Providing your passport for an online application

How to provide a digital copy of your passport or send us your original passport so we can verify your identity.

Providing passports for online applications

Transferring a visa to a new passport

If you renew your passport before you travel, you must transfer your eVisa or the visa label to your new passport.

Transferring a visa to a new passport

You may not be able to come to New Zealand if your visa and passport do not match in our system.

Providing your physical passport

If we need to see your physical passport to confirm your identity, we will:

  • email you after you submit your application
  • tell you on the acknowledgement page when you complete your online application.

Most people do not need to provide their physical passport.

If you are not sure if you need to send your passport, check the final page of your completed visa application in your Immigration Online account.

Log in to your online account

Alert

If you do not send your passport within the time we specify, we may delay processing your application or decline it.

Sending your passport from outside New Zealand

If you are applying from outside New Zealand, send your passport to your nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC) or Immigration New Zealand (INZ) office. We must receive it within 20 working days from when we ask for it. Most people use a courier or postal tracking service to send us their passports.

Offices outside of New Zealand (Visa Application Centres)

Postal addresses for sending paper documents

Countries that cannot use a VAC

We will contact you with instructions about where and how to send your passport if you:

  • do not have access to a VAC, or
  • are from Algeria, Morocco or Tunisia and applying from one of those countries.

Sending your passport in New Zealand

Check our postal addresses page for where to send your passport in New Zealand. Use a signature-required courier service so it arrives quickly.

Postal addresses for sending paper documents

Sending your passport to a VAC

You may have to pay a fee to send your passport to a VAC. You can find the handling fee on the website of your nearest VAC. Fill in the filters and select the tab called ‘Passport handling for online application’.

VFS Global for individuals — VFS Global

Getting your passport returned from a VAC or INZ office

If you sent your passport to a VAC, they contact you with the tracking details after they send your passport back to you. If you have any questions or concerns about the return of your passport, contact the VAC directly.

Note

The VAC may not send your passport back to you until after we have made a decision about your visa application.

If you sent your passport to an INZ office, you receive a tracking number after we send it back to you. Contact the courier company if you have any questions about delivery. For any other questions or concerns, contact us.

Urgent return of passports

If you need your passport urgently, contact the INZ officer processing your application.

When you contact them, include:

  • your client number or application number
  • why you need your passport urgently, and
  • your contact information.

Contact us

Children endorsed on your passport

If your child is endorsed on your passport, we will accept this as the child's travel document when they travel to New Zealand — but they must still meet all relevant requirements, including having an NZeTA or a visa. When you apply for your child's NZeTA or visa, you will need to enter your own passport details.