All foreign visitors to Gods Own land need a passport, even the asylum seekers. Whether you can enter visa-free or not depends on where you come from, how long you’re staying and what you want to do when you get here.
The need for a visa will be waived if you just want to come here for a holiday for up to three months (UK = six months, lucky buggers!) and you are a citizen of any of the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France. Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kiribati, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal*, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tuvalu, USA**.
*Portuguese passport holders must have the right to live permanently in Portugal.
** Includes US nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island.
In order to qualify for the visa waiver you must:
- hold a valid ticket to a country to which you have a valid right of entry, and have sufficient money to support yourself during your stay, and
- hold a passport valid for three months beyond the date you are leaving New Zealand, and
- only wish to visit NZ for the time granted on arrival (if you wish to visit for a longer period you will have to apply for a Visitor’s Visa).
You can get the official government information at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/