Immigration

For all visa requirements contact your local branch of the New Zealand Immigration Service. Its website lists all of its overseas offices and contains information on visa requirements.

Your New Zealand line producer or production servicing company can facilitate the immigration process directly from New Zealand.

Work Visas

Cast and crew who do not hold New Zealand or Australian passports require a work visa.

Location scouting requires only a tourist visa as applicable to your nationality. Many countries have visa waiver agreements for visits of up to three months.

New Process (as of 7th February 2011)

New forms and guidelines have been introduced reflecting a new process. The new application form has two sections, you (the applicant) must complete the first part of the form and the New Zealand employer/production company/promoter seeking to engage you must complete the supplementary form.

Once submitted, the relevant guild or union then has three working days to object to your application.

You can elect to apply for a Letter of Support (previously called a Letter of non-objection) from the relevant guild or union and include with your application. If a Letter of Support is lodged with your application, the NZIS will issue a visa without waiting for three working days to elapse.

If you choose not to include a Letter of Support with your applications and there is no objection to your application, then the NZIS will grant the work visa (subject to any health and character requirements that may be applicable).

If there is an objection and the issue cannot be resolved through consultation, your application will be forwarded to the Minister of Immigration for a decision.

Criteria for Application

To obtain a work visa, applicants must meet one of the evidentiary requirements listed below:

• The applicant is of international distinction or merit, or particular ethnic significance, or is manifestly essential to the presentation or production, or
• The applicant's employment does not put at risk the employment of New Zealand entertainers or professionals in equivalent work unless the wider benefits to be obtained from the applicant's employment outweigh the loss of job opportunities for New Zealanders, or
• Appropriate consideration has been given to employing available New Zealand entertainers or professionals.

How to Apply

Apply at your nearest New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) office, Embassy, Consulate office or High Commission.

The new application form is available on the NZIS website.

Your New Zealand employer/production company/promoter seeking to engage you must provide the following information with your applications:

• Evidence to the NZIS and the relevant guild or union that you meet one of the above criteria, 
• A written guarantee that accommodation needs will be met and the cost of return travel back to your home country if necessary. 
• Optional inclusion of a Letter of Support

For further information see:

• Frequently asked questions for applicants
• Frequently asked questions for employer/production company/promoter

Letter of Support

If a letter of support from the relevant guild or union is submitted with your application, it will be assumed that there is no objection and the application will be processed immediately (with no three-day period for guild consideration).

Overseas crew can apply for a Letter of Support from the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians' Guild.

Overseas actors, presenters, performing artists and contestants can apply for a Letter of Support from Actors' Equity.

Overseas directors can apply for a Letter of Support from the Screen Directors' Guild of New Zealand.

Overseas producers can apply for a Letter of Support from the Screen Production and Development Association.

Visitor Visas

Many countries have visa waiver agreements for visits of up to three months. These are essentially tourist visas suitable for tasks such as location scouting.