New Zealand Travel Guide

New Zealand — Passport and Visa Information

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Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
British	Yes	No/1	Yes
Australian	Yes	No/2	No
Canadian	Yes	No	Yes
USA	Yes	No	Yes
Other EU	Yes	No/3	Yes

Passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended period of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months except:
1. nationals of the UK who may stay for up to six months;
2. nationals of Australia who may stay indefinitely.

Visa Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact their nearest New Zealand Immigration Service to check visa requirements (see Important Addresses).
3. Visa waiver does not apply to people traveling on alien (non-citizen) passports issued by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Travel Warnings

Some parts of the central Christchurch are currently not accessible to the public following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February 2011. If your intend to travel to Christchurch, contact your travel agent, place of stay, or tour provider for confirmation. Christchurch Airport is open to domestic and international flights. Travelers visiting remote areas should ensure that their journey details are made known to local authorities or friends/relatives before setting out. New Zealand weather can be treacherous, especially in winter.

Motor insurance is not a legal requirement in New Zealand. Therefore, even though the UK has a reciprocal Healthcare Agreement with New Zealand, private accident insurance is recommended. This is because New Zealand law has removed the right of accident victims to sue a third party in the event of an accident.

Most visits to New Zealand are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Medical facilities, both public and private, are of a high standard. Long-staying visitors with a valid permit to stay for two or more years, and short-term British visitors are entitled to health care services on the same basis as New Zealand citizens. Comprehensive medical insurance is strongly recommended before traveling to cover any additional charges.