New Zealand•Oceania14-35 days
541 NZD
Granted for the duration of the festival activities (as needed for the festival).
No
Not Required
Allowed
No
Allowed
Specialist visitor visa for performers and immediate support crew invited by an Immigration NZ-approved arts or music festival promoter.
Immigration New Zealand's specialist visitor visa for performers and immediate support crew taking part in an arts or music festival that INZ has formally approved. The pathway only opens for festivals operating in New Zealand for at least three years and engaging at least ten international participants, so it targets established events rather than one-off gigs.
Applicants need an invitation letter from the approved promoter, funds of NZD $1,000/month (NZD $400 if accommodation is prepaid) or a sponsor, and INZ health and character clearance. The fee is from NZD $441 plus the NZD $100 IVL, with 80% decided in five weeks. Stay matches the festival dates; partners and children 19 and under may be included, and remote work for overseas employers is allowed.
This visa is ideal for invited international performers, musicians, and technical crew (sound, stage, choreography) joining an established NZ festival who need fast entry without a work-visa process.
Visa application fee (online) | 441 NZD |
International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) | 100 NZD |
Be a performer or member of the immediate support crew invited by the festival promoter.
Be invited to take part in an arts or music festival that is formally approved by Immigration New Zealand.
Approved festival must be established in New Zealand for at least three years and engage at least 10 international participants.
Provide a letter of invitation from the festival organisers stating your name, activities, and dates.
Show enough funds to live on in New Zealand (NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid) or have an acceptable sponsor.
Have a ticket to leave New Zealand or sufficient funds to purchase one, or be sponsored for onward travel.
Agree to pay your own health-care costs while in New Zealand.
Meet INZ health requirements (chest X-ray or medical examination may be required depending on length of stay and country).
Meet character requirements; police certificates required if total time in NZ across visits will be 24 months or more, or if requested.
Genuinely intend to comply with the conditions of the visa.
Education
none or higher
Min. Savings
1,000 EUR
Valid passport or certified copy (original preferred for paper applications).
One acceptable passport-style photo (online) or two photos (paper application).
Letter of invitation from the festival organisers stating your name, role/activities, and dates.
Evidence of funds (bank statements, credit-card statements, traveller's cheques) or a completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) from an acceptable sponsor.
Evidence of onward travel (return/onward ticket or funds to purchase one).
Chest X-ray or medical certificate if requested (typically for stays over 6 or 12 months, or applicants from certain countries).
Police certificates if total time in New Zealand across all visits is 24 months or more, or if requested.
Certified English translations of any document not in English.
For Chinese applicants in China: Hukou (household registration), Chinese identity card, and Supplementary Form INZ 1027 if applying on paper.
For Hong Kong/Macao applicants: identity card and Supplementary Form INZ 1220 if applying on paper.
| Online Visitor Visa application (Arts and Music Festival) | Fill online |
| Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025)Optional | Fill online |
| Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027)Optional | Fill online |
| Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220)Optional | Fill online |
| Application Steps | Obtain a letter of invitation from the approved festival promoter stating your name, role, activitie… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Dependent Visa | Partner and dependent children aged 19 and under can be included in the application; each must meet … | immigration.govt.nz |
| Fee Breakdown | Visa application fee (online): 441 NZD; International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL): 1… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Fees | From NZD $441 application fee. International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) of NZD $100… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Forms | Online Visitor Visa application (Arts and Music Festival); Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ… | immigration.govt.nz |
| Forms · Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) · optional | true | immigration.govt.nz |
| Forms · Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027) · optional | true | immigration.govt.nz |
| Forms · Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220) · optional | true | immigration.govt.nz |
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