Pakistani passport holders need a New Zealand Visitor Visa, because Pakistan is not a visa waiver country. You apply online with Immigration New Zealand (INZ), and from 1 October 2026 this visa can only be applied for online. As of 15 October 2026 a Pakistani applying from Pakistan pays NZD 441, including the NZD 100 tourism levy, and INZ completes 80% of applications within 2 weeks.
Do Pakistanis need a visa for New Zealand?
Yes. New Zealand lets citizens of 60 visa waiver countries travel with an NZeTA, an electronic travel authority, instead of a visa. Pakistan is not on that list as of October 2026, so a Pakistani passport holder must get a visa before travelling.
For most trips from Pakistan, the right choice is one of these:
| Visa | Who it suits | Key point (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Visa | Tourism, visiting family or friends, short study | Cost NZD 441 from Pakistan, 80% decided within 2 weeks |
| Business Visitor Visa | Business meetings and similar trips | A separate visa: the Visitor Visa is not for business |
| Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa | Parents and grandparents of New Zealand citizens or residents | Up to 6 months at a time and 18 months in total over 3 years |
| Parent Boost Visitor Visa | Parents of citizens or residents whose children meet an income test | Up to 5 years on a multiple entry visa, costs from NZD 3,100 |
This guide covers the standard Visitor Visa, which is what most people mean by a New Zealand tourist visa or visit visa.
How do you apply for a New Zealand visit visa from Pakistan?
INZ's fee tool, for a Pakistani citizen applying from Pakistan, shows online submission and online payment. Approved visas are issued as eVisas, so there is no sticker in your passport.
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
- Gather your documents. Get English translations of any Urdu documents from a translator who meets INZ's requirements.
- Get your sponsor's sharing ID. Only if someone in New Zealand is sponsoring you.
- Apply online. Create an account, fill in the form, upload your documents and pay by Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay.
- Answer the health questions honestly. INZ uses them to decide whether you need a chest X-ray or medical examination, and contacts you if you do.
- Wait for the decision. INZ emails you when it decides. It recommends not booking non refundable travel until your visa is approved.
How much is the New Zealand tourist visa fee, and how long does it take?
As of 15 October 2026, the total cost for one Pakistani applicant applying from Pakistan is NZD 441. That figure includes a non refundable immigration levy and the NZD 100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), which each person must pay. At the State Bank of Pakistan rate of Rs 155.59 per NZD on 14 October 2026, that is about Rs 68,600. INZ does not refund the application cost if it declines you.
INZ's timeframe for your details shows 80% of applications completed within 2 weeks. The rest take longer, often because documents are missing. INZ says September to March is its busiest period, so apply early for a trip over Christmas.
New Zealand visit visa documents checklist
Based on INZ's Visitor Visa page, October 2026.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | A copy, valid for at least 3 months after you leave New Zealand |
| Photo | One photo that meets INZ's photo rules |
| Proof of funds | Bank or credit card statements in your name, showing the bank and the currency |
| Onward ticket | A ticket out of New Zealand, or statements showing you can buy one on top of your living money |
| Travel plans | Hotel, attraction and transport bookings |
| Ties to Pakistan | Employer letter approving your leave and confirming your return, or evidence of close relatives or assets at home |
| Travel history | Current and old passports, including pages with visas and entry and exit stamps |
| Sponsor documents | Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) and your sponsor's sharing ID |
| Family included | Proof of relationship and identity, such as your nikah nama and children's birth certificates |
| Translations | English translations of anything not in English |
| Health and police | A chest X-ray for a stay over 6 months, police certificates if you are 17 or over and your total time in New Zealand will reach 24 months, otherwise only if INZ asks |
How long can you stay on a New Zealand visitor visa?
INZ issues either a multiple entry or a single entry visa, based on its assessment.
- Multiple entry: visit as often as you like while the visa is valid, staying up to 6 months in total in each 12 month period. To qualify, you must have been out of New Zealand for at least 9 months in the 18 months before you apply.
- Single entry: enter once and stay up to 9 months in an 18 month period. If you leave, the visa expires.
Your visa is valid from the date you enter New Zealand if you are outside the country when it is approved. To stay longer for a genuine reason, you apply for a new Visitor Visa before your current one expires.
Stay length also affects health checks. Pakistan is not on INZ's list of countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis, so a stay of more than 6 months means a chest X-ray. INZ says you do not normally need a medical certificate for a stay of under 12 months.
Can you work or study on a New Zealand visit visa?
You cannot work in New Zealand on a Visitor Visa. INZ does allow you to keep working remotely for an employer or clients based outside New Zealand, and you may be able to volunteer. You can study for up to 3 months in any 12 month period. If you want a job in New Zealand you need a work visa, and Via Nova does not arrange jobs, job offers or work visas.
How much bank balance do you need for a New Zealand visit visa?
If you pay for yourself, INZ wants to see at least NZD 1,000 for each month of your stay, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is already paid. That is about Rs 155,600 a month at the 14 October 2026 rate. The money for your return ticket must come on top of this.
The statement must be in your name and show the bank and the currency. A sudden large deposit just before you apply invites questions, so keep its explanation ready. Our guide to bank statements for a visit visa shows how to present salary, business income and savings.
Who can sponsor you for a New Zealand visitor visa?
If a relative or friend in New Zealand will support you, they can sponsor you instead of you showing the full funds yourself. Under INZ's rules, an individual sponsor must:
- be a New Zealand citizen, or a resident whose visa has no section 49 conditions;
- live in New Zealand while sponsoring you;
- not be bankrupt, liable for deportation or serving a prison sentence;
- receive no fee or reward for sponsoring you.
Your sponsor completes the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025), online through their account or on the PDF form, and can add bank statements, pay slips and proof of accommodation. A sponsor is responsible for your accommodation, living costs and return travel, and for deportation costs if it comes to that. The responsibility starts when you arrive and cannot be withdrawn. Having a sponsor does not guarantee a visa.
Even without formal sponsorship, a letter from your host helps explain your plans. See our guide on how to write an invitation letter for a visit visa.
Why are New Zealand visitor visas refused?
INZ must be satisfied that you are a genuine visitor who will leave. Based on its published criteria, the common reasons for a decline are:
- weak evidence of ties to Pakistan, or circumstances suggesting you may not be able to return home;
- too little money for your stay and your ticket, with no acceptable sponsor;
- a past overstay or breach of visa conditions;
- false or misleading information, or relevant information left out;
- not meeting the health or character requirements.
If INZ declines an application made from outside New Zealand, it is not legally obliged to reconsider, though it may if you promptly provide new and compelling information. The usual step is a fresh application that deals with every concern. Read visit visa refusal reasons for Pakistani applicants before you apply again.
Not sure where you stand?
Send a Via Nova counsellor a WhatsApp message at +92 316 4448062 with who you plan to visit, your job or business, your bank balance, your travel history and any past refusals. You will get an honest view of whether to apply on your own funds or with a sponsor, and what your file still needs. See our visit visa service for how we help, online or at our Lahore office. We are not visa officers, and only INZ decides.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistanis get an NZeTA instead of a visa?
No. The NZeTA is only for citizens of New Zealand's 60 visa waiver countries and territories, and Pakistan is not on the list as of October 2026. A Pakistani passport holder must apply for a Visitor Visa online before travelling, even when living in a waiver country, because eligibility depends on your passport.
How much bank balance is required for a New Zealand visit visa from Pakistan?
INZ asks for at least NZD 1,000 for each month of your stay, or NZD 400 a month if your accommodation is prepaid, plus enough for a ticket out. For a one month trip, that is about Rs 155,600 for living costs at the 14 October 2026 rate. A New Zealand citizen or resident can sponsor you instead.
How long does a New Zealand visitor visa take from Pakistan?
As of 15 October 2026, INZ shows 80% of Visitor Visa applications for a Pakistani applying from Pakistan completed within 2 weeks. Some take longer, especially from September to March or when INZ asks for more documents. Avoid non refundable bookings until approval.
Can my son or daughter in New Zealand sponsor me?
Yes, if they are a New Zealand citizen or a resident without section 49 conditions and they live in New Zealand. They complete the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry and accept responsibility for your accommodation, living costs and return travel. Parents can also consider the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa.
Can I work in New Zealand on a visitor visa?
No. A Visitor Visa does not allow you to work for a New Zealand employer. INZ allows remote work for an employer or clients based overseas, and you can study for up to 3 months. INZ looks at past breaches of visa conditions when it assesses later applications. Via Nova does not arrange jobs, job offers or work visas.
Want this done for you?
Talk to a counsellor about your plans on WhatsApp, or visit our Lahore office in Lake City Meadows (Ex State Life), next to DHA Phase 5. We reply within one working day.
Sources
- Visitor Visa, Immigration New Zealand
- Visa waiver countries and territories, Immigration New Zealand
- Who can sponsor a visa applicant, Immigration New Zealand
- Sponsorship process for a visa, Immigration New Zealand
- Your responsibilities as a sponsor, Immigration New Zealand
- Genuine intentions to visit or work in New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand
- Countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis, Immigration New Zealand
- Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa, Immigration New Zealand
- Parent Boost Visitor Visa, Immigration New Zealand
- Appealing against a decision to refuse a visa, Immigration New Zealand
- Exchange rates for mark to market revaluation, 14 October 2026, State Bank of Pakistan
Checked against these official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules change often, so confirm the latest position with a counsellor before you apply.