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Crew Joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa
New ZealandNew Zealand•Oceania
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Crew Joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa

Work Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

1 day – 1 month

Estimated Cost

NZD $341

Stay Duration

28 days

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Overview

Short-stay visitor visa for international crew joining a commercial ship or plane departing New Zealand, when a Crew ETA does not apply.

Issued by Immigration New Zealand under the Immigration Act 2009, the Super Yachts Visitor Visa is for owners and crew travelling to New Zealand on a privately owned super yacht over 20 metres. It recognises that yacht crew are not undertaking employment in New Zealand and supports the country's marine refit, services, and tourism sectors.

Costing NZD $441 with 80% decided within 5 weeks, it grants multiple-entry stays of up to 6 months, extendable via further visitor visas to a 12-month total. Partners and dependent children aged 19 or younger may be included. Applicants must show NZD $400 per person per month if living on board or with prepaid accommodation, or NZD $1,000 otherwise, plus onward travel.

This visa is ideal for super yacht owners, captains, engineers, and crew whose vessel is cruising or undergoing refit in New Zealand waters and who need flexible multi-entry visitor status tied to the yacht's itinerary.

Cost Breakdown

Visitor visa application fee (Band C — rest of world)NZD $300
Immigration levyNZD $41
TotalNZD $341

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant28 days

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a crew member of a ship, aircraft, or other vessel.

Must be travelling to New Zealand to join a vessel or aircraft that will be leaving for another country.

Must provide evidence of engagement as a crew member (e.g., written confirmation from employer).

Must have enough money to live on or an acceptable sponsor.

Must meet health and character requirements.

Must provide proof of identity.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Passport valid at least 3 months after planned departure from New Zealand.

1 acceptable photo (online application) or 2 photos (paper application).

Written confirmation of crew engagement from your employer (e.g. employment contract or vessel/airline letter).

Evidence of funds to cover living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.

Police certificates if total NZ stay across all visits reaches 24 months, or if requested by INZ.

Chest X-ray and/or medical examination if requested (typically for longer stays or specific health-screening situations).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Allows lawful entry to join a departing commercial vessel or aircraft when a Crew ETA is unavailable.
  • Stay of up to 28 days at the named port.
  • Partner and dependent children aged 19 or younger can be included in one application.
  • Online application available with a single passport photo and uploaded passport copy.
  • Modest official fee of NZD 341.
  • No English-language test requirement.
  • No minimum income or education threshold imposed by this visa.

Worth Knowing

  • 80% of decisions take up to 5 weeks - plan well ahead of crew rotation dates.
  • Requires written employer confirmation of the specific crew engagement.
  • Single-purpose visa: usable only to join the named vessel or aircraft at the named port.
  • Health (chest X-ray/medical) and police certificate evidence may be requested.
  • No right to take other employment in New Zealand.
  • Not for crew already covered by a Crew ETA staying under the ETA windows (7 days airline; 35 days cruise/cargo).
  • Does not lead to permanent residence and confers no NZ labour-market access.
  • Applicants who cannot evidence a confirmed crew engagement will be refused.

Application Process

1

Gather identity, health and crew-engagement evidence (passport valid 3+ months past departure, photos, employer engagement letter, funds or sponsor).

2

Apply online via Immigration NZ and upload a passport copy, or submit a paper application with original/certified passport.

3

Pay the NZD 341 application fee.

4

Provide police certificates and medical/X-ray evidence if requested.

5

Receive the visa decision (80% within 5 weeks) before travelling to New Zealand.

Application Forms

Visitor Visa Application (INZ 1017)Fill online
Supplementary Form for Chinese visitors, workers and students (INZ 1027)OptionalFill online
Supplementary Form for Hong Kong and Macao visitors, workers and students (INZ 1220)OptionalFill online

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