You will need a passport to travel with; this will currently cost you
$150 and should take about 10 days to process. It is done thru the Department
of Internal Affairs, urgency will cost extra. Your passport must be
valid for the entire time that you are out of Aotearoa, check it to see
that it won’t run out if you are going to use your existing one. Many
countries now insist on at least 6 months on the passport from your intended
return date.
If you intend staying in the United Kingdom for the two years that you
are allowed on your OE you will also need a "Working Holidaymaker"
entry certificate. This is done via the British High Commission in Wellington
and currently costs $580.00 with a $7 courier charge for return of your
documents, or you can enclose a courier pack. Downloadable forms are available
from the British High
Commission .
If you are a young commonwealth citizen you may be eligible to enter
the United Kingdom as a Working Holidaymaker, provided you satisfy the
following criteria. Prior entry clearance is required. Please apply to
the British High Commission in Wellington 6-8 weeks prior to your intended
date of departure.
You must be a COMMONWEALTH CITIZEN aged AT LEAST 17 AND UNDER 31 Your
application must be approved before you reach your 31st birthday. If you
have already passed your 31st birthday you do not qualify. Remember, at
peak times you should submit your application 6-8 weeks prior to your
intended date of travel (or 31st birthday, whichever comes first).
Your MAIN PURPOSE SHOULD BE TO TAKE A HOLIDAY. You should not have any
commitments which would require you to earn a regular income. Employment
should been seen as incidental to the holiday and therefore you are not
allowed to work for more than twelve months over the two year visa period.
You will be admitted into the United Kingdom for a maximum period of two
years. THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE FIRST DATE OF
ISSUE, regardless of any time spent travelling outside the UK. This period
cannot be extended, nor can it be put on hold.
A Working Holiday visa is only issued once - it cannot be reissued at
a later date. For those holding more than one nationality who have been
issued a visa cannot apply for a second visa in their other passport.
If you are married your spouse must be intending to take a Working Holiday
with you, and you must BOTH meet the Working Holiday criteria. Please
contact the British High Commission for advice.
If you have dependent children under the age of five, please contact
the British High Commission for advice
It must be your firm intention to leave the United Kingdom after completion
of the Working Holiday, which will be no longer than two years.
You must be able to show that you have sufficient funds for your return
fare or onward journey and your partial support during your Holiday. Evidence
of funds should be supported with full bank statements in your own name
for the previous three months. Funds must come from your own resources.
Credit available through credit cards and other borrowed funds are not
acceptable. YOU MAY NOT SEEK SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
You should not have infringed any laws, including the Immigration Rules
during any previous stay in the United Kingdom.
Entry Certificates Requirements / Checklist
a. Completed Application form Non-Settlement Form (VAF1)
b. Completed Supplementary Information Questionnaire
- both from the British
High Commission
c. A passport photo of applicant. The photograph should be taken against
a light background, be clear and of good quality and printed on normal
photographic paper.
d. Applicants current passport and any previous/other passports
e. Evidence of funds (i.e. Full Bank Statements for at least the previous
three months)
f. Fee: See British High
Commission to check current cost
g. Please enclose a return courier pack or add $7 to the total application
fee
You should apply approximately three months prior to your intended arrival
in the UK. The latest date that your entry clearance can be dated is three
months from the day it is issued. If you apply more than three months
in advance your entry clearance will start three months from the date
of issue.
Information on new Biometric Visa
The process to apply for a UK visa:
• Applicant to go onto the website www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk
• Complete the relevant visa application form, based on the purpose of
entry (e.g. Working Holiday),
• Arrange an appointment (online) to visit the British High Commission.
• Pay online or complete the “credit card payment slip” the BHC website,
or take a bank cheque to the appointment.
• At the Embassy visit, applicant will be fingerprinted and digitally
photographed** and lodge passport & supporting documents.
The application will be forwarded through to the Visa Section for consideration.
Interviews are sometimes required with the Visa Officer. Such interviews
are often conducted over the phone, but sometimes the applicant is required
to attend an interview in person. (requiring a separate visit to the High
Commission!). The BHC aims to process straight forward applications in
15 working days, settlement & De Facto visas within 6 weeks. The Embassy
will not provide progress reports as this slows down the entire system.
*Those applying for Certificate of Entitlement (visa through a UK born
parent) or a UK passport, or children under five do not need to apply
in person. .
**Personal data will be forwarded to the UK which will validate applicant’s
identity on arrival (memo to self: cancel botox appointment scheduled
week before travel – they might not recognize me).
When coming to the British High Commission applicants must:
• Allow 15 minutes to clear through security. If you are late you may
not be seen.
• Switch off mobile phone, MP3, camera, CD player, and/or any laptop before
entering the grounds.
Important changes to the visa application process in New Zealand.
To receive your visa faster, you must apply on-line. The BHC are no longer
handling hand-written applications.
The British Government has introduced biometric data collection (finger
scans and digital photographs) as part of a worldwide biometric identification
process, designed to protect your identity, facilitate future entry to
the UK, combat fraud and abuse of the UK’s immigration and asylum systems.
When you have determined which Visa category you wish to apply for and
have all the supporting documentation, you should complete and pay for
your visa application on-line. You will also be asked to book an appointment
to submit your biometric data. An immediate Global Web Form (GWF) visa
reference number will be generated and your appointment will be confirmed
by e-mail
Most visa applications can be approved on the basis of the supporting
documentation submitted with the application, but if necessary applicants
will need to be interviewed. This may be either briefly by telephone or
in greater depth at the High Commission, in which case a separate appointment
will be made.
Please note that the majority of New Zealand citizens who visit the UK
each year for a holiday or business trip do not require a visa, and are
not affected by this change. OE Working Holiday makers need to apply for
a Visa.
New Biometric Collection Facilities
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has agreed to act as a collection agent
on behalf of the British High Commission and UK Visas in New Zealand.
By doing so they have provided more enrolment centres, which gives greater
flexibility to UK visa applicants in New Zealand. INZ is simply acting
as a collection agent, and has no involvement in the UK entry clearance
process. They are not able to use or copy the information collected on
our behalf. The biometric data is recorded using the British Government’s
own enrolment systems used worldwide. INZ cannot provide general advice
on UK visa applications, nor can they comment on individual applications.
However, an advice leaflet is available from INZ offices. Further enquiries
should be directed to the British
High Commission in Wellington.
INZ has a specific office area clearly marked and set up. Follow the
signs to the UK Visas biometric waiting area and wait to be called. Do
not join the main INZ queue.
The additional biometric data facilities:
Immigration New Zealand
39 Paramount Drive
Henderson
Auckland
Immigration New Zealand
Crystal Plaza 73-75 Cathedral Square
Christchurch
Immigration New Zealand
Level 7, 142 –146 Wakefield Street
Wellington
The process in four simple steps:
1. Read the information related to the category of visa you wish to apply
for on our page “What visa options are there?” Please be aware if you
do not provide full supporting documentation your application may be refused.
Applicants will be interviewed if necessary. This may be either briefly
by telephone or in greater depth at the High Commission.
2. Complete, save, print, and submit the online application. While on-line
you will also be asked to book an appointment to submit your biometric
data (finger scans and a digital photograph) at one of the INZ Offices
listed in Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington. You will also be issued
with GWF visa booking reference number.
3. Take your GWF visa booking reference number and valid passport to
the Immigration New Zealand office that you have chosen to submit your
biometric data (finger scans and a digital photo). INZ will not accept
your biometric data unless you have made an appointment online.
4. What happens now? Sign the printed copy of your on-line application
form, and then send it by courier along with all your supporting documentation
to: Visa Section, British High Commission, 44 Hill Street, Wellington
6011
If you do not wish to pay on-line then please use the credit card payment
slip (How much does it
cost?) or provide a bank draft made payable to the British High Commission.
We do not accept personal cheques.