Immigration New Zealand calls for early visitor visa applications ahead of holiday rush

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has issued a call for prospective travellers to submit their visitor visa applications well in advance of the upcoming summer peak processing period. With an expected influx of over 260,000 visa applications during the holiday season, INZ is encouraging applicants to act early to ensure their travel plans are not disrupted.

“The summer holiday months are an incredibly busy time for Immigration New Zealand,” read the announcement on the Immigration New Zealand website. “We experience a surge of visa applications from people who want to spend Christmas and New Year’s with their loved ones in Aotearoa New Zealand, or who want to explore our beautiful country.”

INZ has set key deadlines for visa applications to ensure timely processing. Travellers planning to visit New Zealand for Christmas are advised to submit their applications no later than October 15, 2024. For those intending to travel in the New Year, including for the Chinese Lunar New Year, applications should be submitted by November 15, 2024. “If you submit your application after these dates, it may not be processed in time for your intended travel date,” read the announcement.

In addition to early submission, INZ strongly advises applicants to provide complete applications with all necessary documentation to avoid delays. “Applications that are missing supporting documents or English translations are more likely to be declined,” INZ noted. “Making a complete visitor visa application early means you will receive your visa decision sooner, enabling you to spend more time planning your trip to New Zealand.”