Arts and Music Festival Approval
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.
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Valid for
Normally
4 years
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Cost
NZD $0
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Processing times
80% within
3 weeks
To apply you must:
- provide evidence the festival has been established for at least 3 years.
- bring in at least 10 international performers and immediate support staff.
This approval lets you:
- employ at least 10 international performers and direct support staff to perform and work here on a visitor visa without having to apply for a work visa. They will still need to meet all the requirements of a visitor visa.
A festival's approval will be revoked if Immigration New Zealand (INZ) considers that festival organiser's conduct has created an unacceptable risk to the integrity of New Zealand's immigration or employment laws or policies.
Overview
The process for Arts and Music Festival Approval.
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1
Step 1: Apply 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 requirements.
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Step 2: Support an art and music festival act
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 and musical acts.
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Step 3: Reapply for approval
Approval may be renewed, upon request, where Immigration New Zealand is satisfied that the festival organiser still meets the requirements for approval.
Apply 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.
What you need to do
Provide a written proposal
Provide a proposal and brief biography about the festival.
Include information requested in the other requirements below.
Festival is established
Provide evidence your festival has been established for at least 3 years.
Examples of evidence:
- trust registration documents
- council permits
- event brochures
- advertising
- press cuttings
- ticket sales (if applicable)
- list of invited international performers/acts over previous three years.
- letters of invitation for previous international artists promoted over the previous three years
- future festival planning documents.
Note
Immigration New Zealand may consult with relevant organisations including the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Creative New Zealand, and the Music Commission.
Number of participants
Provide evidence you intend to bring in at least 10 international performers and immediate support staff.
Examples of evidence can include:
- letters of invitation
- future festival planning documents
- website links to information about previous festivals
- details of the festival's previous international participants.
- names and details of at least 10 international participants (performers and/or direct support crew) that the festival intends to engage.
How to apply and costs
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.
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1
Step 1: Submit proposal
Your written proposal should be scanned and emailed to us.
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Step 2: Wait for a decision
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 festival's 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.
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Step 3: Support a visitor visa application
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.
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Step 4: Performers and immediate support staff apply for visitor visas
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
If you have a passport from a country or territory on the visa waiver list, you can travel to New Zealand without a visa - but you need to get a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) first.List of visa waiver countries and territories
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech
- Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia (citizens only)
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong (residents travelling on HKSAR or British National–Overseas passports only)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- South Kuwait
- Latvia (citizens only)
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania (citizens only)
- Luxembourg
- Macao (residents travelling on Macao Special Administrative Region passports)
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal (passport holders who also have the right to live permanently in Portugal)
- Qatar
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (permanent residents travelling on Taiwan passports)
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom (UK) (citizens and other British passport holders who have the right to reside permanently in the UK)
- United States of America (USA) (including USA nationals)
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
Visiting New Zealand from a visa waiver country
Most people travelling to New Zealand need to get either a visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
If you are travelling on a passport from a
, you can visit New Zealand for a short time without applying for a visa first — instead, we give you a visitor visa on arrival. You must get an NZeTA before you travel, unless you are exempt. New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Visitors who do not need an NZeTA
You can holiday for up to 3 months, or up to 6 months if you are travelling on a UK passport.
When you need a visa
If you want to study, work or live in New Zealand, you need to get an appropriate visa.
If you are coming to New Zealand for a medical consultation or treatment, you must apply for a visa.
When you arrive in New Zealand
If you need an NZeTA, you must have it before you arrive in New Zealand.
When you arrive at the border with your NZeTA, we give you a visitor visa on arrival — but first we will need to see your:
- passport
- NZeTA confirmation letter, and
- completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) — as part of your declaration, you apply for this visa on entry and for entry permission.
We may also ask to see your ticket for travel out of New Zealand, and evidence you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand.
Warning
If you cannot meet any of the requirements or you want to stay longer, you should apply for a visitor visa before you travel, as you may not be allowed to enter with a visa waiver, even if you have an NZeTA.
If you have dependent children endorsed on your passport
If the passport issuing authority of your country has endorsed your dependent children on your passport, we will accept your endorsed passport as their travel document.
When you arrive in New Zealand, your dependent children will still need to complete an NZTD and may need to show:
- return tickets
- evidence of enough money for their stay in New Zealand.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Character concerns
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.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
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Step 5: Notify us of your upcoming festival
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
- date and location of the event
- copy of an invitation letter they will travel with
- copy of the INZ Approved Arts & Music Festival Approval letter
- a list of all performers and support crew that will travel to New Zealand under your approval along with confirmation on whether their visas or NZeTA have been submitted and/or granted, and
- contact details of the person in your organisation responsible for the event or the travellers.
Support an art and music festival act
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 and musical acts.
You must be an Immigration New Zealand 'approved' arts or music festival
To become approved, the festival must submit a proposal to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). If granted, approval will be valid for 4 years.
Warning
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.
Letter of invitation or support
You must provide applicants with a letter containing relevant information.
The letter must include:
- details of the performers and crew (full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and role)
- date and venue of the performance
- arrival and departure dates (if known)
- any costs which are being covered by the promoter.
A copy of this letter should also be scanned and emailed to us at:
festivalsandpromoters@mbie.govt.nz
Sponsorship
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 $1,000 per month or NZD $400 per month if accommodation is paid for.
If you sponsor applicants, you will need to complete a sponsorship form and provide evidence that show you are an acceptable sponsor.
What happens next
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1
Step 1: Provide a letter of invitation or support
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.
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Step 2: Performers and immediate support crew apply for visitor visa
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
If you have a passport from a country or territory on the visa waiver list, you can travel to New Zealand without a visa - but you need to get a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) first.List of visa waiver countries and territories
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech
- Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia (citizens only)
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong (residents travelling on HKSAR or British National–Overseas passports only)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- South Kuwait
- Latvia (citizens only)
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania (citizens only)
- Luxembourg
- Macao (residents travelling on Macao Special Administrative Region passports)
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal (passport holders who also have the right to live permanently in Portugal)
- Qatar
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (permanent residents travelling on Taiwan passports)
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom (UK) (citizens and other British passport holders who have the right to reside permanently in the UK)
- United States of America (USA) (including USA nationals)
- Uruguay
- Vatican City
Visiting New Zealand from a visa waiver country
Most people travelling to New Zealand need to get either a visa or a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
If you are travelling on a passport from a
, you can visit New Zealand for a short time without applying for a visa first — instead, we give you a visitor visa on arrival. You must get an NZeTA before you travel, unless you are exempt. New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Visitors who do not need an NZeTA
You can holiday for up to 3 months, or up to 6 months if you are travelling on a UK passport.
When you need a visa
If you want to study, work or live in New Zealand, you need to get an appropriate visa.
If you are coming to New Zealand for a medical consultation or treatment, you must apply for a visa.
When you arrive in New Zealand
If you need an NZeTA, you must have it before you arrive in New Zealand.
When you arrive at the border with your NZeTA, we give you a visitor visa on arrival — but first we will need to see your:
- passport
- NZeTA confirmation letter, and
- completed New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) — as part of your declaration, you apply for this visa on entry and for entry permission.
We may also ask to see your ticket for travel out of New Zealand, and evidence you have enough money to live on while you are in New Zealand.
Warning
If you cannot meet any of the requirements or you want to stay longer, you should apply for a visitor visa before you travel, as you may not be allowed to enter with a visa waiver, even if you have an NZeTA.
If you have dependent children endorsed on your passport
If the passport issuing authority of your country has endorsed your dependent children on your passport, we will accept your endorsed passport as their travel document.
When you arrive in New Zealand, your dependent children will still need to complete an NZTD and may need to show:
- return tickets
- evidence of enough money for their stay in New Zealand.
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
Character concerns
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.
Fees, decision times and where to apply
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3
Step 3: Wait for a decision
We make a decision about your candidate's application as soon as we can.
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Step 4: Act can perform
As soon as your visa applicants have been granted a visitor visa, they can undertake their performance.
Reapply for approval
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.
What you need to do
Provide a cover letter
Provide a cover letter requesting for your approval status to be renewed.
Your cover letter should include:
- a list of all the international performers you have promoted in New Zealand since your previous proposal
- a list of all company or business names traded under (if applicable since your previous proposal)
- evidence you intend to bring in at least 10 international performers and immediate support staff.
How to reapply
Follow these steps to reapply for approval.
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1
Step 1: Submit proposal
Your cover letter should be scanned and emailed.
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2
Step 2: Wait for a decision
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 festival's conduct has created an unacceptable risk to the integrity of New Zealand's immigration or employment laws or policies.
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3
Step 3: Continue to support applications
Once you have been granted renewed approval 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.