Citizens from Pacific Islands Forum countries can enjoy a whole new level of freedom when visiting New Zealand. With the updated Visitor Visa, you can enter the country multiple times within 24 months, stay up to 6 months in any 12-month period, and even spend up to 9 months in 18 months perfect for family visits, business trips, or staying connected to your cultural roots.
This change makes traveling easier, more flexible, and full of opportunities to create memories that last a lifetime.
New Visitor Visa Settings:
Starting 6 July 2025, travellers from Pacific Islands Forum countries who are granted a Visitor Visa can now:
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- Enter New Zealand multiple times within a 24-month period
- Stay for up to 6 months in any 12-month period (and no more than 9 months in an 18-month period)
For Pacific families, businesses, and cultural links, this is a huge victory. Visa criteria, such as regular checks and passport validity, will still remain in place, but this change offers unprecedented flexibility and freedom.
Visa-Free Travel From Australia:
Wait, there’s more! In November 2025, a 12-month trial period for travel without a visa will begin. If you currently have a valid visiting, work, student, or family visa to Australia and are from one of the Pacific Islands Forum countries, you will be eligible to:
- Skip the Traditional Visa Process: No need for a New Zealand visitor visa.
- Apply for an NZeTA: Simply apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to visit for up to 3 months.
Pacific Islands Forum Country List:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Read Also: Receptionist Jobs in New Zealand with Visa Sponsorship
What’s Next?
- These adjustments mark a daring move to deepen New Zealand’s ties with its neighbors in the Pacific.
- As the implementation date approaches, stay tuned for more information and updates.
- In the upcoming months, further details will be made public.
Conclusion:
Pacific Islands Forum citizens can enjoy flexible Visitor Visas to New Zealand with extended stays and multiple entries. From November, a 12-month visa-free trial allows those with valid Australian visas to visit using an NZeTA for up to three months. These changes strengthen Pacific ties, simplify travel, and offer more opportunities for family, business, and cultural connections.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is eligible for these changes?
These reforms apply to citizens of Pacific Islands Forum countries, including nations like Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
What is the visa-free trial from Australia?
Pacific Islanders with valid Australian visas (visitor, work, student, or family) will be able to enter New Zealand without a visitor visa starting in November as part of a 12-month trial. For journeys lasting no more than three months, they will just need to apply for a NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).
