DPM Prasad welcomes the easing of NZ visa restrictions

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad has warmly welcomed the recent announcement by the Government of New Zealand to ease visa restrictions for Pacific Islanders.

Prof. Prasad says the new provisions — allowing multiple entries and longer-term stays over a two-year period — represent a hugely positive step forward.

The Deputy Prime says this decision acknowledges the reality that most Pacific Islander travel to New Zealand is centred around family connections.

He says parents visiting their children, grandparents visiting extended families — these visits are at the heart of our Pacific values.

Prof. Prasad says this policy better reflects what Pacific Islanders value most: strong kinship ties and the ability to take part in ceremonial and cultural events within the vibrant island communities now settled across New Zealand.

He says it is also a meaningful step toward deeper integration between New Zealand, Australia, and the wider Pacific region.

The Deputy Prime Minister says he will continue to encourage the governments and citizens of New Zealand and Australia to consider the long-term benefits of a fully integrated Pacific, and visa-free travel would be a cornerstone of such integration.

He says a Pacific-wide visa-free region would strengthen our cultural solidarity, support our businesses, empower our young people, and enhance regional security.

Prof. Prasad says the recent global turmoil has only served to highlight the importance of regional unity.

He says the case for a larger, fully integrated Pacific region and a stronger Pacific bloc — has never been more compelling.

He says while visa decisions remain sovereign matters, we can continue to urge and respectfully request.

Prof. Prasad says they remain hopeful that our closest neighbours will see the immense value a visa-free Pacific region can bring to our collective prosperity and security.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand government announced that from 6th July this year, people from Pacific Islands Forum countries can be granted a Visitor Visa to be able to visit New Zealand multiple times within a 24-month period.

Immigration New Zealand says Fijians and other Pacific islanders will be able to stay in New Zealand for a total of up to 6 months in any 12-month period within that time (but no more than 9 months in an 18-month period).

We will still need to meet the requirements to be granted a Visitor Visa, and may be granted a shorter visa length if our passport is expiring soon or there are other concerns.

With this visa, you can holiday in New Zealand, visit family and friends in New Zealand, study for up to 3 months, and include your partner and dependent children in your visa application.

Pacific Islands Forum country passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia (unless they are travelling on a transit visa) will also be able to travel visa-free as a trial for 12 months, beginning in November 2025.

From this time, anyone holding a passport from a Pacific Islands Forum country with a valid Australian visitor, work, student, or family visa, will be able to go to New Zealand from Australia with a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) for up to 3 months, rather than applying for a visa.

This does not include people transiting through Australia.

Until then, people from a Pacific Islands Forum country will still need the appropriate visa to go to New Zealand.

More information will be available in the coming months.

The Pacific Islands Forum countries are Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.