New Zealand to cease paper applications for visitor and transit visas by October 2026.

From October 1, 2026, Immigration New Zealand will no longer accept paper forms for 24 Visitor Visa categories and the Transit Visa. Applicants must instead submit their requests through the Enhanced Immigration Online system. Affected categories include general tourism, business, and specific group visas, as well as those needing a transit permit. Applications already submitted on paper before the October 2026 deadline will still be processed as usual.

The new system aims to simplify document uploads, enable real-time tracking, and reduce errors through tailored questions and automated data capture. This change does not affect travellers from visa-waiver countries who already use the NZeTA.