Short Stay Visa Requirements for Moving from the United States to New Zealand

If you are planning on coming to New Zealand for a short period, then you might not need to worry about applying for a visitor's visa. It is common people that want to move to New Zealand to come over for a short period before they commit to the move. This is helpful because it allows you to see how you would feel as an expat in New Zealand, and it also allows you to scout around for employment and a place to live.

If you happen to hold Australian citizenship, then you will not have to worry about needing a visa to spend time in New Zealand for a short period. Other countries are part of a visa waiver scheme, which allows their citizens to travel to New Zealand without having a short term visitor visa. Instead, they get the visitor visa upon arrival in New Zealand. The countries that currently participate in New Zealand's visa waiver scheme are: Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Zimbabwe. It should be noted that nationals from American Samoa and Swains Island are not eligible with other Americans. Other than that, if you are a citizen of the above countries, then you can partake in the visa waiver scheme. If you are not a citizen of one of the above and you try to travel to New Zealand without a visitor's visa you will be in for a shock at the airport as you will not be allowed to board the plane.

The valid time period for a visitor's permit, or a short stay permit, is only for 3 months, unless you are a United Kingdom citizen, then it is valid for 6 months.