New Zealand Visa From the Philippines

If you’re a Philippines citizen travelling to New Zealand (NZ), you may already know that there’s lots to see and do.

For example, for the best views of Auckland, NZ’s biggest city, head straight to the Sky Tower, a 328-metre tall monument that’s the seventh largest tower on earth. Alternatively, to get in touch with nature in the land of Kiwis, go hiking around Mount Cook or Lake Tekapo.

Of course, before you can set foot in this country famous as a ‘natural paradise’, you need a travel visa first. At the time of writing, Filipinos are ineligible to apply for what’s called the Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), the country’s online visa system.

So instead, to apply for and acquire your travel permit to enter NZ, you have to obtain what’s called a visitor visa, either online or by applying to your nearest Kiwi embassy. In the text below, we’ll tell you what documents you need to apply, how long your Visitor Visa is valid for once you’ve got it, and more.

So read on to find out how to get your travel pass to the land of Kiwis!

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NZeTA Versus a Visitor New Zealand Visa for Filipinos

As mentioned above, the NZeTA is New Zealand’s online visa system. With this way, you can apply online from any internet-connected device and obtain your travel permit by email, ready to show the border officials.

However, for the moment Filipinos are ineligible for applying for the Kiwi ETA, so to obtain your NZ travel pass, you have to obtain a Visitor Visa, either online or in person at your nearest Kiwi embassy.

As soon as NZ’s government makes the eTA available to citizens of the Philippines, we’ll update this page to let you know. You can also stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page – just enter your email address!

New Zealand Visa Requirements for Philippines Tourists

With the New Zealand tourist visa from the Philippines, you can remain in the country for up to 9 months in an 18-month period. You’re also eligible to study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. This is a single-entry authorisation, so once you enter the country, you cannot leave and enter again.

You can come to visit friends and family, explore the country or even participate in adventure sports! You can include your partner or children under 19 on your application too.

Here are the requirements to apply:

• You must have your passport that’s valid for at least 3 months after your departure date.
• Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages for stamping.
• You must provide 2 passport photos if you’re applying in person, or 1 to apply online.
• You must provide a scan of your passport’s bio page, if you’re applying online.
• You must be in good health.
• You may need to demonstrate that you’re of good character, for example with a police certificate.
• You must provide evidence of your relationship with your family if you plan to bring them, such as marriage or birth certificates.
• You must have at least 1,000 NZD per month to support yourself, or 400 NZD per month if you’ve already booked your accommodation in advance. You can show this with bank account statements.
• You must sign a form agreeing to pay your health costs in NZ if required.
• You must show proof of your onward or return travel plans, such as airline tickets.
• You must provide evidence that you are a genuine visitor.

New Zealand Visa Application for Philippines Travellers

If you intend to apply online, you can do so at NZ’s Immigration Online portal. To apply for your NZ visitor visa from the Philippines in person, you must supply the following:

• Your passport and 2 passport-sized photos.
• A filled-in copy of the Visitor Visa Application form (NZ 1017).
• The visitor visa fees (see below for details).

You can either post or submit your documents in person to:

New Zealand Visa Application Centre
Mezzanine Floor
Unit M01
Ecoplaza Building
2305 Chino Roces Avenue Extension
Makati City
Metro Manila 1231
Philippines

New Zealand Visa Fee for Philippines Nationals

The NZ visitor visa costs 35 NZD so long as you’re visiting for under 60 days. If you’re staying for over 60 days, the fee rises to 246 NZD.

In addition, to apply at the embassy, you must pay a fee to send your passport for processing as part of your application. The cost for this stands at 19 NZD, plus an 11.50-18 NZD courier fee.

If you’re applying for the NZ visa in person, you can pay in cash. If you’re submitting your application by post, you can pay by bank transfer to the following bank account:

Banco De Oro
Karrivin Plaza Branch, Makati City
VFS Services Philippines Private Inc
005-4-003-31468

You can pay all the fees in a single payment.

Typically, the NZ authorities process 90% of visitor visa applications within 5 months, so it’s best to apply well in advance of when you need your travel document!

Travelling to NZ as a Filipino

If you need to call your hotel or other business before arriving here, this country’s international dial code is +64. Also, NZ’s time zone is GMT+13, 5 hours ahead of the Philippines’ GMT+8. So be sure to factor this into your travel arrangements.

If you’re flying to this country from the Philippines, you’ll typically fly from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). It’s most common to arrive at Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, NZ’s 3 largest cities.

Most flights tend to include a layover and, including the layover, you can expect the total flight time to come in at around 10 to 11 hours.

As an industrialised nation scoring near the top of the Human Development Index (HDI), NZ boasts a sophisticated public transport system including trains and buses to help you get around. As you’d expect, there are also taxis and Uber.

If, once you arrive in this country, you intend to rent a car and drive, there’s good news! You can drive with your existing Philippines driver’s license for 1 year. That said, be aware that in this country you drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Philippines Embassy and Consulate in NZ

You can find the details of the Philippines’ embassy in NZ here.

The embassy’s address is:

50 Hobson Street
Thorndon
Wellington 6011
PO Box 12042

The embassy’s opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10 am – 3 pm.

Among other reasons, you can contact the embassy if:

• You’ve misplaced your passport, in which case they can issue you with an emergency travel document to return to the Philippines.
• You’ve been the victim of a crime that requires consular intervention.
• You require other assistance as a Philippine national.

As an alternative, or in addition, to contacting your embassy, you can also get in touch with NZ’s emergency services. The phone number for the police, fire service and ambulances is 111.

New Zealand Visa From Philippines FAQ

Would you like to know more about obtaining your travel permit to the land of Kiwis? If so, you’re in luck, as we’ve compiled the answers to some FAQs below. Get stuck in!

Can All Filipinos Travel to NZ?

Yes, so long as you have a valid passport and a valid visitor visa. In most cases, your travel permit application process will go smoothly. The only exceptions are if you’ve ever previously been deported from NZ or convicted of a crime, in which case your application could take longer to process or may be rejected.

Is it Safe for Filipinos to Travel to NZ?

Yes, this is one of the countries with the lowest crime rates in the world. Of course, you’ll need to exercise your common sense by not flashing your cash in public or crossing busy roads with lots of cars. That said, so long as you treat people respectfully as you yourself wish to be treated, you’ll experience no hassles.

How Many Filipinos Are in NZ?

Over 76,000 Filipinos call NZ home at the time of writing, more than double the 32,000 Philippine nationals who resided here permanently back in the 2013 national census. Of these, the vast majority (over 80%) live in NZ’s north island.

What Do I Need to Know Before Travelling to NZ from the Philippines?

Clearly, English is the most commonly spoken language here, so you’ll have a far easier time in hotels, restaurants and when you’re out and about if you speak it. There’s also some local slang to be aware of. Among other things, a “crib” is a “holiday home”, “togs” means “swimsuit” and “knackered” means “worn out”!

Full Information to Apply for the NZ Visitor Visa

With the information provided in this article, you should be in a great position to apply for your Kiwi visa from the Philippines. You can also find out more about visiting New Zealand on our website.