Immigration New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand
08/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/23/2026 07:02
Group and Tour Escort visitor visa applications now on enhanced Immigration Online
Group and Tour Escort visitor visa applications have now moved to Immigration New Zealand's enhanced Immigration Online system. If you are applying for one of these visas, there are some important things you need to know.
Immigration New Zealand's ambition is to provide a trusted and effective immigration service. Last year, we began the Our Future Services programme to accelerate us towards that goal.
Over the course of the programme, we will move all visa applications onto our enhanced Immigration Online platform. We first introduced this platform in 2021 and have already moved several visa categories onto it including international student visas, visitor visas, Accredited Employer Work Visa and Permanent Resident Visa.
We are aiming to deliver a simpler, faster and more user-friendly visa application process to reduce waiting times, provide clear communication on application status, and increase self-service capabilities so everyone feels more informed and better supported.
Group and Tour Escort visitor visa changes
From 24 August 2026, you will be automatically directed to our enhanced Immigration Online system if you are starting a new online application for one of the following visa types:
Group Visitor Visa
- General
- Approved Destination Status (ADS)
Visitor Visa
- Tour Escort Visitor Visa
- General Visitor Visa for ADS Free and Independent Travellers (FIT).
All applications submitted using the old application form will still be processed. You do not need to do anything. You will have access to your application to upload documents and respond to Immigration New Zealand requests until the application is decided and the decision communicated to you.
If you have a draft application on the old form, you have until 7 October 2026 to complete and submit it. On 8 October, any remaining drafts will be deleted, and you will have to start a new application using the new form.
If you need help completing your online application, see our applying online guidance, or contact us.
We appreciate your support and encourage you to submit new applications through the enhanced Immigration Online system from day 1. This will help us ensure you have the best processing experience and minimise the risk of delays that may occur when applications are submitted through the old system.
If you would like to know more about these visa types or start a new application, see the visa pages below.
New application form and system
Other visitor visa applications are already on enhanced Immigration Online. With this transition, we are taking a big step towards having all visitor visa products on this system. The small number of remaining visitor visas will transition with other visa products they are closely linked to.
We have engaged with visa processing staff, immigration professionals and the international tourism sector - including ADS agents - to design an efficient and effective Group Visitor Visa and Tour Escort Visitor Visa application and processing product that works well for everyone.
Our approach to designing the enhanced Immigration Online visa application process focuses on an improved customer experience - ensuring that the process is easy to understand, and people know what is expected of them.
We are also building functionality for applicants to share their Group Visitor Visa application with other people, including other group members and tour agency staff working on the applications.
More information
To access submitted or draft applications in our old system, you can visit our Access Immigration Online webpage:
If you would like to know more about the programme, including when other visa types are likely to move to the new system, you can visit Immigration New Zealand's Our Future Services page, or the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Our Future Services page.
Our Future Services - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Immigration New Zealand published this content on August 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 23, 2026 at 13:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]