for any health care in New Zealand.

Can I ask INZ to reconsider a declined visa from India?

Reconsideration is only available if you applied while in New Zealand and are still there on a valid visa. Applicants declined from India must make a new application, and the NZD 441 Visitor Visa fee is not refunded when a visa is declined.