Travel Advisory - New Zealand changes visa requirements

Flight Centre Travel Group is urging all South Africans travelling to New Zealand over the festive season to apply for a visa – after the Kiwi government changed its visa requirements for South Africans. The New Zealand government announced that South Africans would require a visa to visit as of 21 November 2016. South Africans currently do not require a visa to travel to New Zealand.

 

The reason for the change is “an increase in the number of South African nationals who have been refused entry at the New Zealand border in comparison to other visa waiver countries”, according to the New Zealand authorities. They said there had also been “incidents of passengers who have been found holding counterfeit or fraudulently obtained South African passports" 

 

A New Zealand visa currently costs R1 650 (NZ$165), but paper applications will increase to R1 829 (NZ$184) from 21 November 2016. Online applications will remain R1 650 after 21 November. Should passengers require any assistance or advice they can contact their nearest Flight Centre store