New Zealand Visa for Indian Citizens

New Zealand is the spot to visit for adventurous and nature-loving individuals. The process for availing of a New Zealand visa for Indian Citizens is quite simple and easy. The guidelines are very self explanatory and can be followed straightforwardly. Indians can avail different types of New Zealand visas as per their purpose of visit. Therefore the you can get to know more about how to apply for New Zealand visa from India along with  New Zealand visa processing time, fees required and requirements like documents, New Zealand visa photo size for application.

New Zealand Visa for Indian

Applying for New Zealand visa for Indian is quite easy but time consuming process as  per type of visa application. It does have a policy, only for some types of visas, wherein you cannot apply directly. Instead, you need to submit a letter which expresses your interest in applying for that kind of visa. Based on this, you will then be invited by the authorities in order to apply for the visa. Read below to know more about the types of visas that this is applicable for. 

Types of New Zealand visas: 

New Zealand offers several types of visas, based on the purpose of the visit. The types of visas are as follows: 

1. Visitor visas are for Indians who are looking to go to New Zealand for the purpose of visiting friends or relatives, business-related visits, as well as leisurely and tourist activities. The visa is valid for a limited period of 270 days, 9 months. 
2. A student visa is for Indian students enrolled in educational institutes who wish to study in New Zealand. It also allows the visa holder to work while studying.
3. Individuals looking to work in New Zealand can apply for a work visa. New Zealand offers several visas under this category, including Essential Skills Work Visa and Specific Purpose Work Visas. Indians can apply for these as well as a Work to Resident visa. 
4. The Entrepreneur Work Visa is for Indian citizens who are established entrepreneurs and are looking to start their business or purchase a business, in New Zealand. Indians holding this visa can live and work in New Zealand.
5. A resident visa is for Indians who would like to reside in New Zealand permanently. Under this category, Indians can apply for a Skilled Migrant visa, Family visa, or Business visa.
6. Indians who are in long-standing, stable relations with a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand, can apply for the Partnership Visa.  
7. New Zealand also offers a Parent Retirement Visa which is specifically for Indian parents of citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand. Holders of this visa can also retire in New Zealand.

How to apply for New Zealand Visa from India?

You can apply for a New Zealand visa from India in one of two ways- online or offline. The steps for getting New Zealand visa for Indian are mentioned below:

Online process:

1. In order to apply online, you need a RealMe account. If you do not have a RealMe account, you can create one here Create your RealMe Login.
2. Once you have a RealMe account, log in to your account on this Realme NZ website.
3. Choose which visa you want to apply for. Online tourist visa applications for Indians are allowed.
4. Complete fully filling out the visa application form.
5. Ensure you have PDF copies of the aforementioned documents as well as a passport-style photograph in a jpeg format. Upload these documents and images in the application form when asked.
6. Complete the payment of the visa application by using a valid credit card.
7. Your online application process is now completed!

Offline process:

1. Access the application form here.
2. Fill out the application form and provide correct and genuine details for all that is asked.
3. Ensure you have a copy of the required documents and your passport-style photograph.
4. You can book a visa appointment at your nearest New Zealand embassy/consulate through the VFS website. If you do not have an account, click on “I don’t have an account” and follow the on screen instructions to create one.
5. Reach the chosen embassy/consulate on the date of the appointment on time.
6. Pay the visa application fee at the counter.
7. Your offline application process is now complete!

Following above steps for New Zealand visa for Indian, you can apply for any type of visa.

Documents required for New Zealand visa for Indian: 

1. Passport with a validity of a minimum of 6 months from the estimated date of departure from New Zealand. There should also be at least 3 blank visa pages. All passports, old and new, are to be provided. 
2. Completed and fully accurate visa application form.
3. Two copies of passport-style photographs
4. Cover letter stating the reason for the visit to New Zealand.
5. Proof of sufficient funds. This includes bank statements dating back to 6 months, tax returns dating back to 3 years, and other such documents.
6. Applicants are required to provide evidence that they have at least NZD $400 per month for the duration of their stay in New Zealand. The evidence can be in the form of proof of accommodation details, financial documents like bank or credit card statements, travellers’ cheques and so on. If there is no accommodation already paid for, the individual is required to provide evidence that they have at least NZD $1000 per month for the duration of their stay in New Zealand. 
7. Return air travel tickets. 
8. Proof of good health, such as a medical examination and/or a chest xray may be required.
9. Police certificate in order to verify the applicants good character needs to be submitted.
10. An official agreement that the applicant will pay for their own health costs if a situation arises, while they are in New Zealand.

New Zealand visa photo size

Two copies of passport-style photographs are required . The acceptable New Zealand visa photo size  abide by the following guidelines:

1. Portrait, colored image.
2. Image size should be 35 mm Wide * 45 mm Height
3. Even lighting, minimal shadows, natural skin tone, and focus should be ensured.
4. The image is to be captured from 1.5 meters from the face, and it cannot be a selfie. 
5. A plain, light-coloured backdrop is allowed. The background cannot be white and should have no pattern or shading. No other individual or object should be visible in the background. 
6. Your face should take up the majority of the photograph and should be straight and centrally aligned. 
7. Neutral expression with ears visible, eyes open, and mouth closed. 
8. No head covering or eyewear which is not for medical or religious reasons is allowed.
9. If prescription glasses are worn, there should be no reflected light, no red eyes, and the eyes should be clearly visible.
10. Head coverings worn for religious and/or medical reasons are allowed provided that the entire face and hairline is visible in the photograph.

New Zealand Visa Fees:

1. The cost of a New Zealand visa for Indian Tourists is INR 13,000 which is inclusive of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) fee of NZD $35. 
2. Along with this, there is a Visa Application Center service fee of  INR ₹ 1,625. This New Zealand visa fees is to be paid while submitting the visa application. 
3. The New Zealand visa fees levied on online applications is NZD $246 which is INR 12328.75.

New Zealand visa  Processing Time:

The average New Zealand visa processing time for application is about 8 working days. 

How do I track  New Zealand visa ?

In order to check the current status of your visa application, log in to your RealMe account. Go to the ‘My Applications’ tab and choose ‘Visa Application’. You will be able to see an option to check your visa application status. Click on this to be redirected to a new page which displays the status of your application. 

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