Hopes For The New Pasifika 2-Year Visa

“This change doesn’t alter who qualifies for a visa, but it does make the process much easier for those who do qualify. It supports those who already meet the criteria by giving them more time, flexibility, and fewer bureaucratic hurdles.” - Immigration Minister Erica Stanford

After decades of Visa restrictions deemed unfair for Pasifika wanting to come to Aotearoa - could we finally be seeing a light in the tunnel? 

In a move seen as an important step to ease travel for Pacific communities, Immigration New Zealand has launched a new two-year multiple-entry visitor visa for citizens of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries. Having started from 6 July 2025, this new visa replaces the previous 12-month visitor visa, allowing for more flexible and cost-effective travel for those with strong family, cultural, and community ties to Aotearoa.

The new visa terms let PIF citizens enter and exit New Zealand freely for up to 24 months, while still following the current visitor stay limits: no more than six months in any 12-month period and no more than nine months in any 18-month period. This change only applies to new visas issued from 6 July onwards; visas issued before this date will still be valid for only 12 months.

This extension applies to citizens from the following Pacific countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Tokelau, as a New Zealand territory, is also included in this arrangement.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford stated that this policy is part of a broader strategy to strengthen New Zealand’s relationships with its Pacific neighbors by removing unnecessary travel barriers. 

Pacific community leaders and academics have praised the move, viewing it as a long-overdue shift toward a more people-centered immigration policy. Many families live on both sides of the Pacific. The longer visa term will ease the financial and logistical strain linked to multiple reapplications. This change is especially helpful for those needing to travel for funerals, weddings, church obligations, or caregiving responsibilities, where short-notice and repeat travel is often key.

New Trial for Pacific Citizens in Australia  

Alongside the new visa settings, the New Zealand Government will launch a 12-month trial starting in November 2025. This trial will allow citizens of PIF countries already in Australia to travel to New Zealand without needing to apply for a complete visitor visa. Instead, they will only need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).

During this trial, travel to New Zealand will be permitted for up to three months per visit, as long as the traveler holds a valid Australian visa—including visitor, work, student, or family visas. However, this exemption does not apply to those simply passing through Australia; applicants must be legally living in Australia under one of the eligible visa types.

The government says the aim is to acknowledge the growing transnational realities of Pacific peoples who move between Australia and New Zealand for family, community, or seasonal work reasons. Immigration officials say the trial will test whether this simplified approach can work safely while maintaining border security and biosecurity standards.

The visa changes and NZeTA trial are part of New Zealand’s renewed effort to improve regional mobility and make immigration processes easier for Pacific peoples. These changes also coincide with similar trials for Chinese citizens in Australia—indicating a broader push for smarter and more flexible border policies.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters stressed the relevance of the reforms, stating they reflect “New Zealand’s intention to deepen ties with the Pacific in real, practical ways that recognize our shared history, people, and futures.”

Critics of past visa systems have long claimed that they were too strict, too costly, and not well-suited to the realities of Pacific families. These reforms suggest that policymakers are paying attention and taking real steps towards change.

As these policies are implemented, officials have clarified that all standard eligibility requirements still apply, including proof of return tickets, health checks, and financial means to support a stay. The longer visa term does not grant the right to work and does not extend the stay duration beyond the established limits within 12 or 18 months. 

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More information, including application procedures and FAQs, can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website.