New Zealand•OceaniaArts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
At a Glance
2 weeks – 1 month
NZD $441
Granted for the duration of the festival activities (as needed for the festival).
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
Dependents allowed
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
Overview
Specialist visitor visa for performers and immediate support crew invited by an Immigration NZ-approved arts or music festival promoter.
Immigration New Zealand's specialist visitor visa for performers and immediate support crew taking part in an arts or music festival that INZ has formally approved. The pathway only opens for festivals operating in New Zealand for at least three years and engaging at least ten international participants, so it targets established events rather than one-off gigs.
Applicants need an invitation letter from the approved promoter, funds of NZD $1,000/month (NZD $400 if accommodation is prepaid) or a sponsor, and INZ health and character clearance. The fee is NZD $341 (NZD $300 application fee + NZD $41 immigration levy) plus the NZD $100 IVL, with 80% decided in five weeks. Stay matches the festival dates; partners and children 19 and under may be included, and remote work for overseas employers is allowed.
This visa is ideal for invited international performers, musicians, and technical crew (sound, stage, choreography) joining an established NZ festival who need fast entry without a work-visa process.
Cost Breakdown
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Be a performer or member of the immediate support crew invited by the festival promoter.
Be invited to take part in an arts or music festival that is formally approved by Immigration New Zealand.
Approved festival must be established in New Zealand for at least three years and engage at least 10 international participants.
Provide a letter of invitation from the festival organisers stating your name, activities, and dates.
Show enough funds to live on in New Zealand (NZD $1,000 per month, or NZD $400 per month if accommodation is prepaid) or have an acceptable sponsor.
Have a ticket to leave New Zealand or sufficient funds to purchase one, or be sponsored for onward travel.
Agree to pay your own health-care costs while in New Zealand.
Meet INZ health requirements (chest X-ray or medical examination may be required depending on length of stay and country).
Meet character requirements; police certificates required if total time in NZ across visits will be 24 months or more, or if requested.
Genuinely intend to comply with the conditions of the visa.
KEY CRITERIA
Min. Savings
1,000 NZD
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Valid passport or certified copy (original preferred for paper applications).
One acceptable passport-style photo (online) or two photos (paper application).
Letter of invitation from the festival organisers stating your name, role/activities, and dates.
Evidence of funds (bank statements, credit-card statements, traveller's cheques) or a completed Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) from an acceptable sponsor.
Evidence of onward travel (return/onward ticket or funds to purchase one).
Chest X-ray or medical certificate if requested (typically for stays over 6 or 12 months, or applicants from certain countries).
Police certificates if total time in New Zealand across all visits is 24 months or more, or if requested.
Certified English translations of any document not in English.
For Chinese applicants in China: Hukou (household registration), Chinese identity card, and Supplementary Form INZ 1027 if applying on paper.
For Hong Kong/Macao applicants: identity card and Supplementary Form INZ 1220 if applying on paper.
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Fast entry route for festival performers without a separate work-visa process
- Visa duration is fitted to the festival activity dates in your invitation letter
- Remote work for an employer or client outside New Zealand is permitted
- Partner and dependent children aged 19 and under can be included in the same application
- 80% of applications are decided within 5 weeks
- Apply fully online with a single passport photo upload
- No labour-market test or job offer required — only an invitation from the approved promoter
Worth Knowing
- Festival must be formally approved by INZ (3+ years operating, 10+ international participants)
- Cannot do any other paid work in New Zealand outside the festival
- Must show NZD $1,000 per month in funds (or NZD $400 if accommodation is prepaid) or have a sponsor
- Visa is short-term and tied to the festival; no in-country renewal pathway
- Partner included as a visitor only — no work rights on this visa
- Festival not on INZ's approved list — applicants must apply for a work visa instead
- No letter of invitation from the approved festival promoter
- Failing health or character requirements (e.g. unresolved serious criminal convictions)
Application Process
Obtain a letter of invitation from the approved festival promoter stating your name, role, activities and dates.
Confirm the festival is on INZ's list of approved arts and music festivals (your promoter can confirm).
Create a RealMe login and start the online visitor visa application on the INZ website.
Upload identity documents (passport bio page, 1 acceptable photo), the letter of invitation, evidence of funds or sponsorship, and onward travel evidence.
Complete health and character declarations; arrange a chest X-ray or medical examination if INZ requests one.
Pay the visa application fee and immigration levy (NZD $341 in total) and any applicable International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).
Submit the application and wait for the decision (80% within 5 weeks).
On approval, travel to New Zealand with your eVisa and complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) within 24 hours of departure.
Application Forms
Go to application portal| Online Visitor Visa application (Arts and Music Festival) | Fill online |
| Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025)Optional | Fill online |
| Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027)Optional | Fill online |
| Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macau visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220)Optional | Fill online |
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