Acceptable Travel Document

At a glance

To apply for a New Zealand visa, applicants must hold an acceptable travel document – either a standard passport or a certificate of identity that meets the definitions and criteria set out in immigration instructions. [A2.1] An acceptable travel document must also satisfy the specific criteria in A2.5 regarding authenticity, condition, validity, and travel sufficiency. [A2.5]

Definition

Passport

A passport is a document that:

• is issued by or on behalf of the government of any country;
• is recognised by the New Zealand government as a passport;
• purports to establish the identity and nationality of the holder;
• confers on the holder the right to enter the issuing country; and
• has not expired. [A2.1]

Certificate of identity

A certificate of identity is a travel document other than a passport, issued by the government of any country to facilitate entry into or exit from any country. [A2.1]

A certificate of identity:

• purports to establish the identity but not the nationality of the holder; and
• confers on the holder the right to enter the issuing country. [A2.1]

Certificates of identity include:

• any emergency travel document or refugee travel document issued under the Passports Act 1992;
• any travel document issued by an international organisation specified by the Minister, such as:
  • United Nations laissez-passers;
  • Cartes de Service issued to officials of the South Pacific Commission;
  • Laissez-passers issued to officials of the Commission of European Communities. [A2.1]
• refugee travel documents issued by any government under the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (or its 1967 Protocol), provided the issuing government guarantees the right of re‑entry while the document remains valid. [A2.25]

Criteria for acceptable travel documents

An acceptable travel document must be:

1. authentic, not unofficially altered or tampered with; [A2.5]
2. not damaged in a way that compromises the document’s integrity; [A2.5]
3. valid in the country of issue; [A2.5]
4. issued by an official source recognised by the New Zealand Government; [A2.5]
5. valid for travel to and from New Zealand; [A2.5]
6. for applicants coming to New Zealand permanently, valid for enough time to allow them to travel to New Zealand; and [A2.5]
7. for applicants coming to New Zealand temporarily, valid for at least:
   • 3 months beyond the intended departure date, or
   • 1 month beyond the intended departure date if the issuing government has consular representation in New Zealand that can issue and renew travel documents. [A2.5]

Application in decisions

An immigration officer must be satisfied that the applicant holds a valid acceptable travel document at the time of assessment, and that the document will be available for travel to New Zealand. Failure to produce an acceptable travel document can result in the application being declined, unless a specific visa category allows for an alternative identity document. [A2.1]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Expired documents: A passport that has expired is not an acceptable travel document. Applicants must renew it before applying. [A2.1]
• Certificates of identity from non‑government entities: Some documents issued by international organisations (e.g., United Nations laissez-passer) are explicitly recognised as certificates of identity even though they are not issued by a national government. Only those specified by the Minister are acceptable; branches and posts are advised of any such acceptance. [A2.1]
• Distinction from passport: A certificate of identity does not establish nationality. This can affect applications where nationality is a criterion for a particular visa policy. [A2.1]
• Temporary visa applicants with documents that fall short of the 3‑month rule: If a travel document will expire less than three months after the intended departure date, it may still be acceptable if the issuing government maintains consular representation in New Zealand able to issue or renew travel documents, and the document is valid for at least one month beyond the intended departure date. [A2.5]
• New Zealand citizens at the border: To establish their right to enter New Zealand, New Zealand citizens must prove citizenship and identity by complying with border requirements. Acceptable evidence at a port of entry is a current New Zealand passport, a valid endorsement in a foreign passport or electronic record indicating New Zealand citizenship (see A20.5), or a returning resident’s visa (RRV) issued on the basis of New Zealand citizenship under the Immigration Act 1987 in a valid foreign passport until the passport expires. A New Zealand citizen’s foreign passport from a country with legislation appearing to forbid dual nationality is considered valid unless the issuing country specifically declares it invalid. In emergency or compassionate circumstances where there is insufficient time to issue a passport, an INZ branch or MFAT post may request that the immigration officer not demand a passport, provided citizenship is verified and passenger details with confirmation are supplied. Officers with Schedule 1-3 delegations determine the request and must notify the New Zealand Customs Service before arrival. [A2.35]

Country-specific acceptable travel documents

This is a non‑exhaustive list of travel documents that INZ accepts, along with any special conditions. [A2.10]

• United Kingdom: British passports are acceptable if they contain an endorsement of the right to re‑enter the UK, a visa to a third country, a certificate of right of abode, or a residence class visa for New Zealand. [A2.10] Numerous subtypes exist (British Citizen, British Dependent/Overseas Territories, British Overseas, British Protected Person, British Subject, British National (Overseas)), each with specific endorsement or certificate requirements. [A2.10] If a British passport lacks proof of re‑entry, the application must be referred to INZ National Office. [A2.10]
• Yugoslavia (FRY): Standard, diplomatic, official passports and Emergency Travel Documents from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are acceptable. [A2.10] Passports of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with a red cover remain valid only until the date stated or 31 December 1999 at the latest. [A2.10]
• Hong Kong: Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes are acceptable for temporary residents without a national passport, provided they confirm the right of re‑entry to Hong Kong for at least 12 months. [A2.10] Hong Kong SAR Passports are also acceptable. [A2.10]
• Indonesia: Indonesian Passports for Aliens (Stateless Person Passports) are acceptable if territorial validity includes New Zealand and the re‑entry permit is valid for at least 3 months beyond departure. [A2.10]
• Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau: Certificates of identity issued by these governments are acceptable, but holders are subject to visa requirements. [A2.10]
• Palestine: Passports issued by the Palestinian Authority are acceptable as certificates of identity. [A2.10]
• Macau: The Macau Certificate of Identity (Aliens Passport) is acceptable if the right to return is valid for three months beyond the planned departure. [A2.10] Macao SAR Passports and Travel Permits are acceptable; holders require visas. [A2.10]
• Taiwan: Standard green‑covered Taiwan passports are acceptable. A personal identity number on the biographical page indicates permanent residency and allows visa‑free visitor entry for up to three months. [A2.10]
• Kosovo: UN Kosovo Travel Documents (issued by UNMIK) are acceptable certificates of identity. Holders must obtain visas. [A2.10]
• Greece: Only Greek passports issued on or after 1 January 2006 by the Hellenic Police are acceptable. [A2.10]

Taiwan (special provisions)

Background: The New Zealand Government recognises the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and maintains no official contacts with the authorities in Taiwan. However, under an agreement with the People's Republic of China, New Zealand may allow the entry of bona fide private permanent residents of Taiwan travelling on standard Taiwan passports. [A2.30]

NZCIO Visa Unit: The Visa Unit of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei processes temporary applications from Taiwanese nationals. This operational arrangement does not imply official New Zealand recognition of the Taiwan authorities. [A2.30]

Visits by Taiwan government representatives and passport restrictions:

• Diplomatic (dark blue with D prefix) and Official (brown with F prefix) Taiwan passports are not acceptable for travel to New Zealand. Visas issued to holders of these passports may only be endorsed in standard green‑cover Taiwan passports. [A2.30]
• Taiwan passports with a G prefix to the number are not acceptable for visa endorsement. Applicants presenting such a passport should be advised to provide an alternative acceptable document. [A2.30]
• Applications from Taiwan government ministers or officials to visit New Zealand in their official capacities (including attendance at meetings or international conferences) must be referred to MFAT (North Asia Division), copied to NZCIO, and may be approved only if MFAT clears the visit. [A2.30]
• Private visits by Taiwan government ministers or officials that are likely to be portrayed as official must also be referred to MFAT, copied to NZCIO. [A2.30]
• Genuine private holiday visits by Taiwan government ministers and officials need not be referred, except for Cabinet‑level visitors. [A2.30]
• In case of doubt about any Taiwan passport, INZ offices should seek advice from the NZCIO Visa Unit in Taipei or the Intelligence, Risk and Integrity Division. [A2.30]

Unacceptable travel documents

An immigration officer may seek advice from the Intelligence, Risk and Integrity Division when a person who holds an unacceptable travel document applies for a visa. [A2.15]

Unless otherwise specified, travel documents issued by the countries or sources listed under A2.15 are not acceptable for visa applications. [A2.15]

Citations

• A2.1 — Types of acceptable travel document
• A2.5 — Criteria for acceptable travel documents
• A2.10 — Acceptable travel documents
• A2.15 — Unacceptable travel documents
• A2.25 — Refugee travel documents
• A2.30 — Taiwan passports
• A2.35 — New Zealand citizens