Visa guide · Nepali passport holders

New Zealand Visa for Nepali Citizens

Visa requiredLast reviewed May 17, 2026

Nepali passport holders visiting New Zealand as tourists use the Visitor Visa — Tourist. Visa fee: NZD 441 (visa fee) + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total. Processing time: 2–3 weeks. Apply through VFS Global New Zealand Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu. The sources and the date this record was last reviewed are listed at the end of the page.

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Tourist visa: Visitor Visa — TouristStay: 6 months per visit (multiple-entry: 6 months in any 12-month period)
Visa fee: NZD 441 (visa fee) + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total
Processing time: 2–3 weeks (Immigration NZ publishes 80% within 14 days for Nepal lodgements).
Where to apply: VFS Global New Zealand Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu

At a glance

At a glance — New Zealand Visitor Visa — Tourist

Visa fee: NZD 441 (visa fee) + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total. VFS service fee NPR ~3,500 if lodging on paper.
Processing time: 2–3 weeks (Immigration NZ publishes 80% within 14 days for Nepal lodgements).
Stay duration: 6 months per visit (multiple-entry: 6 months in any 12-month period); single-entry up to 9 months over 18 months on case-officer discretion.
Visa validity: Up to 3 years multi-entry for repeat travellers with clean immigration history.
Entries: Single or Multiple.
Bank balance / financial proof: NZD 1,000 per month of stay (or NZD 400 per month if accommodation is prepaid). Bank statements 3–6 months. Plus property / business / employment ties demonstrating intent to return to Nepal.
Where to apply: Apply online via Immigration NZ portal (immigration.govt.nz/account/login); biometrics at VFS Kathmandu (Thamel) within 15 days of online lodgement.

Visa types

Visa categories available

Tourist — Visitor Visa — Tourist
Tourism, sightseeing, holiday, visiting family / friends.
Stay
6 months per visit (multiple-entry: 6 months in any 12-month period); single-entry up to 9 months over 18 months on case-officer discretion.
Processing
2–3 weeks (Immigration NZ publishes 80% within 14 days for Nepal lodgements).
Fee
NZD 441 (visa fee) + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total. VFS service fee NPR ~3,500 if lodging on paper.
Business — Business Visitor Visa
Business meetings, negotiations, conferences, exhibitions, trade missions — no employment in NZ.
Stay
3 months per visit; up to 9 months in any 18-month period on multi-entry profile.
Processing
2–4 weeks.
Fee
NZD 441 + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total.
Transit — Transit Visa
Transit through Auckland / Wellington / Christchurch airport en route to a third country.
Stay
Up to 24 hours airside; up to 96 hours if leaving the airport with a hotel arrangement.
Processing
1–2 weeks (often 3–7 working days).
Fee
NZD 191 (no IVL applies to transit).
Medical — Visitor Visa — Medical Treatment
Receive medical treatment / consultation in NZ, or accompany a patient as medical-support escort.
Stay
Per treatment plan; typically 3 / 6 / 12-month tranches.
Processing
Variable; urgent cases expedited (1–3 weeks); non-urgent 4–8 weeks.
Fee
NZD 441 + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total.
Student — Fee-Paying Student Visa
Full-time study at an NZQA-approved institution (University / Te Pūkenga / Private Training Establishment / School).
Stay
Duration of course + up to 3 months buffer.
Processing
Higher Ed 4–6 weeks · School / PTE 4–8 weeks. Recent grant rate for Nepali higher-ed applicants ~70–80%.
Fee
NZD 375 + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 475 total.
Student / Trainee — Post-Study Work Visa
Open work rights for graduates of NZ qualifications — any employer, any job, anywhere in NZ.
Stay
Level 4–6 non-degree: 1 year (only if Level 5 nursing or qualification on Green List). Level 7–10 degree: 3 years (Bachelor / Master's) or 3 years (PhD). One-time grant per qualification level.
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Fee
NZD 700 + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 800 total.
Work — Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
Employer-sponsored skilled / semi-skilled work for an Immigration NZ–accredited employer in NZ. Replaced the old Essential Skills + Work-to-Residence + Talent (Accredited Employer) visas in July 2022.
Stay
ANZSCO Skill Level 1–3 (Median Wage NZD 31.61/hr+): up to 5 years. Level 4–5 below-median-wage: up to 3 years with mandatory 90-day stand-down between consecutive grants.
Processing
4–10 weeks (Job Check 10 working days + Migrant Check 4–8 weeks).
Fee
NZD 750 (employer-borne) + NZD 100 IVL applicant.
Other route — Specific Purpose Work Visa
Short-term, narrowly-scoped work in NZ for a specific event, project, contract, or installation — without going through the full AEWV accreditation chain.
Stay
Up to 3 years (most grants 3–18 months tied to the project / event).
Processing
4–8 weeks.
Fee
NZD 750.
Family Visit — Partnership-Based Visa (Visitor / Work / Resident)
Join a NZ-citizen / NZ-resident partner in NZ — visitor, work, or residence stream depending on relationship duration.
Stay
Visitor partnership: 6 months / 1 year. Work partnership: 1–3 years. Resident: indefinite (after 12 months living-together-stably).
Processing
Visitor / Work 4–8 weeks; Resident 6–12 months.
Fee
Visitor partnership: NZD 441 + IVL. Work partnership: NZD 750 + IVL. Resident partnership: NZD 4,290.
Retirement — Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa (SMC)
Permanent residence pathway for skilled workers — NZ's flagship economic-stream Resident Visa. Six-points framework since October 2023; further reforms August 2026.
Stay
Indefinite (Resident Visa); Permanent Resident Visa available after 24 months meeting commitment criteria.
Processing
6–12 months (priority for Green-List Tier-1 occupations: 4–6 months).
Fee
NZD 4,290 (Resident application).
Diplomatic — Parent Resident Visa (Tier-1 Parent Category)
Permanent residence for parents of NZ citizens / residents — Tier-1 priority queue (sponsor income above threshold) and Tier-2 ballot (lower income).
Stay
Indefinite (Resident Visa).
Processing
12–24 months for Tier-1 selected EOIs; Tier-2 ballot draws every 6 months.
Fee
NZD 5,810 (single applicant) / NZD 9,600 (couple).

Checklist

Required documents — New Zealand tourist visa

22 required · 11 conditional — tick them off as you build your file.

Nepali passport bio-page (3+ months validity beyond intended stay)
Required
Recent passport-size photo (45×35 mm, white background)
Required
Online Visitor Visa application (INZ 1188 equivalent) + form fees paid
Required
Bank statements (last 6 months, NZD-equivalent of 1,000/month minimum)
Required
Confirmed return ticket (or funds to purchase one)
Required
Hotel bookings / accommodation proof for full stay
Required
Travel insurance covering full trip (recommended, occasionally requested)
Conditional
Family ties evidence (marriage cert, children's birth certs — notarised English translations + MoFA Nepal apostille)
Conditional
Invitation letter from NZ host (if any) + sponsor passport / PR / citizenship copy
Conditional
Nepal Police Clearance (often requested for >3-month stays)
Conditional
Chest X-ray at IOM / Norvic / CIWEC (mandatory for 6+ month stays — Nepal is TB-higher-incidence)
Conditional
eMedical referral generated by Immigration NZ portal.
ANY ONE income bundle — Business / Salary / Pension / Rental (only one needed)
Required
See per-bundle breakdown below — submit the bundle that matches your active income source.
Income Details & Supporting Documents (For Visa Application)
Required
Important Notes: (1) All documents issued in Nepali language must be translated into English and notarised (certified by a notary public). (2) The applicant is required to provide documents for any ONE source of income only from the categories listed below.
1. Business Income
Conditional
Applicants involved in business must submit the following:
PAN Certificate
Required
Permanent Account Number certificate issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
Business Registration Certificate
Required
Submit ONE of: (a) Company Registrar Certificate (for private/public limited companies), (b) Cottage / Small Industry (Gharelu) Registration, OR (c) Municipality / Ward (Wada) Registration Certificate.
Additional Registration Certificates (if applicable)
Conditional
Sector-specific endorsements: (a) Tourism Board Registration for travel-related businesses, (b) Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Registration for financial institutions, (c) Contractor License from Municipality / Ward Office.
Latest Audit Report
Required
Signed by a Nepal Chartered Accountants Institute (ICAN)–registered auditor, with company stamp.
Tax Clearance Certificate
Required
Issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for the latest fiscal year.
2. Salary-Based Income
Conditional
Applicants who are employed must provide:
Salary Certificate / Salary Letter
Required
On employer letterhead, signed and stamped — stating designation, joining date, monthly gross / net salary, and tenure.
Leave Approval Letter
Required
Confirming sanctioned leave dates covering the full trip plus a buffer; signed by HR / authorised signatory.
No Objection Certificate (NOC) from employer
Required
Confirming the employer has no objection to the trip and the applicant will return to duty after the leave window.
Tax Clearance Certificate from IRD OR Tax Submission Letter from employer with tax statements
Required
Either personal tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Department for the latest year, OR an employer letter confirming TDS deduction + remittance with attached employee tax statement.
3. Pension Income
Conditional
Applicants receiving pension must submit:
Pension Certificate (Pension Patta)
Required
Original Nijamati / armed-forces pension book issued by the Pension Management Office, plus copies of all entries.
Company ID Card (if available)
Conditional
Photocopy of the former government / public-sector service ID card (front + back).
Recent Pension Bank Statement
Required
Last 3–6 months of pension-account transactions showing regular monthly pension credits — original, signed and stamped on every page.
Pension Receiving Confirmation Letter from Bank
Required
On bank letterhead, confirming the applicant's pension account, monthly credit amount, and account holder details.
4. Rental Income
Conditional
Applicants earning rental income must provide:
Land Ownership Certificate
Required
Original + copy of the Lalpurja (land title deed) for the rental-yielding land / property.
Building Completion Certificate
Required
Issued by the Municipality / Nagarpalika engineering office confirming the building is completed and fit for occupancy.
Land and Building Tax Payment Certificate
Required
Latest fiscal-year payment receipts from Municipality (Nagarpalika) and Ward (Wada) office (malpot / bhumi-ghar tax).

Where to apply

Where Nepali citizens apply for a New Zealand visa

Mission: New Zealand High Commission — New Delhi (consular jurisdiction over Nepal)
Address: Sir Edmund Hillary Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India
Phone: +91 11 4688 3170
Email: nzhcdelhi@mfat.govt.nz
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 (visa enquiries via Immigration NZ contact form only).
Application centre: VFS Global New Zealand Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu — Chhaya Devi Complex, 1st floor, Thamel, Kathmandu (biometric collection + paper-application drop only — primary lodgement is online via Immigration NZ portal). Book at vfsglobal.com/newzealand/nepal.
Online portal: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/account/login

Notes

Important notes

Every Nepali-language document MUST be accompanied by a certified English translation — embassies will reject untranslated originals. Where this page's destination notes ask for an apostille or a specific translator, follow those notes; otherwise a translation notarised by a Notary Public is the usual standard.
Income proof for NZ visas: ANY ONE of the four Nepal-side income bundles is sufficient (Business OR Salary OR Pension OR Rental) — no need to submit all four. Pick the bundle that matches your active income source.
Nepali ordinary passport holders MUST apply for a New Zealand visa. NZeTA (Electronic Travel Authority) is NOT available for Nepal — Nepal is not on the visa-waiver list of 60+ countries.
All applications default to online via the Immigration NZ portal (immigration.govt.nz/account/login); biometrics and paper drop-offs at VFS Global NZ Kathmandu (Thamel).
There is NO New Zealand embassy or consulate in Kathmandu. All Nepal-origin applications are adjudicated by the NZ High Commission in New Delhi (Chanakyapuri) — VFS Kathmandu is a logistics partner only.
Health requirements: Nepal is on Immigration NZ's Tuberculosis-Higher-Incidence list — chest X-ray mandatory for any stay of 6+ months. Full medical (eMedical via NZ panel physicians) for stays of 12+ months. NZ panel doctors in Kathmandu: IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre (Baluwatar), Norvic International Hospital, CIWEC Clinic.
English-language tests accepted: IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English C1/C2 Advanced, OET (health professions). Test centres in Kathmandu (Putalisadak, Maitighar, Kupondole) and Pokhara.
International Visitor Levy (IVL) of NZD 100 is added on top of the visa fee for most Visitor / Student / Working visas — auto-charged at portal checkout. Used to fund tourism + conservation infrastructure.
Working Holiday Visa (Subclass equivalents 18–30 / 18–35) is NOT available for Nepalis — no bilateral arrangement with New Zealand. Pursue Student Visa -> Post-Study Work Visa -> AEWV -> Skilled Migrant Resident pathway instead.
From 27 June 2024: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) tightened — minimum English requirement (IELTS 4.0 or 6 months equivalent skilled-work experience) for ANZSCO Level 4–5 roles, plus 90-day stand-down on consecutive low-skill renewals.
From 26 August 2024: Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) 6-points framework — automatic-selection threshold raised to 6 points (was 4); Green List occupations gain Tier-1 (straight-to-residence) and Tier-2 (work-to-residence after 24 months) status.
Always disclose prior visa refusals (any country) — non-disclosure constitutes character risk under section 16 of the Immigration Act 2009 and triggers a likely refusal + future-application flag.
Nepal joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 14 March 2024 — Nepal-issued public documents apostilled by Nepal MoFA on/after that date are accepted by Immigration NZ without further legalisation.

Machine-readable version: /visa/new-zealand/markdown

Guides

New Zealand visa guides

FAQ

New Zealand visa for Nepali citizens — frequently asked questions

Common questions Nepali citizens ask before applying for a New Zealand visa — answered from the official sources listed below.

Which visa do Nepali citizens use to visit New Zealand as tourists?

Nepali passport holders visiting New Zealand for tourism use the Visitor Visa — Tourist, which allows a stay of 6 months per visit (multiple-entry: 6 months in any 12-month period); single-entry up to 9 months over 18 months on case-officer discretion.

How much is the New Zealand tourist visa fee for Nepali citizens?

NZD 441 (visa fee) + NZD 100 IVL = NZD 541 total. VFS service fee NPR ~3,500 if lodging on paper. Fees change, so confirm the current amount at https://www.immigration.govt.nz/account/login before paying (last reviewed 2026-05-17).

How long does a New Zealand tourist visa take to process for Nepali citizens?

2–3 weeks (Immigration NZ publishes 80% within 14 days for Nepal lodgements).

What bank balance is required for a New Zealand visa?

NZD 1,000 per month of stay (or NZD 400 per month if accommodation is prepaid). Bank statements 3–6 months. Plus property / business / employment ties demonstrating intent to return to Nepal.

How many days can Nepali citizens stay in New Zealand on a tourist visa?

6 months per visit (multiple-entry: 6 months in any 12-month period); single-entry up to 9 months over 18 months on case-officer discretion (Visitor Visa — Tourist).

Where do Nepali citizens apply for a New Zealand tourist visa?

Apply online via Immigration NZ portal (immigration.govt.nz/account/login); biometrics at VFS Kathmandu (Thamel) within 15 days of online lodgement.

What documents are required for a New Zealand tourist visa from Nepal?

Required documents include: Nepali passport bio-page (3+ months validity beyond intended stay); Recent passport-size photo (45×35 mm, white background); Online Visitor Visa application (INZ 1188 equivalent) + form fees paid; Bank statements (last 6 months, NZD-equivalent of 1,000/month minimum); Confirmed return ticket (or funds to purchase one); Hotel bookings / accommodation proof for full stay; ANY ONE income bundle — Business / Salary / Pension / Rental (only one needed); Income Details & Supporting Documents (For Visa Application).

Which New Zealand mission handles visa applications from Nepal?

New Zealand High Commission — New Delhi (consular jurisdiction over Nepal), Sir Edmund Hillary Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India. Phone: +91 11 4688 3170. Applications are lodged at VFS Global New Zealand Visa Application Centre — Kathmandu, Chhaya Devi Complex, 1st floor, Thamel, Kathmandu (biometric collection + paper-application drop only — primary lodgement is online via Immigration NZ portal). Book at vfsglobal.com/newzealand/nepal.

Can Nepali citizens apply for a New Zealand business visa?

Yes — Business Visitor Visa. Business meetings, negotiations, conferences, exhibitions, trade missions — no employment in NZ. Processing: 2–4 weeks.

Is there an official online portal for the New Zealand visa?

Yes. The official starting point is https://www.immigration.govt.nz/account/login.

How is the New Zealand visa fee paid?

Visa, MasterCard, AmEx online via Immigration NZ portal; cash NPR / card at VFS Thamel for paper submissions and biometric service fee.

Can Yatra For Fun help with a New Zealand visa application?

Yes — Yatra For Fun's visa desk can help you prepare your New Zealand visa file over WhatsApp (the embassy or visa centre makes the decision), and you can order reservation documents for your file: a dummy flight ticket (NPR 999) and a dummy hotel booking (NPR 499). The reference number is a Yatra For Fun document number, not an airline PNR, so it will not appear on an airline's Manage Booking page.

Sources

Sources & last updated

Last reviewed: May 17, 2026

https://www.immigration.govt.nz — Immigration New Zealand (official portal, all visa categories, online lodgement)
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/account/login — Immigration NZ application portal (universal online lodgement for Nepal applicants since 2018)
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/embassies/india — NZ High Commission New Delhi (consular jurisdiction over Nepal — there is no NZ embassy in Kathmandu)
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/south-asia/nepal — NZ MFAT Nepal country page
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/npl/en/nzl — VFS Global New Zealand Visa Application Centre Kathmandu (Thamel, biometric collection + paper drop)
NZ Immigration Act 2009 (consolidated 2024) + Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 — primary legislation
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework launched 4 July 2022 — replaced Essential Skills, Work-to-Residence, Talent (Accredited Employer)
Skilled Migrant Category 6-points framework effective 9 October 2023; further August 2026 reforms (income-points re-weighting + Green-List Tier expansion)
Median wage threshold NZD 31.61/hr effective 28 February 2025 (updated annually each February)
International Visitor Levy (IVL) NZD 100 effective 1 October 2024 (raised from NZD 35) — applies on top of visa fee for most Visitor / Student / Working classes
Nepal-NZ bilateral: no Working Holiday agreement; standard Visitor / Student / AEWV / SMC pathways apply
Nepal joined the Hague Apostille Convention 14 March 2024 — Nepal-issued public documents apostilled by Nepal MoFA on/after that date are accepted by Immigration NZ

Fees and rules change — confirm on the official source before you pay or apply.

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Topic

New Zealand visa requirements for Nepali passport holders — documents, fees, processing time, and embassy contact

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https://yatraforfun.com/visa/new-zealand

Last reviewed

May 17, 2026

Author

Yatra For Fun Editorial Team

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