Asia Pacific Forestry Commission
 

Applying for a visitor visa or permit

If you are travelling internationally, you may need a visa in order to enter New Zealand. If you are travelling via Australia you may also require an Australian visa.
  • International participants who hold passports of countries that are visitor-visa-waivered, will not need to apply for a visa to travel to New Zealand. They will need to have their letter of invitation to the session with them in case they are required to present this during immigration procedures. A list of visa waiver countries can be found on Immigration New Zealand website
  • For a list of APFC member countries that require a visa to enter New Zealand, please click here.
  • International participants from visa required countries need to apply for a visitor visa offshore under immigration instructions V3.65 (Conference delegates). 
Please note that full compliance with New Zealand immigration procedures is the responsibility of individual participants. All visa arrangements should be made with due regard for local processing times.

If delegates need a visitor visa

Visa application forms may be found on Immigration New Zealand website.

Applicants will need:
  • A fully completed visa application form with 2 passport size photos
  • Application fee
  • Passport, this must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the departure date
  • Evidence of funds to support their stay in NZ ($1000 per month or $400 if accommodation is prepaid)
  • Evidence of onward travel from NZ
  • A letter from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries to be submitted with the visa application verifying that they are a delegate to the APFC2013 session. To obtain this letter please contact Alan Reid, and provide the following information:
    • Name exactly as it appears in your passport
    • Nationality
    • Passport number
    • Date of expiry (or, please send scanned copy of the passport page)
    • City/Country of the New Zealand embassy or consular office where you expect to get your visa.

Please note that individual branches/ case officers may request additional information to that mentioned above as part of the requirements for assessing the visa application. If additional information is requested, it must be provided to the case officer. 

Timeframes

Immigration New Zealand recommends that applicants apply for their visa
at least 6 weeks before they intend to travel. In some countries Immigration New Zealand does not have visa processing services so it is important that the applicants allow sufficient time for applications to be sent to the appropriate office and for passports to be returned. Click here to find information on where to apply and relevant visa application fees.

Transiting through Australia

If your flight has a stop-over in Australia, you may be required to obtain a transit visa. Please visit www.immi.gov.au or contact your nearest Australian Embassy for more information.

For questions regarding visa applications and related matters, please contact Immigration New Zealand directly at www.immigration.govt.nz, or contact your nearest New Zealand embassy.

Biosecurity Laws and Regulations

Participants should be aware that New Zealand has strict Biosecurity Laws and Regulations, which prohibit bringing many types of food and other high risk items into the country.  Further information is available here.