New Zealand arrivals near pre-pandemic level as more visas go online

Stats NZ released figures on 14 October showing that 248,700 travellers from overseas entered New Zealand in August 2026. This was up 8% from the 230,300 who arrived during the same month in 2025, and it matched 99% of the 251,100 people recorded in the pre-pandemic month of August 2019.

Across the twelve months ending August 2026, the country received 3.71 million international visitors, around 307,000 more than the year before. Australia remained the leading source, sending about 51% of August's arrivals, while Chinese visitor numbers grew the most in absolute terms, up roughly 32% year-on-year.

At the same time, Immigration New Zealand has moved certain visitor and transit visa types onto a fully digital system starting 1 October 2026. Paper forms are no longer accepted for several categories, including the general visitor permit, the business visitor permit, the group visitor permit and transit permits. These now go through the upgraded Immigration Online platform. The shift does not lift eligibility rules or speed up decisions for every applicant, and paper submissions sent before the change keep moving under the earlier process.

What it means for travellers from India

• Apply electronically and track the case online, though how long a decision takes still depends on the visa type, the supporting papers and each person's situation.