We work with arts and music festival organisers to simplify the visa application process. Performers and direct support staff participating in an ‘approved’ arts or music festival can come to New Zealand as visitors.
4 years
NZD $0
The process for Arts and Music Festival Approval.
To become an ‘approved’ arts or music festival, festival organisers must submit a proposal to Immigration New Zealand demonstrating that they meet the requirements.
Once we have given approval, you can support the Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa applications of your performers and immediate support staff for art & musical acts.
Approval may be renewed, upon request, where Immigration New Zealand is satisfied that the festival organiser still meets the requirements for approval.
To become an ‘approved’ arts or music festival, festival organisers must submit a proposal to Immigration New Zealand demonstrating that they meet the following requirements.
Provide a proposal and brief biography about the festival.
Include information requested in the other requirements below.
Proposal checklist for arts and music approval status PDF 161KB
Provide evidence your festival has been established for at least 3 years.
Examples of evidence:
Immigration New Zealand may consult with relevant organisations including the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Creative New Zealand, and the Music Commission.
Provide evidence you intend to bring in at least 10 international performers and immediate support staff.
Examples of evidence can include:
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for the approval, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete proposal.
Your written proposal should be scanned and emailed to us.
Application cost – There is no application cost for this employer option.
When we assess your proposal We look at all the information you have provided from the criteria above.
We may ask you for more information, if It is needed to make a decision about your proposal.
If granted, approval will be valid for 4 years. INZ will revoke a festivals approval where it considers that promoter’s conduct has created an unacceptable risk to the integrity of New Zealand's immigration or employment laws or policies.
80% of applications are currently completed within this time.
Once you have been granted approval you need to support your performers and immediate support staff visa applications by providing applicants with a letter of support.
Your performers and immediate support crew from non-visa waiver countries will be eligible to travel to New Zealand on a visitor visa. Based on their intended participation in the festival, visiting performers and immediate support crew should apply for an Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa before travelling to New Zealand.
Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
Visiting performers and immediate support crew from visa waiver countries may be eligible to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa. They will be granted a 3 month visitor visa on arrival if they meet entry requirements and hold a valid New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). If they are from a visa waiver country or territory, they must provide a copy of the letter confirming your status as an approved promoter and a letter of invitation or support from you confirming their performance.
Visa waiver countries and territories
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Where character concerns exist that may affect a person’s eligibility to be granted a visitor visa upon arrival, it is recommended that a visa application be submitted well in advance of their intended travel to avoid a traveller being denied entry to New Zealand on character grounds.
We will process their visa applications as soon as we can. Ensure that they take the current processing timeframes into account when submitting their visa application. We recommend your candidates apply at least 4 weeks in advance of their intended travel date. Find out how long these visas usually take to decide, on our Fees, decision times and where to apply page.
You must advise us of your upcoming event and of the performers and support staff who are coming to New Zealand under your approval.
Email us at least 4 weeks in advance of their intended travel, and provide the following information:
festivalsandpromoters@mbie.govt.nz
Once we have given you approval, you can support Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa applications of your performers and immediate support staff for art & musical acts.
To become approved, the festival must submit a proposal to INZ. If granted, approval will be valid for 4 years.
See the criteria and approval process {link}
INZ will revoke approval where it considers that promoters or organisers’ conduct has created an unacceptable risk to the integrity of New Zealand's immigration or employment laws or policies.
You must provide applicants with a letter containing relevant information.
The letter must include:
A copy of this letter should also be scanned and emailed to us at:
festivalsandpromoters@mbie.govt.nz
You may need to provide sponsorship for applicants.
Applicants under this visa must either have sufficient funds to support themselves while in New Zealand or have an acceptable sponsor. Sufficient funds are considered to be NZD $1000 per month or NZD $400 per month if accommodation is paid for.
If you sponsor an applicants you will need to complete a sponsorship form and provide evidence that show you are an acceptable sponsor.
You will need to provide applicants with a copy of the letter confirming your status as an approved promoter and a letter of invitation or support to provide with their application.
Your performers and immediate support crew from non-visa waiver countries will be eligible to travel to New Zealand on a visitor visa. Based on their intended participation in the festival, visiting performers and immediate support crew should apply for an Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa before travelling to New Zealand.
Arts and Music Festival Visitor Visa
Visiting performers and immediate support crew from visa waiver countries may be eligible to travel to New Zealand without applying for a visa. They will be granted a 3 month visitor visa on arrival if they meet entry requirements and hold a valid New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). If they are from a visa waiver country or territory, they must provide a copy of the letter confirming your status as an approved promoter and a letter of invitation or support from you confirming their performance.
Visa waiver countries and territories
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Where character concerns exist that may affect a person’s eligibility to be granted a visitor visa upon arrival, it is recommended that a visa application be submitted well in advance of their intended travel to avoid a traveller being denied entry to New Zealand on character grounds.
We will process their visa applications as soon as we can. Ensure that they take the current processing timeframes into account when submitting their visa application. We recommend your candidates apply at least 4 weeks in advance of their intended travel date. Find out how long these visas usually take to decide, on our Fees, decision times and where to apply page.
We make a decision about your candidate’s application as soon as we can.
80% of applications are currently completed within this time.
As soon as your visa applicants have been granted a visitor visa, they can undertake their performance.
Approval may be renewed, upon request, where Immigration New Zealand is satisfied that the festival organiser still meets the requirements for approval set out below.
Provide a cover letter requesting for your approval status to be renewed.
Your cover letter should include:
Follow these steps to reapply for approval.
Your cover letter should be scanned and emailed.
Application cost – There is no application cost for this employer option.
When we assess your request We look at all the information you have provided from the criteria above.
We may ask you for more information, if It is needed to make a decision about your request.
If granted, approval will be valid for another 4 years. INZ will revoke a festival's approval where it considers that festivals conduct has created an unacceptable risk to the integrity of New Zealand's immigration or employment laws or policies.
80% of applications are currently completed within this time.
Once you have been granted renewed you can continue to support your performers and their immediate support crew as you have done previously.
We process their visa applications as soon as we can. Ensure that they take the current processing timeframes into account when submitting their visa applications. We recommend your candidates apply at least 4 weeks in advance of their intended travel date. Find out how long these visas usually take to decide, on our Fees, decision times and where to apply page.