New Zealand Visa for Indians 2026: Fees, IVL and Processing

Published 2026-10-28 · 8 min read · By the Travlys visa team

Indian passport holders need a New Zealand visitor visa, applied online with Immigration New Zealand. Here is the 2026 cost including the NZD 100 tourist levy, current processing times, the money you must show, and why NZeTA is not an option for most Indians.

Indian passport holders need a visitor visa to travel to New Zealand in 2026, and you apply online with Immigration New Zealand (INZ). For one person applying from India, it costs NZD 441: a NZD 300 application fee, a NZD 41 immigration levy and the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). INZ currently says 80% of visitor visas are decided within 2 weeks, so apply at least six weeks before a December–January trip.

At a glance: Visa needed: Yes, a visitor visa for Indian passport holders. Where to apply: Online with Immigration New Zealand. Paper applications stopped on 1 October 2026. Cost: NZD 441 for one person, NZD 541 for a couple on one application. IVL: NZD 100 per person, raised from NZD 35 on 1 October 2024. Processing: 80% within 2 weeks. Funds: NZD 1,000 a month, or NZD 400 a month with prepaid accommodation. Passport: Valid at least 3 months after you plan to leave New Zealand. NZeTA: Not for Indian passports unless you hold Australian permanent residence. Transit: Transit visa NZD 235, or NZeTA if travelling to or from Australia.

Do Indians need a visa for New Zealand?

Yes. India is not on New Zealand's list of visa waiver countries, so Indian citizens cannot simply request an NZeTA and fly. You need a visitor visa approved before you travel. A visitor visa covers holidays, visiting family and friends, and study of up to 3 months. You cannot work for a New Zealand employer. INZ does allow visitors to work remotely for an overseas business, within its rules.

Visitor visa cost in 2026

INZ puts fees in bands. Indian citizens applying from India pay Band C. The current Fees Guide, dated May 2026, shows:

• Application fee: NZD 300.
• Immigration levy: NZD 41, charged once per application.
• IVL: NZD 100 for each person in the application.
• One traveller: NZD 441 in total.
• Couple on one application: NZD 541. INZ uses this exact example for an Indian couple applying from India.
• Family of four on one application: NZD 741, if all four pay the IVL.

You pay in New Zealand dollars online, so the rupee amount depends on your card's exchange rate and any foreign transaction charge. Fees are not refunded, and the IVL is not refunded either, even if your visa is declined. We found no change to the visitor visa fee or the IVL on 1 July 2026. A temporary fee cut from 1 June 2026 applies only to Pacific nationals, not to Indians.

The IVL, explained

The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is a charge most international visitors pay when they apply for a visa or request an NZeTA. The money funds conservation, infrastructure used for tourism and other tourism projects. It went up from NZD 35 to NZD 100 per person on 1 October 2024, which is why older blog posts show a lower total. For a family of four, the levy alone is NZD 400, so budget for it from the start.

How to apply online

From 1 October 2026, INZ no longer accepts paper forms for the standard Visitor Visa or the Transit Visa, except in exceptional circumstances. Applications go through enhanced Immigration Online. The old online system closed for these visas on 8 October 2026. If your passport has expired, the online form does not work, so renew your passport first.

• Create an account on the INZ online system and start a Visitor Visa application.
• Answer the questions. The form only asks for evidence relevant to your situation.
• Upload a photo, your passport and supporting documents.
• If someone in New Zealand is sponsoring you, they complete their declaration online.
• Pay the fee and IVL by card and submit. You can track the status on your dashboard.

Documents and funds

INZ's checklist for a visitor visa covers these points:

• Passport valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
• One acceptable photo that meets INZ's photo rules.
• Money to live on: at least NZD 1,000 a month, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is prepaid. For a 15-day trip, show at least NZD 1,000.
• Onward travel: a ticket out of New Zealand, or proof you can pay for one.
• Your plans: an itinerary, hotel bookings or an invitation from family, to show you are a genuine visitor.
• Health: a chest X-ray if you stay more than 6 months, as India is not a low-TB country. A medical certificate is normally not needed for stays under 12 months.
• Character: police certificates only if you are 17 or over and your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or more.
• Family: documents showing your relationship with a partner and children included in the application.

Genuine visitor evidence matters most for Indian applicants. Add your employment letter or business proof, approved leave, income tax returns and six months of bank statements. A large deposit just before you apply, with no explanation, raises questions. Explain it in a short cover letter.

Processing time and timing for the summer season

December and January are summer in New Zealand and a busy travel period. INZ currently publishes visitor visa decision times as 80% within 2 weeks. The other 20% can take longer, often because INZ asks for more information. Apply about six weeks before you fly. That means early November for a Christmas trip and mid-November for a New Year trip. Book refundable flights until the visa arrives.

How long you can stay

If you are outside New Zealand when the visa is approved, it starts on the day you enter. The general limit is 9 months in any 18-month period, and most applicants are given a multiple-entry visa. Your visa letter shows the exact dates and conditions. If your passport is renewed, you must transfer the visa to the new passport.

NZeTA: why most Indians cannot use it

The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) is for visa-waiver citizens, Australian citizens and permanent residents, certain travellers from Australia and transit passengers. An Indian passport does not qualify on its own.

The exception: an Indian citizen who holds an Australian permanent residence visa or Australian resident return visa can request an NZeTA instead of a visitor visa. A provisional visa does not count. The NZeTA costs NZD 17 on the app or NZD 23 on the website, plus the NZD 100 IVL. It is valid for 2 years for visits of up to 3 months, and INZ says to allow 72 hours for checks.

Transit via Auckland

If your route passes through Auckland, for example to Fiji or South America, you need a transit visa unless you already hold a valid New Zealand visa. It costs NZD 235, and INZ publishes its processing time as 80% within 4 days.

• Travelling to or from Australia: You can use a transit NZeTA instead (NZD 17 on the app or NZD 23 on the website, no IVL), as long as you hold a valid Australian visa to enter Australia.
• 24 hours maximum: You cannot spend more than 24 hours in transit at Auckland.
• Stay airside: You must stay in the transit area. You cannot leave it, even to collect bags or go to a hotel. Check that your bags are checked through to your final stop.
• Want to see Auckland on the way? Then you need a visitor visa, not a transit visa.

When you land

Every traveller must complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). For flights, you can submit it from 24 hours before your journey starts. It covers customs, immigration and biosecurity questions. Declare all food, medicines and outdoor gear you bring, because New Zealand is strict about biosecurity.

What changed in 2026

• Online only: Paper applications for the Visitor Visa and Transit Visa ended on 1 October 2026, and the old online system closed for these visas on 8 October 2026.
• Fees unchanged: The May 2026 Fees Guide keeps the visitor visa at NZD 300 plus NZD 41 levy and NZD 100 IVL for Indians.
• Pacific fee cut: From 1 June 2026, for 12 months, Pacific nationals pay less. This does not apply to Indian citizens.

Common reasons for refusal

• Weak proof that you will return: no job letter, no business proof, no family or property ties.
• Too little money for the length of stay, or unexplained recent deposits.
• Plans that do not add up, such as a 30-day trip with 10 days' leave.
• Earlier visa refusals for any country that you did not declare.
• Documents that conflict with what you wrote in the form.

Who should apply now

Apply now if you are planning a December–January trip, visiting children who study or work in New Zealand, or combining New Zealand with Australia. If you are combining both, you need an Australian visa as well, and you should file both together. If your passport expires within the next year, renew it first.

How Travlys helps

Travlys files New Zealand visitor visas from ₹6,950 service fee, with the INZ fee and IVL extra. We build your genuine visitor file, check bank statements and leave letters, write the cover letter and submit online. We have filed over 5,000 visas with a 98% approval rate. We also file Australia visas for trips that combine both countries. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 82009 18967.

Last checked: Rules and fees in this guide were checked on 28 October 2026 against Immigration New Zealand's website, its May 2026 Fees Guide (INZ 1028) and October 2026 Visitor Visa Guide (INZ 1018), listed below. Fees can change, so confirm the amount on immigration.govt.nz before you pay.