ARCHIVED
These are archived immigration instructions that are no longer current

Previous Topic

Next Topic

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (30/06/2014)

See also Immigration Act 2009, ss 4, 69

See also Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010 Schedule 2

A visa waiver means a waiver of the requirement to hold a visa permitting travel to New Zealand in relation to any class of persons. A visa waiver applies to, but is not limited to, the following people:

  1. citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia; and
  2. people who hold:
    1. a current permanent residence visa issued by the Government of Australia; or
    2. a current resident return visa issued by the Government of Australia; and
  3. people granted a visa waiver by special direction; and
  4. members of a visiting force (including members of the civilian component of the visiting force) as defined in the Visiting Forces Act 2004, or crew members of any craft transporting the visiting force who are coming to New Zealand, and are in New Zealand:
    1. at the request or with consent of the Government of New Zealand; and
    2. in the ordinary course of the person's duty or employment; and
  5. for periods of 28 days, crew or passengers on any ship carrying passengers (including cruise ship passengers) or cargo or both (in the ordinary course of business of the craft) between any foreign port and New Zealand; and
  6. for periods of 28 days, crew on any foreign ship authorised by the Minister of Transport under section 198(2) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to carry coastal cargo (within the meaning of subsection (6) of that section); and
  7. for periods of 7 days, beginning with the day on which the aircraft arrived in New Zealand, aircraft crew on any commercial aircraft flying between any other country and New Zealand; and
  8. members of, or any person associated with, any scientific programme or expedition under the auspices of a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty within the meaning of the Antarctica Act 1960, or a person to whom section 5 of that Act applies; and
  9. British citizens, and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom, but only if the person concerned is seeking a visitor visa current for not more than six months and the purposes of the visit do not include medical consultation or treatment; and
  10. people travelling on a United Nations (UN) laissez-passer who are seeking a visitor visa current for not more than three months; and
  11. any other class of persons specified in the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010; and
  12. citizens of the following countries, but only if the person concerned is seeking a visitor visa current for not more than three months and the purposes of the visit is not for medical consultation or treatment:

    Andorra

    Argentina

    Austria

    Bahrain

    Belgium

    Brazil

    Brunei

    Bulgaria

    Canada

    Chile

    Croatia

    Cyprus

    Czech Republic

    Denmark

    Estonia1

    Finland

    France

    Germany

    Greece2

    Hong Kong3

    Hungary

    Iceland

    Ireland

    Israel

    Italy

    Japan

    Korea (South)

    Kuwait

    Latvia1

    Liechtenstein

    Lithuania1

    Luxembourg

    Macau4

    Malaysia

    Malta

    Mexico

    Monaco

    Netherlands

    Norway

    Oman

    Poland

    Portugal5

    Qatar

    Romania

    San Marino

    Saudi Arabia

    Singapore

    Slovak Republic

    Slovenia

    South Africa

    Spain

    Sweden

    Switzerland

    Taiwan6

    United Arab Emirates

    United States of America7

    Uruguay

    Vatican City

1Visa waiver does not apply to people travelling on alien's (non-citizen's) passports issued by these countries.

2Greek passport holders whose passports were issued on and after 1 January 2006. (Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 are not acceptable for travel after 1 January 2007, see A2.10.50.)

3Residents of Hong Kong travelling on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or British National (Overseas) passports.

4Residents of Macau travelling on Macau Special Administrative Region passports.

5Portuguese passport holders must also have the right to live permanently in Portugal.

6Permanent residents of Taiwan travelling on Taiwan passports. A personal identity number printed within the visible section of the biographical page of the Taiwan passport demonstrates that the holder is a permanent resident of Taiwan (see A2.10.40).

7Including nationals of the USA.

Effective 30/06/2014

PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (19/06/2017)

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (21/11/2016)

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (25/08/2014)

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (01/07/2013)

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (07/11/2011)

E2.1 People to whom a visa waiver applies (29/11/2010)

Top of page | Print this page