Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
Stay	As needed for festival
Cost	From NZD $441
Processing	80% within 2.5 weeks
Application timing	Not stated in the source
Eligibility	Approved festival invitation required
Work rights	Festival activities only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Healthcare costs	Must pay own costs
Travel facility	Multiple entry condition required
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Not stated in the source
Sponsorship	Acceptable sponsor permitted
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa

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Purpose

This visa is for performers or support crew taking part in a short-term live entertainment act at an Immigration New Zealand-approved arts or music festival.

You must be invited by the festival organisers. If the festival is not formally approved, you need to apply for a work visa instead.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be invited to an Immigration New Zealand-approved festival.
• Provide an invitation letter from the festival organisers.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Genuinely intend to meet your visa conditions.
• Have enough funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Have onward travel arrangements or funds.
• Agree to pay your own health-care costs.

Immigration New Zealand checks its records to confirm the festival is approved.

Invitation letter

The letter must state:

• Your name.
• Your festival role.
• Activities you will carry out.
• Dates or period of activities.

Funds and onward travel

You must have at least:

• NZD $1,000 per month, or
• NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid.

Evidence may include bank or credit-card statements, bank drafts, traveller’s cheques, prepaid accommodation evidence, or a completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry.

You must also have:

• A ticket to leave New Zealand; or
• Enough money to buy one; or
• Sponsorship for onward travel costs.

Sponsors must show they can support you, such as through bank statements, payslips, an employment agreement, or accommodation evidence.

Health and character

You must be in good health. Immigration New Zealand may require a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

Normally:

• A chest X-ray is not required for stays under 6 months.
• A medical certificate is not required for stays under 12 months.

Applicants from China, Hong Kong or Macao may need a chest X-ray completed within the last 3 months when coming for more than 6 months after spending 6 consecutive months in China.

You must be of good character. Police certificates are required if your total time in New Zealand will be 24 months or more across all visits, or if requested.

Police certificates must:

• Be less than 6 months old when submitted.
• Cover countries of citizenship or residence over 5 years since age 17.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates.

Documents

Provide:

• One acceptable photo for online applications, or two for paper applications.
• Passport or certificate of identity.
• Festival invitation letter.
• Evidence of funds, sponsorship, and onward travel.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Medical evidence, if requested.
• Full English translations for documents not in English.

Additional identity documents

Chinese citizens applying from China must also provide:

• Hukou.
• Chinese identity card.
• Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027) for paper applications.

Applicants in Hong Kong or Macao must provide an identity-card copy. Paper applicants must also provide Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220).

Rights and conditions

You may:

• Take part in the approved festival activities stated in your invitation.
• Possibly work remotely for an employer or client based outside New Zealand.

You cannot do any other work in New Zealand.

You must:

• Support yourself or remain sponsored.
• Keep onward travel arrangements or sufficient funds.
• Pay your own health-care and medical-assistance costs.
• Leave New Zealand before the visa expires.

Full medical insurance is recommended for your visit.

Travel

You need a valid multiple-entry travel condition to leave and return to New Zealand.

If you leave without a multiple-entry travel condition, your visa expires. Travel conditions are shown on your visa label or visa letter.

Unless your visa label or letter states “Return/onward travel not required”, you must have onward travel whenever travelling to New Zealand.

Arrival requirements

All travellers must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before travel begins.
• By sea: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you do not meet character requirements, your circumstances have changed, you refuse biometric collection, or cannot show required onward travel or funds.

How to apply

Apply online through Immigration Online.

From 24 September 2026, new applications for most visitor visas can only be submitted through enhanced Immigration Online.