How to Apply for New Zealand Visa in the Philippines

New Zealand

Kia Ora! Finally the long wait for a direct link from Manila to Auckland will be over very soon as Philippine Airlines announces its upcoming flight to New Zealand via Cairns, Australia starting December 2015.

For the fans of The Hobbits and The Lord of the Rings, this is a welcome development as this means easy access to the Middle Earth. No need for a transfer from Australia, Singapore or Hong Kong.

New Zealand
Auckland Town Hall

More than the Hobbitons, New Zealand is indeed a dreamland… a surreal place! It is a mystical and picturesque nation blessed with dense native forests, mountains, islands and beaches, glaciers, thermal regions and fiords. A place where traditional culture and modernity beautifully intertwine. A perfect synergy of nature, culture and adventure. See the thermal wonderland of Roturua, trek to Tongariro National Park, hike the Franz Josef Glacier, explore Tabel Asman National Park, go bungy jumping in Auckland Bridge, catch the Aurora Australis in South Island, spend a day of adventure in Queenstown or cruise the Milford Sound. Whenever and wherever you may be in New Zealand, from North to South Island, there is certainly something amazing waiting for you!

New Zealand
Lake Tekapo

For the purpose of tourism, Philippine passport holders require visitor visa to enter New Zealand. Worry not because application is easy and fee is only minimal for short stay visitor (less than 59 days), in fact you will only be paying for the processing fee of less than a thousand. According to New Zealand Immigration Website, a visitor visa allows one to stay in New Zealand as a visitor for a limited amount of time for the following purposes:

• To visit as a tourist
• To visit friends or relatives
• To play sport or perform in cultural events without pay
• To get married
• To undertake short-term study

New Zealand
A herd of sheep in Kaikoura

To make it simple, here’s how I was able to obtain a New Zealand visitor visa.

Basic Requirements

1. Accomplished application form (downloadable from this link)
2. Passport valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave New Zealand
3. Proof that you plan to leave New Zealand (travel ticket or written confirmation from airline of outbound New Zealand flight)
4. Proof of funds (cash, travellers’ cheques, bank statement or recognized credit cards with sufficient credit available)
5. Acceptable photo (two colored passport-sized, specifications on this link)
6. Provide a clear photocopy of all the original documents.

Supplementary Documents (Optional)

1. Certificate of employment
2. Certificate of Compensation Payment / Tax Witheld (BIR Form 2316)
3. Declaration by an acceptable sponsor or letter of invitation from friend or family based in New Zealand
4. Personal photos with the acceptable sponsor
5. Itinerary

Other Requirements

1. Medical Certificate (if staying for at least 6 months)
2. NBI/Police clearance (if staying for a total of 24 months or longer)

New Zealand
Queenstown

How or Where to Submit

Applying in Person

Application can be lodged personally or through an authorized representative at New Zealand Visa Application Center in Manila or Cebu via VFS Global Service Pvt Ltd:

Manila
VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.,
Mezzanine Floor Unit M01, Ecoplaza Building,
2305 Chino Roces Avenue Extension Makati City, Metro Manila 1231

Cebu
VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.,
9th Floor, Keppel Center, Unit 905, Samar Loop
cor. Cardinal Rosales Avenue,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000

New Zealand Visa Application Center is open from Mondays thru Fridays, except for holidays mentioned in Consular Holidays, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Manila) and 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Cebu). Check out VFS Global website on this link.

Applying by Mail Courier

Visa applications are not required to be submitted in person to New Zealand Visa Application Center. They may send the visa application by their chosen courier company or opt for New Zealand Visa Application Center courier service to pick up the documents from the comfort of their own home or office, fee is P380.

For collection of passports and/or documents; you can self-collect at the New Zealand Visa Application Center or choose our return courier service for the documents to be delivered to your address. The fee must be paid when you submit the visa application, fee is P380. If you wish to avail of the two-way courier service, fee is P600.

New Zealand
Sky Tower in Auckland Central Business District

Fee

The New Zealand Government has bilateral fee-waiver agreements with the Philippines. Citizens of the Philippines do not have to pay the visa fee of P5,620 if the application is made outside New Zealand and the period of stay does not exceed 59 days. However, for visits that intend to exceed 59 days, the visitor visa fee of P5,620 applies.

VFS Global Charges

Information and personal assistance on pre-lodgment requirements are available free of charge. A handling fee to cover administrative cost & one-way courier delivery service is however assessed as follows:

Visa Lodgment Services

P760.00 per application (exclusive of courier charges)

Courier Delivery Charges

P380 one-way
P600 two-way

Payment can be made on cash or credit card over the counter at VFS Global Services or via bank transfer to:

Bank Transfer Account Name: VFS Services Phils. Private Inc
Account Number: 634-3-634-360922
Bank Name: Metrobank
Branch: Pasong Tamo Extension

New Zealand
Milford Sound

Processing Time

Processing time takes at least three working days. Should the New Zealand Immigration needs more information and supplementary documents, they will get in touch with you through phone call or email. Your passport and visa will be delivered to your mailing address as soon as the decision on your application has been completed.

New Zealand
The road to Milford Sound

Personal Experience and Tips

Personally speaking, getting a New Zealand visitor visa is easy. For my part, I just completed the necessary requirements – valid passport, accomplished and signed application form with photos, certificate of employment, bank certificate, photocopy of my company ID, Certificate of Compensation Payment / Tax Witheld (BIR Form 2316), itinerary of my travel and the invitation from a friend in New Zealand (with attached bank statement). The invitation wasn’t really necessary for short stay visit. Make sure to photocopy all the documents including the information page of your passport.

Then I walked-in to their visa application center in Makati to lodge my application and pay the processing and courier fee in cash, no appointment necessary. It took me only an hour (during my lunch break in the office) for the whole process. Thankfully, they have no noon break.

After three working days, my New Zealand visitor visa was already delivered on my mailing address. I was given a one (1) year multiple entry.

New Zealand
Dunedin Town Hall

Summary

New Zealand Visa Application Center summarized the process of application into five easy steps:

  1. Determine what visa class you require for your travel (Information is available at www.immigration.govt.nz/)
  2. Fill out the appropriate visa application form/s (Forms may be downloaded at www.immigration.govt.nz/forms)
  3. Complete the required Application Form
  4. Gather all supporting documents required based on the visa being applied for (Checklists of Requirements for each particular visa type is available at www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/manila/checklists)
  5. Lodge the Visa Application
    • Book for a roundtrip Courier Service
      This service is a phone-in option that includes the pick up of the completed Application Form and supporting documents from the applicant’s given address and delivery after processing at the Embassy. This service is available nationwide and involves a flat rate; roundtrip courier fee. If you wish to avail of this option, please contact the embassy Call Center at (02-8459222)
    • Direct Lodgment at the VFS Global
      This is a walk-in option where an applicant or an authorized representative can directly submit the completed Application Form and supporting documents at the New Zealand Visa Application Center. This option involves a lodgment service & handling fee which includes the one-way delivery by courier after processing. If you wish to avail of this option, please visit the VFS Global Centers in Manila or Cebu.

*Updated 16-Jun-2016

Comments

  1. Stellar

    Can I apply a visitors visa even though I have no invitation letter?

  2. THIN

    hello po pwede po mag ask nasa new zealand po ngayon ang live in ko and he want me to visit him anu po ang kailangan ko na documents at pano po ako mag sisimula?mag kano din po kaya need sa banko for statement wala po kasi ako credit card thank po

  3. Rugine

    Are all Philippine banks accepted by the NZ immigration? Coz not all ATMS here work in NZ. So I’m wondering if perhaps RCBC would be accepted or would be denied…

  4. Hi im farah pano po ba mag apply ng tourist visa for two months?anu ano pong requirements ang pede
    At mgkano po ang tourust visa?i hope mkasagot po kayo.thanks

  5. Royce

    Hello Good day! sino po ung mga authorized courier companies?

  6. Royce

    Hello God day! sino po ung mga authorized courier companies?

  7. Andrews Austria

    Hi I’m Andrews, tanong ko po Magkanu po ang exactly amount pagmag lo-lodged ka,para makapag pa manager cheque ako..tnx

  8. Kim

    Hello po! Good day! I kust wamt to ask my visitor visa application. I am being sponsored by a friend. Here is a list of my avail docs.

    (1)Sponsorship form for Temporary Entry INZ1025 (with declaration by sponsor signed by my sponsor and the authorized person to take statutory declarations)

    (2)Immigration Confirmation for overseas visitor sponsorship (Like a bank statement from NZ under my sponsor’s name)

    (3)Accomplished application form

    (4) Passport valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave New Zealand

    (5) Proof that you plan to leave New Zealand (travel ticket or written confirmation from airline of outbound New Zealand flight)

    (6)Acceptable photo

    (7)Provide a clear photocopy of all the original documents.

    (8) COE

    (9) Approved Leave of Absence Letter

    (10) NBI/Police clearance

    I just want to know if these documents are enough to get a visa..
    Thank you so much..

    1. Kim

      Hello po! Good day! I just want to ask about my visitor visa application. I am being sponsored by a friend. Here is a list of my avail docs.

      (1)Sponsorship form for Temporary Entry INZ1025 (with declaration by sponsor signed by my sponsor and the authorized person to take statutory declarations)

      (2)Immigration Confirmation for overseas visitor sponsorship (Like a bank statement from NZ under my sponsor’s name)

      (3)Accomplished application form

      (4) Passport valid for at least three months past the date you are to leave New Zealand

      (5) Proof that you plan to leave New Zealand (travel ticket or written confirmation from airline of outbound New Zealand flight)

      (6)Acceptable photo

      (7)Provide a clear photocopy of all the original documents.

      (8) COE

      (9) Approved Leave of Absence Letter

      (10) NBI/Police clearance

      I just want to know if these documents are enough to get a visa..
      Thank you so much po..

  9. Kamile

    Hi im kamile i would to ask if i really need to book a flight and hotel kahit mag aapply palang ako ng toursist visa? Then magkano ba dapat ang laman ng bank? I don’t have credit card savings lang, then the rest of the requirements i can provide naman, then my boyfriend is korean he works here in manila, pwede bako mag pa sponsorship letter? Sakanya? Para lang additional documents? Dalawa kami pupunta ng NZ .

  10. Myla

    Hi Jeff. Andito ako sa Nz. Ang partner sa pinas. Is okay lang na invite ko xa dito kasi mag graduate ako ng december gusto ko sana xa invite. Kaya lang dipa xa nagkkapunta kahit san na country. Okay lang kaya un? Maapproved kaya visa nya?

  11. Nona

    Hi!

    I am planning to go to NZ november. I gathering all the visa requirements. May I asked, dapat po ba my original PSA birth certificate kasama? Dapat po ba recent or within the year issued ang PSA Birth Certificate? Or pwede po yung kahit last year or many years ago pa na PSA BC? Or hindi po sila particular sa birth certificate unlike sa japan visa.

    Thank you very much po.

  12. lilian

    hello po,
    kung mag tutourist po sa NZ atleast how much po ba dapat ang funds mo sa bank? dahil diba need mo magpakita ng bank certificate? at ok lang ba if yung pera na nasa bank ay few months palang nakadeposit?
    Thanks…

    1. Nikki

      I applied for a tourist visa and I only have $700 in my dollar account and 7000 pesos in my peso savings account. I presented a 1 year bank statement and I also gave them a copy of my bank certificate. ☺️

Comments are closed.