Tour Escort Visitor Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Tour Escort Visitor Visa
Purpose	Escort a tour group
Stay	Normally up to 3 months
Cost	From NZD $441
Processing	80% within 1 week
Eligibility timing	Employer letter within 12 months
Work rights	Tour escort duties only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry if granted
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Partner and children may be included
Visa record	Visa label or visa letter
Application method	Apply online
Employer location	Must be outside New Zealand
Residence	Must live outside New Zealand

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Purpose

This visa lets you travel with a tour group and act as its tour escort in New Zealand.

A tour escort provides day-to-day assistance, such as arrival and departure arrangements, organisational support and translation. You must not lead activities or provide in-depth local knowledge.

Tour guides working for New Zealand employers need a Specific Purpose Work Visa before arrival.

Eligibility

You must:

• Live outside New Zealand.
• Be employed by an employer outside New Zealand.
• Arrive, depart and travel within New Zealand with a tour group.
• Have genuine intentions to meet visa conditions.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have enough funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Have onward travel arrangements or funds.
• Provide an employer letter confirming your tour escort role.

Employer letter

Your employer’s letter must be no older than 12 months when the tour group arrives in New Zealand. It must:

• Be on employer letterhead and signed.
• Include employer name and contact details.
• Include your name, nationality, passport number and passport expiry.
• Describe your New Zealand duties and responsibilities.
• Include a copy of the tour itinerary.
• Be written or translated into English.

Stay and conditions

You will normally receive a stay of up to 3 months.

You must:

• Travel with the tour group throughout New Zealand.
• Leave New Zealand before the visa expires.
• Hold valid multiple-entry travel conditions to leave and return.

If you leave without multiple-entry travel conditions, your visa expires. Travel conditions appear on your visa label or visa letter.

Funds and onward travel

You must show either:

• At least NZD $1,000 per month for living costs; or
• At least NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid; or
• An acceptable sponsor.

Evidence may include bank or credit-card statements, bank drafts, travellers’ cheques, or prepaid accommodation receipts.

You must also have:

• A ticket out of New Zealand;
• Enough funds to buy one; or
• A sponsor able to pay for onward travel.

If returning to a country where you are not a citizen, provide evidence of your legal right to enter that country.

Documents

Provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo online, or two on paper.
• Employer letter and tour itinerary.
• Evidence of funds or sponsorship.
• Evidence of onward travel.
• Police certificates, if required.
• Medical or chest X-ray evidence, if required.
• English translations for non-English documents.

Your passport or certificate of identity must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure from New Zealand.

Health and character

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

Police certificates are required if your total New Zealand stay will reach 24 months or more across all visits, or if requested. Certificates must generally be less than 6 months old.

Applicants aged 16 or younger do not need police certificates.

Family provisions

You may include your partner and dependent children. Provide evidence of their relationship, identity and photos.

Use Additional Dependants for a Visitor Visa (INZ 1205) if required.

Visa waiver travellers

If you are from a visa-waiver country, you do not need this visitor visa for tour-escort duties for up to 3 months, or up to 6 months if from the United Kingdom.

You must still:

• Hold an NZeTA before travel.
• Carry your employer letter.
• Meet New Zealand entry requirements.

Application steps

1. Apply online through Immigration Online.
2. Upload required identity, employer, financial and onward-travel evidence.
3. Provide any requested medical, X-ray or police evidence.
4. Pay the applicable fee.
5. Receive your visa letter or visa label.

Existing draft applications in the old system must be completed and submitted by 7 October 2026.

Arrival obligations

Before arrival, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

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

Carry evidence of funds and onward travel. You may be refused entry permission if you no longer meet requirements, cannot show required funds or onward travel, fail character requirements, or refuse biometric collection.