Crew joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Crew joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa
Stay	Up to 28 days
Cost	From NZD $341
Processing	80% within 2.5 weeks
Eligibility timing	Before joining departing vessel
Work rights	Join crew at named port
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health costs	Must pay own costs
Travel facility	Multiple entry if granted
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and children 19 or younger
Visa record	Conditions recorded in eVisa
Application	Apply online
Purpose	Join departing ship or plane

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Purpose

This visa is for crew members travelling to New Zealand to join a ship, aircraft or other vessel leaving for another country.

You may join the crew only at the port named in your visa.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be a crew member travelling to join a vessel or aircraft departing New Zealand.
• Provide evidence of your crew engagement, such as employer confirmation.
• Genuinely intend a temporary, lawful stay.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have arrangements to leave New Zealand.
• Have enough funds or an acceptable sponsor.

You need at least:

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

When You May Not Need This Visa

You do not need this visa if you hold a Crew ETA and will stay less than:

• 7 days as airline crew, or
• 35 days as cruise or cargo ship crew.

Crew visiting for a holiday or other non-crew purpose must apply for a visitor visa. Visa-waiver nationals need an NZeTA.

Family Provisions

You can include your:

• Partner, and
• Dependent children aged 19 or younger.

Family members must meet identity, health, character and genuine-intention requirements. They may instead apply for their own visas.

Required Evidence

Identity

Provide:

• One acceptable photo for online applications.
• Two photos for paper applications.
• Passport or certificate of identity.

For online applications, upload a passport copy. Immigration New Zealand may later request the original passport.

Health and Character

You may be asked for a chest X-ray, medical examination, or both.

Police certificates are required if your total New Zealand stay reaches 24 months or more across all visits, or if requested. They must:

• Be less than six months old when submitted.
• Cover countries of citizenship or residence exceeding five years since age 17.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates.

Funds or Sponsor

Evidence of funds may include:

• Prepaid accommodation evidence.
• Bank or credit-card statements.
• Bank drafts or travellers’ cheques.

A sponsor must submit a completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry and evidence of ability to support you, such as bank statements, payslips, employment agreement, or accommodation evidence.

Onward Travel

Provide evidence that you will leave New Zealand, such as:

• Written confirmation you will leave with the vessel or aircraft.
• A ticket to a country you can enter.
• Evidence you can pay for onward travel.

Translations

Documents not in English must have certified full English translations.

Country-Specific Documents

China

Citizens applying from China must provide:

• Hukou household registration book.
• Chinese identity card.

Paper applicants in China must also complete INZ 1027.

Hong Kong or Macao

Applicants applying within Hong Kong or Macao must provide an identity-card copy.

Paper applicants must also provide INZ 1220.

Health Care

You must declare that you will pay for any health care or medical assistance received in New Zealand.

Full medical insurance is recommended for your visit.

Travel and Visa Conditions

Your eVisa records your conditions. You must:

• Join crew only at the named port.
• Maintain sufficient funds or sponsorship.
• Keep onward-travel arrangements.
• Leave before your visa expires.

You need valid multiple-entry travel conditions to leave and return to New Zealand. If you leave without them, your visa expires.

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:

• No longer meet character requirements.
• Have changed circumstances since visa grant.
• Refuse biometric collection.
• Cannot show onward travel or sufficient funds.

How to Apply

1. Apply online through Immigration New Zealand.
2. Provide identity, crew-engagement, funds, and onward-travel evidence.
3. Provide health or character evidence if requested.
4. Include eligible family members, if applicable.
5. Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before arrival.