If you are thinking of travelling to New Zealand, you may want to consider some alternative destinations. Obtaining a visitor visa for New Zealand is proving a challenge for many Indian citizens, despite the rise in arrivals from the world’s most populous country.
Between 1 January and 8 September, Immigration New Zealand processed 42,542 first-time visitor visa applications from Indian citizens. Of these, 32,085 were approved, while 9,970 were rejected, marking a rejection rate of 23 per cent, according to the latest figures from Immigration New Zealand.
In 2023, Indian applicants submitted 91,748 visitor visa applications, of which 68% were approved and 30% were rejected. This growing number of applications from India continues to rise after the pandemic.
What’s driving the travel boom?
India’s middle class is eager to explore destinations abroad, contributing to the rise in visa applications. Several factors explain this growth, including the relaxation of visa norms in many countries and a younger population eager for new experiences.
A report by MakeMyTrip Limited, one of India’s largest online travel companies, revealed that between June 2023 and May 2024, the number of Indian residents who took two or more trips abroad increased by 32 percent.
Popular destinations for Indian travelers include:
United Arab Emirates
Thailand
USA
Singapore
Indonesia
Southeast and Central Asian countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan have recognised India’s tourism potential and are relaxing visa requirements to attract more visitors.
How does New Zealand compare?
The Henley Passport Index for 2024 ranked the Indian passport 82nd in the world, allowing visa-free access to 58 countries. In comparison, the New Zealand passport ranked fourth, with visa-free access to 190 countries.
Despite challenges in obtaining visas, Indian citizens continue to show a keen interest in New Zealand. Before the pandemic, New Zealand approved 84,288 visas for Indian travellers in 2018 and 83,583 in 2019. The numbers have increased post-pandemic: 115,008 visas were approved in 2023 and, as of 31 August 2024, 97,842 applications had been approved, according to Immigration New Zealand.
India ranks second in visa applications for New Zealand
From 1 January 2024 to 8 September 2024, China led the number of visa applications for New Zealand, with 315,467 applications submitted. India followed with 134,290 applications, according to official data.
“However, Indian citizens also faced a high rejection rate of 28 percent, second only to Pakistan, where 71 percent of applicants were denied visas,” according to Radio NZ, a New Zealand-based media company.
Thailand, on the other hand, had the highest approval rate, with 96 percent of 20,654 applications accepted.
“India is an exciting and important market for New Zealand,” said Jock Gilray, director of visas at Immigration New Zealand, in an interview with Radio New Zealand.
Gilray acknowledged that there has been a significant improvement in the quality of applications from India recently. “This has resulted in a higher approval rate and faster decision times,” he said.
However, she reminded applicants to be diligent when submitting their visa applications. “Visa applicants must demonstrate genuine intentions to visit New Zealand temporarily and return home at the end of their stay,” she said.
To avoid visa refusal, New Zealand Immigration recommends focusing on key areas that ensure your application meets all requirements.
1. Provide complete documentation:Incomplete applications are a common reason for rejection. Please ensure that you submit all necessary documents, including valid passports, proof of funds, travel itineraries, and health or police certificates where required.
2. Genuine intentionsYou must demonstrate that your intention to visit New Zealand is genuine, for example for tourism, business or family purposes. To do this, you must provide clear evidence of your return travel plans or current obligations in your home country.
3. Financial Stability Test: Immigration authorities often reject applications where the applicant cannot prove that they have sufficient funds for their stay. Make sure you have at least NZD 1000 per month, or NZD 400 per month if the accommodation is prepaid.
4. Good character and health: If you have a criminal record or health problems, this may affect your application. Make sure you provide police certificates or medical examinations when requested, especially if your stay is longer than six months.
5. Accurate and consistent information: Any discrepancy between the data provided in your application and the supporting documents may result in a rejection. Please double-check your documents for accuracy and consistency.
6. Sponsorship:If you are sponsored, make sure your sponsor meets the criteria and provides sufficient evidence such as bank statements and employment contracts.
First published: September 19, 2024 | 15:31 IS
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.