Visa to New Zealand for Russians in 2021

Travel ban to New Zealand due to coronavirus from 19 March 2021

Since March 19, 2021, a ban on entry into New Zealand has been introduced for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and other foreigners due to the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, according to the website tass.ru.

Only citizens and those who have permanent residence status can return to the country.

New Zealand closed its borders to tourists for 2 weeks. If necessary, quarantine may be extended.

Panorama of Auckland, New Zealand.

Visa for partners or spouses of New Zealand citizens and residents

A special type of residence permit can be obtained by partners and spouses of New Zealand citizens and residents. A partner work visa is also issued to those foreigners who are partners/spouses of citizens who arrived from abroad to work or study in specialties included in the list of in demand. With a partner visa, a foreigner has the right to legally stay in the country for the same period as their spouse/partner.

To obtain such permission, it will be necessary to provide serious evidence of the very fact of marriage or partnership.

This could be a marriage certificate or a document confirming the birth of joint children. You can present general photographs or email correspondence. Supporting documents may include a bank loan agreement for the purchase of a shared apartment, and certificates of existing common assets.

This type of visa allows you not only to legally stay in the country, but also to study or work. If the spouse is a citizen of New Zealand, then the visa allows the other half to obtain citizenship of the country. But you must live together in the country for at least 5 years.

Applying for a tourist visa

A person who decides to go sightseeing or visit an old friend or relative is issued just such a New Zealand visa. It does not give the person who has received such a visa the right to work.

This rule applies to any type of activity that will help you make a profit in the country you are visiting.

This is what a New Zealand visa looks like

To get a visa without problems, you must prepare a package of documents in advance.

Required documents

Below is a list of what you will need to provide to the inspectors:

1. International passport. Remember - it has a validity period, after which the document will need to be changed. It is worth monitoring this constantly, because an unscheduled replacement of a foreign passport can lead to the disruption of important trips.
2. In addition to the original, you will need to provide a photocopy of the first page of your passport.
3. Two color photographs (35 by 45 millimeters). No corners or ovals - an ordinary photograph taken not so long ago. Choose a light background for the photo, preferably white. On the back of them you need to write your first and last name. If you are not sure that you can take a suitable photo, contact a photo salon - they will do everything as needed, and you will not have to print the photos several times.

4. Questionnaire. Its type depends on the purpose of the visit. Tourists must complete INZ1189 (), and those wishing to visit friends or relatives must complete INZ1017 (download link). Forms must be filled out exclusively in English (in legible block letters or on a computer), and you must sign them. Minor visitors do not sign; their parents or other legal representatives do it instead.
5. Another form attached to the application form. It is still filled out in English, the handwriting is as neat as possible.
6. Documents guaranteeing your departure at the appointed time. Return tickets or reservations, sponsorship letter sent directly from New Zealand.
7. Evidence that you have enough money to pay for this trip, specifically more than a thousand dollars. The list of supporting documents is large. You must provide a statement from your bank account.

   
   Instead, it could be a copy of your bank card, which is proof of your account statement. Another document is a sponsorship letter form INZ 1025 sent by a New Zealand citizen (download here).

8. A photocopy of the Russian passport (only the pages that are filled out) is also needed to travel to New Zealand.
9. A copy of your international passport, if you received it previously, must be provided when the visa was opened for English-speaking and Schengen countries.
10. A document issued at the place of your work (you must use a company form to fill out), with mandatory indication of your length of service, the position in which you are currently working, and your salary. Remember that the larger the amount, the lower the likelihood of receiving a refusal (all other conditions being equal). Template in English, in Russian.
11. Birth certificate of the child leaving the country (both original and photocopy). If he travels with two parents, no additional documents will be required. When accompanying a traveling child with only one of the parents or a third party, the consent of the parent who is not accompanying him on the trip, or both of them, will be required (certified by a notary). You also need to attach a certificate of marriage or divorce of the parents: it confirms the relationship between the parents and the child. It is required to provide copies of the first pages of the parents' passports. The power of attorney must be drawn up in Russian and English. It is certified by the same notary.

    Notarized birth certificate

12. A document that confirms your invitation to the country by a certain person (if this is the case, of course). You will be required to fully cooperate, including timely provision of private information, such as your place of residence and a copy of the document according to which the person who invited you can live permanently in New Zealand. During this same period, you must decide how long you are going to stay in a foreign country. The person inviting you will need to write and sign a special form - it will guarantee your timely departure in the event of financial difficulties. And lastly, you may need documents confirming your family or friendly relations with the inviting person. Everything will be used, from official documents to personal correspondence. Remember - the more evidence of your connection you provide, the easier it will be to obtain a visa.
13. Hotel reservation if you decide to go only for sightseeing (this can be done by fax or printing out data from the official website). You will also need to submit your trip program (if possible, write it down as accurately as possible) in two copies (the second one translated into English).

Package of documents for visa application

Basic package

Photocopies of all documents, regardless of their size, are accepted on a single A4 sheet.

All documents must be translated into English by a translation agency. Self-translations are not accepted.

• A passport valid for at least 3 months after the trip;
• A photocopy of the foreign passport of all pages. Two page spreads of one passport on one side of the sheet, and two on the other;
• Photocopy of old passports (pages with visas);
• A fully completed and signed application form. The form must be filled out in Russian or English;
• An additional resume form filled out in English, indicating work and study history from the age of 18 (without gaps). Example of filling.
• 2 color photographs 3.5 x 4.5 cm on a white background, taken no later than within the last 6 months. Photographs taken with hats or other head coverings or sunglasses will not be accepted unless the applicant is wearing them for religious or ethnic reasons.
• Certificate from the place of employment indicating the salary on company letterhead, with the seal of the organization with the obligatory indication of the company details (including telephone numbers, faxes and e-mail addresses), the period of leave provided with job protection, issued no earlier than 30 days (1 month) for the moment of submission to the New Zealand visa center. The certificate must be certified by the signature of the head of the enterprise and the chief accountant. The New Zealand Consulate does not set or limit the required salary. All documents are assessed together and income is compared to the cost of living in New Zealand. Please note that relatives cannot sign certificates for those leaving, just as those traveling cannot sign them for each other.
• An extract from a bank account, or a certificate of the existence of a bank account with a statement of transactions performed, must be certified by the seal of the bank, indicating the currency of the account, and the signature of the responsible person. The statement must show “cash flow” for at least the last 3 months. Certificates must be issued no earlier than 30 days before the date of submission to the New Zealand visa center.
• A photocopy of the marriage and/or divorce registration certificate, even if the spouse is not traveling. For those who are married or in a civil partnership (even if the second spouse does not travel), we recommend that you provide the originals of a certificate from work and statements from the spouse’s bank account to represent a larger total family income, confirming the stable financial situation of the family, the ability to pay for the trip without significant damage to the family budget.
• Photocopies of certificates of ownership issued for travelers (car registration certificate; certificates of ownership of an apartment, house, land plot, etc.);
• A photocopy of the children’s birth certificate, even if the children are not traveling and are over 18 years old;
• A photocopy of the completed pages of the civil passport;
• If you changed your first or last name, you must provide copies of documents confirming these changes;
• A trip plan (route sheet), made in the tourist’s own hand, in English for the entire trip, indicating the dates of arrival and departure, flight number, name of the hotel(s) and its (their) address and telephone number;
• Photocopy of air tickets or confirmation of reservation.

If you have relatives or friends in New Zealand, you must provide

• A photocopy of the first page of the international passport (with photo) + a photocopy of the visa of a relative located in New Zealand;
• In the application form, be sure to indicate: full name, family relationships, address and telephone number of the place of stay, length of stay;

Persons under the age of majority

• Photocopy of birth certificate;
• Bank account statement of parents or sponsor;
• Certificate of employment from parents or sponsor. A certificate drawn up according to Form 2-NDFL of the sponsor is not welcome;
• Sponsorship letter;
• A notarized copy of the consent for the child to leave (when leaving with one parent - from the 2nd parent, when leaving with an accompanying person - a power of attorney from both parents in the name of the accompanying person) + copies of the 1st page and the page with the current registration of the parent's general passport );
• In the event of the death of a parent (parent) or if the child has a single mother, it is necessary to provide a document confirming this fact (death certificate or certificate of form No. 25 from the registry office);
• If the location of one of the parents has not been established, it is necessary to provide a notarized copy of the court decision that the person has been declared missing.

For students and schoolchildren

• A certificate from the educational institution on letterhead with the address and telephone number, which must indicate the dates of school holidays occurring at the time of the trip, or a phrase allowing the student to be absent from classes for the duration of the trip (for students, an additional copy of the student card);
• Bank account statement of parents or sponsor;
• Certificate from the work of parents or sponsor A certificate drawn up according to Form 2-NDFL of the sponsor is not welcome;
• Sponsorship letter;
• Confirmation of relationship with the sponsor.

For individual entrepreneurs

• A photocopy of the registration certificate of an individual entrepreneur;
• A photocopy of the certificate of registration with the tax authority;
• Tax returns confirming the income received, or a 3-NDFL certificate (preferably);
• Bank account statement;
• A certificate from work on company letterhead indicating the address, telephone number and monthly or annual income of the individual entrepreneur, certified by the individual entrepreneur’s seal (if any) and the signature of the individual entrepreneur himself.

For pensioners

• Copy of pension certificate;
• An extract from your own or your sponsor’s bank account;
• A certificate from the sponsor's employment with the obligatory indication of the company's details (including telephone numbers, faxes and email addresses), position, date of entry into work, salary and terms of the next vacation. The certificate must be certified by the signature of the head of the enterprise and the chief accountant. A certificate drawn up according to Form 2-NDFL of the sponsor is not welcome;
• Sponsorship letter;
• Confirmation of relationship;
• If the pensioner works, then in addition to a certificate from the place of work, it is necessary to provide a pension certificate.

Foreign citizens legalized on the territory of the Russian Federation must have

• A valid visa in the passport issued by the Russian Embassy abroad;
• An extract from a bank account and a certificate from work, yours or your sponsor’s;
• Residence permit in Russia, or temporary residence permit.

All documents submitted must be original or notarized copies, and in English or translated into English by a registered translation agency. Requirements for translations.

You can provide any other documents or information that you think may be useful when considering your case at the embassy.

The Visa and Immigration Section of the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow considers visa applications from citizens and residents of the following countries: Armenia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Russia.

Group visa

When visiting New Zealand in a group of five to fourteen people, you can get a group visa, which allows only a single stay in the country.

It is valid for only 30 days.

Obtaining a group visa requires meeting several requirements:

• Everyone should visit the country with the same intention, which is great for tourists or employees of the same company.
• Everyone must enter and leave the country together, on the same flights, on the same day.

You will not have a visa sticker from such a visa. The group leader (you will choose him) will receive it and stick it on a special form. All group members will be included in this form. An entry mark (stamp) will be placed in the passport of each group member.

The group leader will be required to provide the inspector with a form when the group members go through passport control (the group visa received earlier is attached to it).

Types of New Zealand visas

There are several categories of entry papers in the kingdom. Our table will help you decide which visa is needed for New Zealand:

Note to tourists! For states whose citizens do not require transit visas, see here. Russia is not on this list.

Nuances of various visa subcategories

A tourist visa to New Zealand is called a visitor visa. In addition, a visitor visa to travel to New Zealand is available to entrepreneurs traveling to the island nation on business.

A work visa to travel to New Zealand is requested for entry for the purpose of employment. But not only! It is also issued to partners of foreign workers, citizens of the kingdom, etc.

Separately, it is worth noting that there is no fiance/groom visa in the Kiwi country. Prospective wives and husbands of New Zealanders must apply for a work partner visa. It can be issued only if there is proof of actual residence with a partner (no matter in which state).

Transit visa

This is issued when there is no planned delay in New Zealand for a long time. A transit visa is required no matter how long you plan to stay in the country.

Transit visa to New Zealand

You will need the following documents for your visa:

1. International passport. Remember: it has a validity period, after which the document will need to be changed. You should constantly monitor this, because an unscheduled replacement of a foreign passport can lead to the disruption of important trips.
2. In addition to the original, you will need to provide a photocopy of the first page of your passport.
3. Two color photographs (35 by 45 millimeters). No corners or ovals - an ordinary photograph taken not so long ago. Choose a light background for the photo, preferably white. You should write your first and last name on the back of your photos. Go to a photo salon, give a list of photo requirements, and they will take the necessary photos for you without any problems.
4. Questionnaire number INZ1019. All forms must be filled out legibly (if you are not confident in your handwriting, fill out the form on the computer) and in English. You will have to sign all the papers yourself (for minors this is done by parents or third parties responsible for them).
5. Another form that is attached to the application form. The filling language is still English, the handwriting is as neat as possible.
6. Tickets for your entire itinerary. These must be copies and originals.

7. Visa of the country you are going to fly to. You should get it much earlier. This is a common rule: a transit visa is obtained only after the main visa has been issued.
8. If you have to wait more than twelve hours for your flight, book a hotel. You must have official confirmation of your reservation. The seal and signature will be carefully checked, so take care of this in advance.

Here you can find INZ1019 forms in Russian with explanations for filling them out.

Be prepared at any time to provide these, as well as any other additional documents that will help the Immigration Department. In some cases, you may be called in for an interview - this is a completely normal procedure, so do not be afraid. The main thing is to give the most truthful answers to the questions posed.

And lastly, people visiting Australia in 2021 are not required to register for transit unless they stay in New Zealand for more than a day. In this case, of course, you must have a valid Australian visa.

Features of obtaining a visa

Until recently, there were several consulates and an embassy operating in Russia, where one could turn, but now all powers have been transferred to VFS Global. The embassy in Moscow and the consulate in Vladivostok no longer accept applications for visas to New Zealand.

The list of required documents remains the same:

• A foreign passport valid for at least 3 months after completion of the trip.
• A copy of the page with personal information from a foreign passport.
• Visa application form filled out in English. Corrections and errors are not allowed. .
• Copies of an old foreign passport will be useful if it contains a visa to the USA, Schengen area, Australia, UK or Canada. They confirm your traveler status.

• Copies of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation - all completed pages.
• Color photo 3x4 cm.
• A certificate from the employer with full information about the length of service, position and assigned salary (a sample certificate from the employer in Russian can be downloaded here, in English here).
• Documents confirming your hotel reservation for the period of your trip.
• Booked return tickets.
• Confirmation of financial solvency in the form of a bank account or statement of credit card balance. One person must have at least $1000 per month.

  Certificate from the bank confirming the availability of the required amount

All Russian-language documents must be accompanied by a translation into English, certified by a notary or stamped by a translation agency. Self-made translations will not be accepted for consideration.

When submitting documents to the New Zealand Visa Application Center in Moscow, a visa fee is paid on site. It is 1900 rubles. There is no need to pay anything in advance. Regardless of the decision made, this money will not be returned.

Translation of documents

When preparing documents, it is important to adhere to the appropriate rules, and then there will be no problems with checking them in the future. All of them must be completed in English. If you do not speak English well enough, it is better to have the documents translated.

Only a translation that meets certain criteria will be official:

• The translation should be done in a translation agency that is officially registered;
• The translation must be certified by a notary or a seal;
• It must be provided to you on the official letterhead of the translation agency. The last name, first name, and patronymic of the translator who prepared this translation for you are also entered there;
• For each translation you need to make an attachment in the form of the original (in extreme cases, a copy certified by a notary);
• You are required to provide the most understandable and clear translation possible, without any allegories. The translator cannot introduce any abbreviations or changes;
• The translation must be done by an outsider. If there are any thoughts about the translator's interest in issuing you a visa, the translation will be rejected.

Long-term stay in the country

In case you decide to stay in New Zealand for more than six months, you should get a chest x-ray (filled out using form NZIS1096), and for longer than two years, a full medical certificate using form NZIS 1007 (download here). It must be filled out, signed and certified by the insurance doctor (he has a personal seal - it must be used for certification). When applying, keep in mind that any doctor’s certificate is valid for three months.

Adults will have to obtain a separate certificate. If you have lived in a country for more than five years (counting from the age of majority), you need to contact the police to obtain a certificate of no criminal record.

The video talks about the process of emigrating to New Zealand.

How and where visas are issued

You can submit documents yourself, but, in case of total lack of time, you can entrust most of the visa matters to a travel agency (not every one will do - only those that have received accreditation from the New Zealand Immigration departments) or to an authorized person (in the latter case, issue a special power of attorney by special form).

If you live far from the centers where documents are submitted, send them by mail or courier. Unfortunately, only the Visa Center in Moscow is suitable for this.

In addition to the above documents, you will need to provide a receipt confirming payment of the service fee (in some cases, a visa fee will also be required).

It’s worth talking about payment separately:

• If you are the owner of a bank card, simply fill out a separate item in the form with the details;
• If the bank card is not yours, you must obtain written consent signed by the owner to make the payment;
• Payment through a bank requires a bank receipt.

Visa processing times

The readiness of a visa is determined by many factors, but this does not prevent us from knowing the approximate time frame for obtaining it in various situations:

• Tourism or transit requires obtaining a visa within two weeks;
• For private visitors, the time required to obtain a visa may take up to a month.

Remember that these are minimum terms. If any documents are not in order, you will be asked to provide other copies, and this will significantly increase the time spent on obtaining a visa.

New Year's trip

Many tourists prefer to travel to other countries on New Year and Christmas. Naturally, they must obtain a visa in advance, and this must be done taking into account all the delays and bureaucratic procedures.

Deadlines beyond which there is no guarantee that a visa will be issued on time are set annually.

Consular fee

Some countries require a consular fee to be paid to them, but there is a certain agreement between Russia and New Zealand, thanks to which this fee does not need to be paid. Students also do not pay for their visa, provided they do not intend to live in the country for too long (more than three months).

For those wishing to obtain transit: the fee for obtaining their visa is 4,200 rubles per person.

When submitting documents through Visa Centers, you will have to pay a service fee: 1320 rubles. In Moscow you can pay in cash, but in Vladivostok and St. Petersburg everything is not so simple - only non-cash payment is available, which is carried out using a regular bank card or a special receipt.

Lastly, if your visa application is denied, the fees are not refundable and you will have to pay them again next time.

Cash deposit

If employees have any suspicions about your account, they may offer you to temporarily leave a cash deposit, which will become an additional guarantee of your timely return.

The deposit is not taken from parents of minor children.

Then, when your stay in the country ends (on time) and you do not come to the attention of the legislature, you will receive the deposit back. Its size for one person cannot exceed five thousand New Zealand dollars. Please remember that you must be notified in advance by letter of the need to pay a deposit.

An interesting film for immigrants about New Zealand.

Valid term of a visa

The usual practice is to issue single-entry visas for a period of 30 days to six months. Sometimes the upper threshold is increased to a year (you need a good reason to get such a long visa). If you want to stay in the country longer, you will need to obtain a New Zealand residence permit.

Visas to New Zealand

Requirements for submitted documents

All documents provided in support of the visa application must be in English or translated into English. The following requirements are imposed on the translation: - the translation is performed in an official translation agency; — certification of the translation by a notary or the seal of a translation agency is required; — the translation is performed on the official letterhead of the agency indicating the last name, first name and patronymic of the translator; — the translation is accompanied by an original document (or a notarized copy) in Russian; — a complete and clear translation of the entire text is required; abbreviations or changes are not allowed; — translations made by family members/relatives of the applicant or other persons who may be interested in issuing a visa are not accepted for consideration.

Long term stay in New Zealand

For stays in New Zealand longer than 6 months, you must provide a chest x-ray (Form NZIS1096), and for stays longer than 24 months, you must provide a medical certificate (Form NZIS1007), completed, signed and stamped by your insurance doctor. All medical certificates are valid for 3 months.

Persons over 17 years of age planning to travel to New Zealand for a period of more than 24 months must provide a certificate/certificates of no criminal record from the police/police force of their country and those countries in which they have resided for more than 5 years after reaching the age of 17 years.

Sending documents by mail

Documents for a visa to New Zealand can be submitted by courier delivery service or regular mail. In this way, documents are accepted only at the Visa Application Center in Moscow. The general package of documents must be accompanied by a receipt for payment of the service fee and, if required, the visa fee. If the applicant plans to pay the fees using a bank card, he must fill out the appropriate item in the visa application form, indicating the card details. If the applicant is not the cardholder, a completed and signed consent form for payment authorization must be attached to the application. If payment of fees is made through a bank, a bank receipt .

Visa processing times

Standard visa processing times:

• 14 days for persons whose purpose of travel is tourism or transit through New Zealand to a third country;
• from 14 days to 30 days for persons planning a private trip.

In some cases, the consulate may require additional documents from the applicant, and the processing time for a visa application may be extended.

Consular fee

In case of visa refusal, fees are non-refundable.

Cash deposit

In some cases, visitor visa applicants who are suspected by the consulate to remain in New Zealand after their visa expires are asked to pay a deposit. Collateral cannot be offered in respect of other risks, such as those related to health conditions, etc. Also, a deposit is not required if we are talking about minor children.

If the applicant left the country before the expiration of the residence permit and did not violate the laws of New Zealand during his stay, the deposit will be returned in full. The deposit can be paid by both the applicant himself and the inviting party. The consular department employees inform the applicant in writing about the need to pay a deposit.

The maximum bail amount per person is NZD 5,000 and NZD 10,000 per application.

Visa validity period

Usually single-entry tourist or visitor visas are issued, the entry period is from 30 days to 6 months (visas are most often issued for 30 days), in some cases - up to 12 months (mainly issued to those traveling to New Zealand to study. treatment or visiting close relatives). There is also a multiple-entry visitor visa valid for 3 years, but this is issued to those who meet the requirements of the Parent and Grandparent program. Long-term visas are not issued to tourists.