According to Lynette Machiri, Customer Experience Leader at Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa, the travel group is expecting to see a significant Christmas backlog for New Zealand visa applications after the New Zealand Immigration Department has advised travellers to submit their tourist visa applications at least two months before their planned trip, especially during the peak summer season.
As a result, the proposed visa application deadline for Christmas travel is 15 October and 15 November for New Year and Chinese Lunar New Year for those travelling to the region.
Sadly, applications submitted later than these dates might not be processed in time. Additionally, travellers must be aware of increased visa fees from 1 October, increasing fromNZD211 (R2 315) to NZD341 (R3 740), she added.
Machiri noted that this predicted backlog has many South African travellers booking their end-of-year escapes well in advance, knowing that New Zealand isnt the only destination where theyre likely to run into visa hurdles.
With peak travel season for South Africans and travellers about to kick off around the world, Flight Centre offers visa-related advice for some of South Africans top December holiday destinations.
