Whether you need a New Zealand visa depends on your passport, not your UAE residence. Emirati, Saudi, Qatari, Omani, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, British, American, Malaysian and most European passport holders are on New Zealand’s visa waiver list. They need only a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), which costs NZD 17 on the app or NZD 23 on the website, plus a NZD 100 tourism levy. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and most other passport holders need a Visitor Visa, which costs from NZD 441. Immigration New Zealand processes 80% of these within 2 weeks.
This guide covers which route applies to you, what each one costs, what Immigration New Zealand checks, and how long you can stay.
Key Takeaways
- New Zealand decides by passport. A UAE residence visa does not change whether you need a visa.
- UAE and all other GCC passports are on the visa waiver list, along with UK, US, Canadian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Singaporean and most EU passports.
- Visa waiver travelers need an NZeTA: NZD 17 on the app or NZD 23 on the website, plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
- With an NZeTA you can stay less than 3 months, or 6 months on a UK passport.
- Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and South African passport holders need a Visitor Visa, from NZD 441.
- Visitor Visa applicants must show at least NZD 1,000 a month for living costs, or NZD 400 a month if accommodation is already paid.
- Australian citizens on an Australian passport need neither a visa nor an NZeTA.
Visa Waiver or Visitor Visa: Which Applies to You?
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) publishes a single visa waiver list. If your passport is on it, you can travel without a visa but must get an NZeTA first. If it is not, you apply for a Visitor Visa before you book. Here is how the passports most common in the UAE fall:
| Passport | What you need |
|---|---|
| UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain | NZeTA (visa waiver) |
| UK (citizens and others with the right to live permanently in the UK) | NZeTA, stays of up to 6 months |
| US, Canada, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and most other EU countries | NZeTA (visa waiver) |
| Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Israel, Mauritius, Seychelles | NZeTA (visa waiver) |
| Hong Kong (HKSAR or BN(O) passports), Taiwan (permanent residents) | NZeTA (visa waiver) |
| Australia | Nothing, if traveling on an Australian passport |
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Philippines | Visitor Visa |
| Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, China, Russia | Visitor Visa |
Some entries on the waiver list carry conditions. Greek passports qualify only if issued on or after 1 January 2006, and Portuguese passport holders need the right to live permanently in Portugal. The full wording is on INZ’s visa waiver page.
Traveling on an NZeTA
An NZeTA is a travel authority, not a visa. When you arrive with one, INZ grants you a visitor visa at the border. Under the visa waiver rules, you:
- can stay for less than 3 months, or 6 months if you are from the UK
- may be asked at arrival for an onward or return ticket and proof of funds
- must still meet health and character requirements and be a genuine visitor
- must show your passport, your NZeTA confirmation and a completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) at the border.
NZeTA cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| NZeTA requested on the official mobile app | NZD 17 |
| NZeTA requested on the INZ website | NZD 23 |
| International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) | NZD 100 |
These amounts are on INZ’s fee and levy table, which took effect on 1 October 2024. The IVL is non-refundable and is paid with the NZeTA. Request the NZeTA only through the official app or the INZ website, not a third-party site.
If you want to stay longer than the visa waiver allows, or you cannot meet any of its conditions, INZ recommends applying for a Visitor Visa before you travel. You could otherwise be refused entry even with an NZeTA. Travelers coming for medical consultation or treatment need a separate Medical Treatment Visitor Visa.
Applying for a New Zealand Visitor Visa
If your passport is not on the waiver list, apply online for a Visitor Visa. The headline terms on INZ’s Visitor Visa page are:
| Item | Visitor Visa |
|---|---|
| Cost | From NZD 441 |
| Processing time | 80% within 2 weeks |
| Length of stay | Up to 6 months or 9 months |
| Funds | At least NZD 1,000 a month, or NZD 400 a month if accommodation is prepaid, or an acceptable sponsor |
| Work | Not allowed, unless you work remotely for an overseas business |
| Study | Up to 3 months |
The NZD 441 total is made up, on INZ’s fee and levy table, of a NZD 300 application fee, a NZD 41 immigration levy and the NZD 100 IVL. Your partner and dependent children can be included in your application.
What INZ checks
- Genuine visit: you must have genuine reasons for coming and show that you will leave at the end of your stay. If you live in Dubai, your UAE residence visa, your job and a return ticket all help to show this.
- Funds: the monthly amounts above, or an acceptable sponsor.
- Health: you answer health questions when you apply. For stays under 6 months a chest X-ray is not normally needed, but INZ can ask for one.
- Character: police certificates are needed if you are 17 or older and your total time in New Zealand will reach 24 months.
Single or multiple entry
INZ decides which you get. A multiple-entry visa lets you stay up to 6 months in each 12-month period. A single-entry visa lets you stay up to 9 months in an 18-month period but expires when you leave New Zealand. Across both, the limit is 9 months in 18 months, according to the Visitor Visa rules.
When to apply
INZ advises not to book non-refundable travel until your Visitor Visa is approved. It also says processing is busiest between September and March, which covers New Zealand’s summer and the UAE’s winter school holidays. Apply early if you plan to travel then.
Before You Travel
- Make sure nothing in the UAE stops you leaving by checking your UAE travel ban status online.
- Combining New Zealand with Australia? See our guide to the Australia visa from Dubai. An NZeTA does not cover Australia.
- Planning to drive? Read our guide to the international driving permit in the UAE before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do UAE residents need a visa for New Zealand?
Only if their passport is not on New Zealand’s visa waiver list. Passport holders from waiver countries, including the UAE, need an NZeTA instead. A UAE residence visa does not change the rule.
Do Emiratis need a visa for New Zealand?
No. The UAE is on the visa waiver list, so Emirati passport holders need only an NZeTA for visits of less than 3 months.
Do Indians in Dubai need a visa for New Zealand?
Yes. India is not on the visa waiver list. Indian passport holders apply online for a Visitor Visa, which costs from NZD 441.
How much is the NZeTA?
NZD 17 on the official app or NZD 23 on the INZ website, plus the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
How long does a New Zealand Visitor Visa take?
Immigration New Zealand processes 80% of Visitor Visa applications within 2 weeks. It is busiest between September and March.
How much money do I need for a New Zealand Visitor Visa?
At least NZD 1,000 a month of your stay, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is already paid. An acceptable sponsor can replace this.
How long can I stay in New Zealand?
With an NZeTA, less than 3 months, or 6 months on a UK passport. On a Visitor Visa, up to 6 months in 12 months on a multiple-entry visa or 9 months in 18 months on a single-entry visa.
Can Filipinos in the UAE use the NZeTA?
No. The Philippines is not on the visa waiver list, so Filipino passport holders need a Visitor Visa.
Official Sources
- Immigration New Zealand: Visa waiver countries and territories
- Immigration New Zealand: Visitor Visa
- Immigration New Zealand: Immigration fee and levy table, rates from 1 October 2024
- Immigration New Zealand: What you need to visit New Zealand
Visa waiver list, NZeTA and Visitor Visa costs, processing time, funds and length-of-stay rules checked on Immigration New Zealand’s website in October 2026. INZ’s fee table is dated 1 October 2024; the NZD 441 Visitor Visa total on its current Visitor Visa page matches it. NZeTA processing times and the Visitor Visa document checklist were not published on the pages checked.
This guide is for informational purposes only. New Zealand visa rules and fees are set by the Government of New Zealand and are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
