Visas you must apply for only online or only on paper
Find out which visas can only be applied for online and which ones must be made on paper.
Visas you can apply for online
You can apply for most visas online. This includes uploading documents, photographs and also paying application fees.
Visas you must apply for online
You must apply online for the following visas.
- Academic Visitor Visa
- Accredited Employer Work Visa
- Active Investor Plus Residence Visa
- Adoption Pre-citizenship Visitor Visa
- Adoption Visitor Visa
- Antarctic Traveller Visitor Visa
- Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
- Business Visitor Visa
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa
- Crew Joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa
- Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa
- Dismissed Worker Visitor Visa
- English Language Student Visa
- Escort of Medical Patients Visitor Visa
- Exchange Student Visa
- Fee Paying Student Visa
- Foreign Government Supported Student Visa
- German Law Student Visitor Visa
- Group Visitor Visa (including Approved Destination Status (ADS))
- Guardian Visitor Visa
- Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
- NZ Government Scholarship Student Visa
- Occupational Registration Visitor Visa
- Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa
- Parent Boost Visitor Visa
- Pathway Student Visa
- Permanent Resident Visa (unless an exception applies)
- Pitcairn Islander Visitor Visa
- Private Yacht or Plane Visitor Visa
- Second or Subsequent Resident Visa
- Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa
- Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
- Sports Events Visitor Visa
- Straight to Residence Resident Visa
- Super Yachts Visitor Visa
- Tour Escort Visitor Visa
- Transit Visa
- Transport Work to Residence Visa
- Visitor Visa
- Visiting Media Visitor Visa
- Work to Residence Visa
- Working holiday visas — unless you have a current working holiday visa and are applying for a new one.
Working holiday visas
Other applications you must make online
- Variation of Travel Conditions on a Resident Visa
We provide these lists on our website as required by regulation 23AA(2) of the Immigration (Visa, Entry Permission, and Related Matters) Regulations 2010.
Visas you must apply for on paper
You must make your application using a paper form if you are applying for one of the following visas.
Global Impact Visa
Check the visa information page to learn more about how to apply.
Global Impact Permanent Residence Visa
Visitor visas
- Temporary Retirement Visitor Visa
- Refugee Claimant Visitor Visa
- Trafficking Child Victim Visitor Visa
Other permanent resident visas
To apply under these categories, you must either be referred to us by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or nominated by an approved sponsor.
- Refugee Emergency
- Refugee Quota Family Reunification
- CORS Refugee and Protection
- UNHCR Family Reunification
- UNHCR Legal and Physical Protection Needs
- UNHCR Medical/Disabled
- UNHCR Women at Risk
Business investor visas
Check the visa information pages to learn more about how to apply.
Help with online applications
Find help on completing an online application, and how to get advice.