New Zealand Visa For Indians - Definitive Guide

Whenever a citizen of India is travelling to New Zealand for some reason, a visa to New Zealand is to be issued. It must be issued prior to the journey. There are several benefits to this permit. With the different types, the permit will allow the holder to travel through the country, doing business with the New Zealand companies, and even visit friends and family in the country. There are different types which are mainly issued for long term purposes or short term purposes. The stay permitted and the validity of the permit will vary depending on the type as well.

Before going ahead with the New Zealand visa application, it is essential that you first check the eligibility criteria for the same. These criteria may change as per the type of visa, but there are enough common parameters that need to be followed. The procedure to get a visa for New Zealand from India is offline as well as online. Online visa is restricted to certain types of visa. The Process of New Zealand visa for Indians is given as follows:

• Online Process

1. 1. Visit the official website of New Zealand High Commission.
   2. Choose the category of the visa.
   3. Fill out the application form.
   4. Upload photos and scanned documents.
   5. Pay the New Zealand visa fees.
   6. You can then wait for the approval.

• Offline Process

1. 1. You can start by downloading the application form.
   2. Choose the visa type that you require.
   3. Fill out the visa application form and other documents.
   4. You can then collect the required documents.
   5. Submit the documents to the New Zealand Immigration.
   6. Pay the required visa fee.
   7. Wait until you get your documents approved.

The online visa for New Zealand is obtained in the form of an electronic visa. The application is to be submitted online and you can get this permit from the comfort of your home itself. As for the case of an offline application, the processing of the application will begin once you pay the required fee. The documents must be handed over to the Consulate personally, or if you are applying through an agent, you will have to submit an authority letter so that the agency can carry out the application process on your behalf. Also note that a visa does not guarantee you an entry into the country, if the border control has the power to stop you if there are any issues with the visa or yourself.

It is also important to note that at the time of filling out the application form, be it online or offline, make sure that the information provided is genuine and verifiable. If the information is found to be false or cannot be traced, there are chances that the visa may get rejected. There are other reasons for a visa rejection as well. It is therefore safer to consult a professional at the time of application.

There are different kinds of visas that are classified based on the purpose of the visit, the duration of stay, and certain other factors. The common types of the visa as given as follows:

• Tourist visa: At the time when you are visiting New Zealand for tourism, in order to tour the country you will require a permit which is termed as a tourist visa. The validity of the visa will vary but is issued for a stay of less than 3 months.
• Business visa: A business person mandates a business visa in order to visit New Zealand for business purposes. It is a short term visa with limited and normally non-extendable validity.
• Visitor visa: A visitor visa acquired when you are visiting a family member or friend in the country. The validity for a visitor and tourist visa is generally the same.
• Transit visa: A transit visa is a temporary visa that is issued at the time when you are going to have to make a transit stop in New Zealand and travel to another country later.

There are different kinds of document requirements based on the type of the visa. The common document requirements for New Zealand visa for Indians are given as follows:

• An original passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of the date of travel.
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A cover letter with all the required details
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Medical Certificate
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc. (scanned copies)
• Proof of purpose of visit - invitation letter, exhibition or conference pass, etc. (scanned copies)
• Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement or any other equivalent document. (scanned copies)

• Two copies must be provided
• New Zealand visa photo size: 35mm x 45 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white or any other light colour.
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The fees to get a visa for New Zealand are to be paid to the agency through which you are getting it issued. There are several factors that affect the cost of a visa for New Zealand. These include the type of visa, the number of entries required, the purpose of the visit, the service charges and others. It can also be affected by the kind of process that you follow.

In order to check the status of your New Zealand visa online, you will have to visit the official website of New Zealand High Commission. You can check the status for your electronic visa in this manner. For your offline visa, there is an alternative method. You can contact the Immigration for the visa status, else you can contact your agent to know about the processing of your visa.

To get the visa issued, you will have to apply to the online portal or by downloading the offline visa application form. You will need to have all the requirements and the documents must be verifiable. At times, the process may seem complicated and the formalities involved can seem difficult to be carried out individually. In such cases, professional visa consultation can be considered from the visa agencies. This will allow you to have your documents handled professionally and the procedure may even be quicker than the normal process. This way, the chances of visa rejection also get nullified.