Entertainment Promoters Approval
We work with entertainment promoters to simplify the visa application process. Performers and direct support staff of short-term live entertainment acts promoted by an 'approved promoter' can enter 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
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Valid for
Initial
4 years
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Cost
NZD $0
-
Processing times
80% within
3 weeks
To apply you must:
- provide evidence the promoter has been established for at least 3 years
- show that you have promoted international acts in New Zealand in the past 3 years
- have a history of compliance with immigration requirements.
With this approval you can:
- employ overseas performers and immediate 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 of the requirements of a visitor visa.
Overview
The process for Entertainment Promoters Approval.
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Step 1: Apply for approval
To become approved, the entertainment promoters must submit a formal proposal to us.
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Step 2: Support an entertainment act
Once we have given you approval, you can support the visitor visa applications of your performers and immediate support staff for entertainment acts.
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Step 3: Reapply for approval
You can reapply after 4 years to maintain your approval status and continue to be on the Immigration New Zealand approved promoters list.
Apply for approval
To become an 'approved' entertainment promoter, promoters must submit a proposal demonstrating that they meet the following requirements.
Written proposal
Provide a proposal and brief biography about yourself or the organisation as a promoter.
Your proposal should include the following evidence:
- proposal letter
- brief biography about yourself and your organisation as a music promoter
- list of all company or business names that you trade under (if applicable)
- registration documentation (company/charitable trust, etc) showing establishment of at least 3 years.
Established promoter
Provide evidence the promoter has been established for at least 3 years.
An example of evidence could be company office registration documentation.
Credible records
Provide evidence of promoting international performers in New Zealand in the past 3 years
Examples can include:
- event brochures
- advertising
- press cuttings
- list of invited international performers and acts over previous 3 years.
You may refer to the:
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. Immigration New Zealand will revoke 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.
We process their visa applications as soon as we can. Please ensure that they take the current processing timeframes above 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.
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Step 4: Performers and immediate support staff apply for visitor visas
Your performer and immediate support staff will need to complete a visitor visa application unless they are from a visa waiver country in which case they may be granted a visitor visa and entry permission on arrival.
Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
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.
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Step 5: Notify us of your upcoming tour
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 Promoters 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 entertainment act
Once we have given you approval, you can support the visitor visa applications of your performers and immediate support staff. Staff will need to apply for a Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa.
What an employer needs to do
You must be an Immigration New Zealand 'approved' promoter
To become approved, the promoter must submit a proposal to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). If granted, approval will be valid for 4 years. See the criteria and approval process.
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), and
- 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
Note
We recommend that you send us your support letter to us 1 month prior to the performance.
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 an applicant, you will need to complete a sponsorship form and provide evidence that show you are an acceptable sponsor.
While a visa holder you sponsor is in New Zealand you must make sure they have: You must also pay the cost of their return travel to their home country, if they do not intend to pay for it themselves. If they are to be
Alert Who can sponsor a visa applicant You can also sponsor the partner and dependent children of someone you are sponsoring. If you do this, you must cover the same costs for them. Including family in your visa application If the person you sponsor has a visa with
Your responsibilities as a sponsor begin from the date the person you sponsor arrives in New Zealand. If they are already in New Zealand, your sponsorship begins on the date their visa is granted. Your sponsorship responsibilities end on the date the person you are sponsoring: Alert The person you sponsor can be
If you have not paid the costs you are responsible for, and they are paid by a third party or the New Zealand Government, that amount becomes your debt. If you do not pay, we can take you to court to recover the debt even if the person you are sponsoring:
Your responsibilities as a sponsor
If you sponsor a visa holder, you are responsible for them while they are in New Zealand on that visa.
Support you must provide
Even if the person you sponsor has agreed to pay for some or all their expenses, you are still legally responsible for those expensesSponsoring a visa applicant's family members
If the person you sponsor travels in and out of NZ
When your sponsorship begins and ends
You cannot withdraw your sponsorship. It continues even if the person you sponsor stays in New Zealand without a valid visa.
If you do not meet your obligations
What happens next
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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 a visitor visa
Your performers and their immediate support crew will need to apply for a Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa unless they are from a visa waiver country in which case they may be granted a visitor visa and entry permission on arrival in New Zealand.
If they are from visa waiver countries and territories, they will need to show a copy of the letter confirming your status as an approved promoter and a letter of invitation or support from you confirming their performance. They must also meet standard entry requirements.
We recommend they apply online.
Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa
New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
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.
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Step 3: Wait for a decision
We make a decision about your candidate's visa application as soon as we can. Find out how long these visas usually take to decide, in our Fees, decision times and where to apply tool.
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Step 4: Act can perform
As soon as your visa applicants have been given a Short-term Entertainment Act Visitor Visa, or NZeTA, 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 to us.
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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 promoter'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: Continue to support applications
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. Please ensure that they take the current processing timeframes above 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.