Request for Travel to NZ

If you think you meet our criteria to travel to New Zealand you must first submit an expression of interest using our online request form. If you are coming here as an 'other critical worker' then your employer or other supporting agency must do this for you using the Employer request for critical worker exception.

If we agree you have a critical purpose, we will invite you to apply for either:

• a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa — if you do not already have a visa — or
• a variation of your visa conditions if you already have a work or student visa.
  
  

Provide in your request:

• as much information as possible about the reason you want to travel to New Zealand
• the full details of your partner or children if they are included in your request to travel.
  
  

NOTE: Before submitting a request, consider the availability of flights to New Zealand and travel restrictions for any country you may need to transit on the way.

Once you submit your request, INZ aims to respond to requests within 5 working days. However, it may take longer depending on the volume and complexity of requests.

Requests from employers and agents for approval in principle to bring other critical workers to New Zealand generally take 2 weeks.

If we agree you have a critical purpose to travel, we will send you a link to the form you need to use to apply for a visa or variation of conditions.

You may need to pay a fee. Most applicants are charged a fee to apply for a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa or Critical Purpose Variation of Conditions. The fee you have to pay may change depending on your country of citizenship and where you are now.

The fee for a Critical Purpose Variation of Conditions is NZD $190.

Forms for border exceptions. If you have been invited to apply for a Critical Purpose Visitor Visa, submit your application using the online form. The form will ask you what type of visitor visa you are applying for. Select Special Category Visitor Visa, then Critical Purpose Visitor Visa.

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Request Form