Military Visa

At a glance

Members of a visiting force, including its civilian component, and crew members of military craft transporting them to New Zealand may be granted a multiple entry military visa for the duration of their official duties. [M2]

The visa is issued without an application fee and exempts holders from onward travel requirements and, in certain circumstances, from the requirement to produce a passport or certificate of identity. [M2.1]

A military visa also permits the holder to undertake any work and/or study, and any military visa granted prior to travel may have multiple entry travel conditions. [M2.10]

How to apply

Applications for a military visa are made through channels coordinated with the New Zealand Ministry of Defence or the visiting force's sponsoring authority. Immigration officers assess eligibility against the criteria in M2 and the overarching objective of military visa instructions (see Military Visa Instructions Objective). [M2]

In addition, applicants must satisfy lodgement requirements (as set out in immigration instructions), be bona fide applicants intending a temporary stay, and provide evidence that they will be in New Zealand at the request or with the consent of the Government of New Zealand in the ordinary course of their duty or employment. [M2.1]

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a military visa, an applicant must:

• be a member of a visiting force (as defined in the Visiting Forces Act 2004) or a member of the civilian component of a visiting force, OR be a crew member of any military craft that transports members of a visiting force to New Zealand;
• be in New Zealand at the request or with the consent of the Government of New Zealand; and
• be in New Zealand in the ordinary course of the member's duty or employment. [M2]

The visa may be granted with multiple entry travel conditions and will be valid for the duration of the applicant's duties or employment in New Zealand. [M2]

Additionally, a military visa allows the holder to undertake any work and/or study, and any military visa granted prior to travel may have multiple entry travel conditions. [M2.10]

A member of a visiting force can be an individual travelling alone. [M2]

Application requirements

Applicants must additionally meet the following requirements at lodgement [M2.1]:

• Lodgement requirements: the application must be made in accordance with applicable immigration instructions.
• Bona fide requirement: applicants must be genuine temporary entrants who intend a temporary stay and will comply with visa conditions.
• Health and character requirements: applicants must satisfy health and character checks as specified for military visa applicants.
• Evidence of government consent: applicants must provide evidence that their presence in New Zealand is at the request or with the consent of the Government of New Zealand and occurs in the ordinary course of duty or employment.

Health and character evidence

Under M2.5, New Zealand Defence Force support of the application is considered sufficient evidence that the applicant meets temporary entry class health and character requirements. No separate medical or character certificates are ordinarily required. [M2.5]

Exemptions

Military visa applicants are exempt from [M2.1]:

• paying an application fee; and
• satisfying onward travel requirements.

Additionally, under the associated passport exemptions, members of a visiting force and crew may be exempt from having to produce a passport or certificate of identity (see the passport exemption provisions at Y2.10). [M2.1]

Accompanying family members

Accompanying partners (as defined in E4.1.20) and dependent children (as defined in E4.1.10) of military visa holders may be granted visitor visas under V3.125 for the same period as the military visa. [M2.15][V3.125] They must meet temporary entry class lodging, bona fide, health, and character requirements, but are exempt from providing evidence of enrolment, guarantees of accommodation and maintenance, and onward travel requirements. [V3.125] Partners must also prove they are living together in a genuine and stable partnership, meet minimum partnership requirements, and have the military visa holder's support; evidence as per E4.5.35 is required. [V3.125] Dependent children may also be eligible for student visas under U8.15. [U8.15]

Partners may also apply for a work visa under WF5 (see Work Visa for Partners of Military Visa Holders).

Student visa entitlements for dependent children

Dependent children of military visa holders may be granted student visas for the same period as the military visa held, or deemed to be held, by the applicant's parent. [U8.15]

Such applicants must meet temporary entry class requirements for lodging an application, be bona fide applicants, and satisfy health and character requirements, but they are exempt from: providing evidence of enrolment; providing guarantees of accommodation and maintenance; and meeting onward travel requirements. [U8.15]

Dependent children are regarded as domestic students for the purpose of all tuition fees for the period of secondment, and until the end of the calendar year in which their parent completes their posting in New Zealand. [U8.15]

The student visa granted must be current for the period of enrolment or until the parent holding a military visa departs, whichever occurs first. [U8.15]

If the student wishes to continue studying in New Zealand after their parent departs, they must meet the requirements under immigration instructions for a temporary visa and obtain one accordingly. [U8.15]

Before granting a student visa, an immigration officer must be satisfied that the applicant's parent holds a military visa, is eligible to be granted a military visa, or is deemed to be granted a military visa. [U8.15]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Civilian component: Includes employees of the visiting force who are not uniformed personnel. This broadens eligibility beyond military members. [M2]
• Crew of military craft: Covers aircrew, ship's company, and other transport personnel whose role is to convey visiting force members. They do not need a separate visa under general visitor categories. [M2]
• Individual travelling alone: A visiting force member need not be part of a group; a single service member is covered. [M2]
• Relationship with visa waiver and deemed visas: Despite the existence of the visa waiver (E2.1(d)) and deemed visa provisions (E2.95.5(c)(ix)) for certain foreign military-related travel, the military visa provides a deliberate alternative, ensuring a documented status with multiple entry rights. This avoids reliance on automatic entry provisions that may not cover the full mission length or multiple entries. [M2]
• Work and study rights: The military visa explicitly allows the holder to undertake any work and/or study, meaning they may engage in employment or educational activities beyond their official duties, provided they remain within the conditions of the visa. [M2.10]
• Multiple entry travel conditions: The instruction that any military visa granted prior to travel may have multiple entry travel conditions reinforces that those who receive the visa before arrival can re-enter New Zealand multiple times, supplementing the earlier M2 provision and reducing reliance on other entry pathways. [M2.10]
• Government consent: The requirement of New Zealand Government request or consent aligns with the Visiting Forces Act 2004 and ensures that only officially sanctioned deployments trigger this visa type. Activities outside the ordinary course of duty (e.g., private travel, commercial work) would not qualify. [M2]
• Evidence of government consent: The types of evidence that may establish the required consent include a military movement order, a joining instruction for a New Zealand Defence Force course, or other evidence provided by the New Zealand Defence Force. These examples are illustrative, not exhaustive. [M2.1]
• Passport exemption: Members of a visiting force and crew members of military craft may be exempt from having to produce a passport or certificate of identity. This exemption operates alongside the military visa and aligns with the visiting force's special status. [M2.1]

Citations

• M2 — Members of a visiting force and crew of military craft
• M2.1 — Military visa applications
• M2.5 — Health and character requirements for members of a visiting force...
• M2.10 — Conditions of visa
• M2.15 — Accompanying partners and dependent children
• U8.15 — Dependent children of military visa holders
• V3.125 — Partners and dependent children of military visa holders