New Zealand Temporary Residency Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa

Genuine intentions: You must genuinely intend to meet the conditions of your visa

Approved arts or music festival: The festival must be approved by Immigration New Zealand

Letter of invitation: You must provide a letter of invitation from the festival organisers

Funds or sponsorship: You must have enough money to live on while you’re in New Zealand or have an acceptable sponsor

Onward travel: You must have a ticket to leave New Zealand or be sponsored for the cost of your onward travel

Health care: You must agree to pay your own health care costs

Bring family: Your partner and dependent children must meet the requirements for this visa

Step 1 – Festival organisers apply for approval

To become an ‘approved’ festival, organisers must submit a formal proposal to us at:

Approved Arts and Music Festival Approval

Operations Support, Visa Services

Immigration New Zealand

PO Box 3705

Wellington 6140

For a festival to be ‘approved’, it must have:

• been hosted in New Zealand for 3 or more years
• 10 or more overseas performers and/or support crew taking part.
• Approvals are valid for 4 years.

Step 2 – The festival organisers give you a letter of invitation

The festival organisers must provide you with a letter of invitation explaining your role in the festival. You will need this to apply for your visa.

Immigration New Zealand only accepted letters of invitation from organisers of ‘approved’ arts or music festivals.

Step 3 – You apply for a visa

Before you apply, check if you are from a Visa Waiver country.

Complete the paper application form and send it to us with your application fee, immigration levy, and the documents listed in the checklist on the form.

• Visitor Visa Guide – A guide to applying for a visitor visa (INZ 1018)
• Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017)
• Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025)
  

Step 4 – Decision about your application

If there is anything else you need to do, Immigration New Zealand will be in touch.

If you are in New Zealand, and your current temporary visa expires before your new visa is granted, we will normally issue you an interim visa to let you stay in New Zealand lawfully.

• Signed application form.
• Appropriate fee and levies
• Two passport-sized colour photographs for everyone included in the application.
• Passport or travel document* for everyone included in the application.
• Medical or chest X-ray certificates if required by Section E: Health for everyone included in the application.
• Evidence of financial support consisting of:
  • A completed Sponsorship Form For Temporary Entry (INZ 1025), or
  • Evidence showing you have sufficient funds in your name to support yourself.
• Evidence that you have the means to leave New Zealand consisting of:
• A completed Sponsorship Form For Temporary Entry (INZ 1025), or
• pre-purchased travel out of New Zealand, or
• Evidence showing you have sufficient funds in your name to purchase travel out of New Zealand.
• If your partner and/or dependent children are included in this application:
• Evidence of your relationship with your partner and/or
• Evidence that you are the parent or legal guardian of the children included in this application
• Evidence that you are a bona fide visitor, for example:
  • Evidence that you intend to return to your home country at the end of your stay
  • Evidence that you are genuinely visiting for the purpose of holidaying, sightseeing or visiting family or friends
• Evidence of onward travel arrangements out of New Zealand.
• Evidence of your employment
• Evidence of the business you will undertake in New Zealand Guardians of students
• Evidence that you are the parent or legal guardian of the student you are accompanying and evidence you provided care for the student in your home country.
• Evidence of your relationship with your parent or legal guardian.

Application Fee: NZD$ 246.

This is the charge for Immigration New Zealand to process your application. Immigration New Zealand does not refund application costs if your application is refused. A non-refundable immigration levy is charged and is included in the cost.