Kia ora tātou! This guide is for applying online for a New Zealand Tourist Visa for Philippine Passports. This article is based on my visa application experience as of March 2017. 

The Immigration of New Zealand Website

I love how modern and intuitive the website of the Immigration of New Zealand is. I also appreciate that they presented the vital information into sections, making it easy for anyone who can read and speak basic English to understand.

Step 1

From the previous screenshot, click the 'Visit' link/button. You'll be redirected to the Visit New Zealand page.

Click 2: Explore Visa Options for Visiting. 

Everything you need to know about New Zealand and what to do while you're there can be found on this page. I really appreciate that they presented the vital information into sections, making it easy for anyone to understand.

Step 2

At the bottom of the page, there's an input field asking how long I am planning to stay and my main purpose of visit to New Zealand.

My visa options as a tourist: Visitor Visa, Group Visitor Visa, and Philippines Working Holiday Visa

Now that I know what kind of visa I need to apply for, it's time to apply online. By the way, it took me 15 minutes to find the login link. If you're like me who couldn't find it, just click the 'Login' link on the upper right corner of the page. 

Like the U.K. Visa Application, you need to create an account for your application. 

This is what the online application portal looks like. From here you can create, update, and save your application until you are ready for submission. 

I will no longer provide screenshots of the application form itself because the questions are very easy and straightforward. Since this is an online application, your documents need to be scanned and converted into a PDF. Before submission, the website will also give you an option to print out your application for review purposes.

Once you've submitted your application form, you need to print out the page with your application number and send your passport to the New Zealand Visa Application Center in Ecoplaza Building, Makati.

Documents I've Submitted

• A visa photograph

• Bank certificate - uploaded under Evidence of Funds

• Bank statement - uploaded under Funds for Travel

• Certificate of Employment

• Passport bio-data page

• Additional documents: Records of previous travel (a comprehensive list of all my travels and visa stamps)

Application Fees

If you plan to explore New Zealand for 59 days or less, then visa fee is free. However, since you are submitting your passport through VFS; you still need to pay a handling fee.

For online applications, the passport handling is PHP 570 / per application.

PHP 570 (passport handling) + PHP 380 (courier return) + PHP 110 (SMS update) = PHP 1,060.00

Processing Time

The processing time for online applications is 20 working days, but if you have existing visas from first-world countries or an Elite Mabuhay Miles member, you might receive your passport within 3-5 working days.

This is the timeline of my own application:

• March 9 (Thursday) - I submitted my online application form at around 10 PM.

• March 10 (Friday) - JP, my boyfriend, went to the VFS in Makati to submit my passport at around 2 PM. Later that evening, I received a notification that they've already submitted my passport to the New Zealand Embassy.

• March 13 (Monday) - Received a notification that the Embassy is processing my application.

• March 14 (Tuesday) - Got notified that my processed application is in transit back to the VFS office.

• March 15 (Wednesday) - Delivery of my passport with an approved visa.

Additional Resources

VFS Global for New Zealand
Mezzanine Floor Unit M01, Ecoplaza Building, 2305 Chino Roces Avenue Extension Makati City, Metro Manila 1231
Contact Details: +632 790 4905
E-mail: info.nzph@vfshelpline.com (They reply pretty quick!)
http://www.vfsglobal.com/NewZealand/Philippines/