Are you a Malaysian citizen intent on visiting New Zealand (NZ)?
If so, perhaps you can’t wait to see the country’s big cities, namely Auckland, Washington and Christchurch. Alternatively, maybe you’d like to get an eyeful of the famously breathtaking scenery.
Of course, before you catch your flight to this beautiful island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, you’ll need to check what visa you need to enter. Do Malaysians need a visa for NZ and, if so, how do you apply?
In brief, the answer is ‘yes’, you need what’s called a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to gain entry to this country. This system came into force in June 2019 for visitors entering for tourism, business or transit.
That said, the good news is that it’s straightforward to apply for and obtain your NZ visa from Malaysia, and you can do so right here on Byevisa’s website.
The NZ eVisa is valid for 2 years from the date of issue and, once you’ve got yours, you can stay for up to 3 months (90 days) at a time.
Read on to learn the requirements to acquire your NZeTA visa from Malaysia and apply today!
Contents
- 1 What Are the Advantages of the NZeTA Versus a Traditional Visa?
- 2 How to Apply for a New Zealand Tourist Visa From Malaysia
- 3 NZeTA Visa Requirements for Malaysian Citizens
- 4 How Much Is the Visa for Malaysians to New Zealand?
- 5 Travelling to NZ as a Malaysian
- 6 Malaysian Embassy in NZ
- 7 NZ Visa FAQs for Malaysians
- 8 More Information About Visiting NZ
What Are the Advantages of the NZeTA Versus a Traditional Visa?
The first advantage of the eVisa is that it’s an entirely online system. You can apply from any internet-connected device, whether that’s your computer, laptop or smartphone, from anywhere in the world.
So this saves you the trip of having to get up at the crack of dawn to visit your nearest NZ embassy, wait in a potentially long queue, and fill in complicated forms by hand. The eVisa to NZ from Malaysia is altogether simpler and easier to obtain.
The second advantage of the eTA is that, once your application is approved, you receive your valid travel document in your email inbox. Then, when you arrive at the border control, you simply need to show your eTA to officials.
So there’s no struggling with paper documents or trying to remember where you put your visa in your luggage at the last minute!
How to Apply for a New Zealand Tourist Visa From Malaysia
Applying for your Kiwi eTA as a Malaysian is a piece of cake with Byevisa.
In the form at the top of this page, simply select your nationality (‘Malaysia’) and where you’re travelling to (‘New Zealand’). Then click the “Apply Now’ button. On the next page, you fill in some basic personal and passport information about yourself, including:
- Your full name.
- Your date of birth.
- Your gender.
- Your country of birth.
- The country your passport was issued by.
- Your passport number.
- Your passport expiry date.
- Your email address (for us to send you your ‘Malaysia to NZ visa’).
- Your telephone number, in case we need to contact you.
- Details about your travel eligibility.
- Consent for your details to be processed.
You’re then asked to confirm your information and, on the following page, enter your payment details to pay for your eVisa. You can pay by credit card, debit card or PayPal. Simply enter your payment details, and once you’re done, your valid NZeTA will wing its way to your email inbox as fast as 1 business day or less!
NZeTA Visa Requirements for Malaysian Citizens
The requirements for Malaysians to enter this country with the eTA are as follows:
- Your passport must have at least 6 months’ validity remaining from your intended entry date.
- Your passport needs at least 1 blank page for stamping.
- The purpose of your visit must be for tourism, business or onward transit.
- You must obtain your visa for New Zealand as a Malaysian before you arrive in the country.
When you check in at the airport, you may also be required to provide the following:
- Proof of sufficient funds (1,000 NZD for each month you’ll be in the country, or 400 NZD per month if you show you’ve already paid for accommodation).
- Your return or onward travel ticket.
As mentioned above, the NZ eVisa is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. Within this timeframe, you can visit for short stays of up to 3 months (90 days). You can visit for a maximum of 6 months in any 12-month period.
If you’re a member of a flight or cruise line crew, your NZeTA is valid for 5 years.
Please bear in mind that it’s impossible to extend the validity of your travel permit. If you wish to spend more time here, you must first exit the country, apply for a new NZeTA, then re-enter.
Your eVisa is valid until its expiration date or when your passport expires, whichever comes first.
How Much Is the Visa for Malaysians to New Zealand?
The eVisa costs 32 USD, which is a combination of both the travel permit itself, plus the NZ country’s tourist levy to help preserve the country’s famously pristine natural environment.
You also pay Byevisa’s processing fee:
- 25 USD to receive your visa in 1 business day (Standard service).
- 45 USD for our 4-hour processing (Rapid service).
- 65 USD for Highly Rapid 1-hour delivery.
Travelling to NZ as a Malaysian
If you’re travelling here from Malaysia, you typically do so from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). Most flights include at least 1 layover, whether you’re travelling to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown. Flight time is typically 11-12 hours including the layover.
Be aware that, even if you speak fluent English, there’s a lot of local Kiwi slang that may surprise you! For example:
- Kia Ora = the Māori word for “Welcome”
- Dairy = local convenience shop
- Tramping = going for a long-distance hike
- Jandals = flip-flops / sandals
If you go driving in this country, you may be pleased to hear that, like in Malaysia, you also drive on the left in this country. Moreover, handily, your Malaysian driving license is valid in the land of Kiwis for 12 months, so long as it’s in English and, if you’re renting a car, you’re over 21.
New Zealanders are famous for their friendly, laid-back nature, so as long as you’re polite and treat people with the courtesy and respect you’d expect to be treated with, you’re sure to have an excellent trip.
Malaysian Embassy in NZ
You can find the High Commission of Malaysia in Wellington, the capital city, at the following address:
10 Washington Avenue Brooklyn
PO Box 9422
Wellington
The High Commission’s opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. However, during the month of Ramadan, the opening hours are 9 AM to 4.30 PM.
Among other things, the High Commission can help you if:
- You’ve lost your passport or it’s stolen.
- You need to apply for an emergency certificate to return to Malaysia if your passport is misplaced.
- You want a thorough guide to driving here as a Malaysian.
- You need an official document certified or translated.
If you need to call the police, firefighters or an ambulance in this country, the emergency number is 111.
NZ Visa FAQs for Malaysians
By now we’ve supplied you with all the information you need to apply for your NZeTA. However, should you have further questions about obtaining your Kiwi travel permit, please find the answers to some frequently asked questions below.
Can All Malaysians Travel Here?
Yes, so long as you’ve got a valid passport and a visa to New Zealand from Malaysia, you’re permitted to travel. The only exceptions are if you’ve been convicted of a crime or if you’ve been previously deported from this country, in which case your application will require further examination.
Is It Safe for Malaysians to Travel to NZ?
Yes. This is renowned for being one of the safest countries in the world. The locals are famously friendly and obliging. Just be sure to use your common sense, such as not flashing large amounts of cash or jewellery in public.
How Many Malaysians Are in NZ?
According to a recent national census, 16,350 Kiwi locals were born in Malaysia. This number has increased from as few as 3,480 Malaysians in 1986, so the Kiwi Malaysian population is clearly growing!
What Do I Need to Know Before Travelling Here from Malaysia?
The local currency is called the New Zealand dollar (NZD). The international dial code is +64. The time zone is GMT+13, 5 hours ahead of Malaysia’s GMT+8. So be sure to keep this time difference in mind when you’re planning any travel or visits!
More Information About Visiting NZ
Hungry for more Kiwi-related information? We offer a variety of great articles about NZ on our Visit New Zealand page, among other things about the country’s main airports and how to migrate here permanently. Feel free to check it out!
