Welcome to the New Zealand Embassy - Washington

The New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC and the New Zealand Consulate-General in Los Angeles provide agency services for Immigration New Zealand.

 

Where should I lodge my application?

Different types of applications are processed in Washington DC and Los Angeles, so please take a look at the following information to help you decide where you should lodge your application.

 

Applications that should be lodged in Washington DC

• Visitor's, student and work visa applications from people who live in our coverage area.
  • This area comprises any US State outside the following: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Washington State.
• All residence applications (both family and business) for everyone currently living in the US, as well as Canada, The Caribbean and South and Central America.

 

Applications that should be lodged in Los Angeles

• Visitor's, student and work visas from those applicants who live in the Los Angeles coverage area.
  • This area comprises the following US States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Washington State.

 

Peak application periods

Our busiest periods are in May/June and in December/January as a result of the increasing numbers of American students requiring student visas for the first or second semesters of the New Zealand academic year. The Visa Unit at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC has only three staff members, so processing times for all visas may be longer during those busy periods.

 

Getting your passport and documents back

When you apply for a visa, please include a pre-paid, self-addressed courier envelope so we can send your passport and, where relevant, any original documents back to you.

 

Fees exemptions for US citizens

US citizens travelling on valid US passports do not have to pay fees for their New Zealand visitor, student or work visa.

 

Payment options

You can pay any fees by money order, postal order or bank cashier's cheque (make your payment out to the New Zealand Embassy). Please note: we don’t accept credit cards or personal cheques.