Citizens of Azerbaijan need a New Zealand visa, and the simple electronic permission called the NZeTA does not extend to us: a full visitor visa is obtained. The good news is that the process is entirely online, going to an embassy is not required and the answer usually comes in 2–4 weeks. The bad news is the price: the visa fee, the immigration levy and the tourism tax together start at 441 New Zealand dollars, about 450 manats, and are not refunded on a refusal.
In this article we explain the conditions of the visitor visa, what the amount consists of, the steps of the online application, the trap in the Australian transit and the flight options from Baku to Auckland.
New Zealand visa: brief facts
| Visa type | Visitor visa, online |
| Total amount | From 441 NZD: 300 fee, 41 immigration levy, 100 tourism tax |
| Length of stay | Usually up to 6 months, and can be multiple entry |
| Answer time | 80% of applications within 2 weeks; reckon on 4 |
| Where to apply | The online system of Immigration New Zealand |
| Passport | Valid at least 3 months beyond departure |
| Direct flight | None, via Dubai or Doha, more than 20 hours |
How is the New Zealand visa obtained online?
The application starts by opening an account on the Immigration site: you fill in the form, upload a passport scan, a photo and the documents, and pay the amount by card. There is no New Zealand embassy in Baku, but there is no need for one either, as original documents are not required. In some cases an extra document or a medical examination is asked for. The official rules are given on the visitor visa page of Immigration New Zealand.
The 100-dollar part of the amount is the international visitor levy that goes to a tourism and conservation fund and is paid separately from the visa; on a refusal no part of it is returned. That is why it matters to submit the documents in full the first time.
Documents for obtaining a New Zealand visa
Read next: An Australian visa: all the subtleties of the online application for subclass 600
The Australian transit trap
Most flights to Auckland pass through Sydney and Melbourne, and here a trap awaits citizens of Azerbaijan: Australia requires a transit visa for an Azerbaijani passport even for those not leaving the transit zone. That is, even with a New Zealand visa, to fly via Sydney you need a separate Australian transit visa. To avoid that problem, choose the flights that go direct to Auckland via Dubai or Doha: Emirates flies from Dubai and Qatar Airways from Doha to Auckland without stopping.
How do you fly from Baku to New Zealand?
The Baku–Dubai–Auckland or Baku–Doha–Auckland route takes 22–26 hours in all, and the Dubai–Auckland leg is one of the longest flights in the world at 17 hours. A return ticket to New Zealand starts from 3000 manats and is dearest in December-January, the New Zealand summer; April-May and September-October are good for both the price and the weather.
Because it is a far and expensive trip, New Zealand is usually travelled on a 2–3 week driving route: Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Milford Sound. New Zealand tour programmes are often combined with Australia, and in that case a separate visa is obtained for each country.
Frequently asked questions about the New Zealand visa
Can you go on an NZeTA?
No. The NZeTA is only for citizens of visa-free countries, and Azerbaijan is not on that list. A full visitor visa is needed.
Can you work on a New Zealand visa?
No, the visitor visa does not permit work; working remotely for an employer abroad is the exception, and studying for up to 3 months is possible too.
What is the commonest reason for refusal?
Weakly demonstrated ties of return to Azerbaijan and vagueness in the financial documents. New Zealand has to believe the visitor has no intention of staying.
In closing
The New Zealand visa is a visitor visa obtained online, starting at 441 dollars and non-refundable; the main subtleties are showing your ties of return with documents and side-stepping the Australian transit. The Viza.az team helps with filling in the online application, preparing the documents and choosing a route that does not require a transit visa.
You can read more about the New Zealand destination and the service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The fees and the rules can change, so look at the official site once more before applying.
