NEW ZEALAND | Visa-On-Arrival Ended for South African Nationals
South African nationals who have in the past enjoyed visa-on-arrival to New Zealand will now have to obtain visas prior to their trip. The New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that it will no longer admit holders of South African passports by visa-on-entry. Starting November 21, all South Africans arriving in New Zealand will be required to hold a valid visit visa obtained either online through the INZ website or by visiting the VFS New Zealand Visa Application Center in Pretoria.
The move by the New Zealand authorities was prompted by a significant increase in recent years of the number of South African nationals who were refused entry into New Zealand because of altered or suspected fraudulent passports. The government of New Zealand had reportedly been considering suspending visa-on-arrival for South Africans since 2012. New Zealand now joins nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, which require visas for South African citizens.
