Visa and Passport changes

From the 20th February the British High Commission in Wellington will no longer handle new Visa applications for entry to Britain. Visa applications on this side of the Tasman will then be dealt with in Canberra.

The British High Commission in Wellington will, however, from July become the sole post for issuing British Passports in Australia and NZ.

During the transition to a Canberra based visa operation some applicants may experience a small delay in appointments for their bio­metric photographs and fingerprints appointments in NZ.

The High Commissioner, Mr George Fergusson says, however “I am confident that most people applying for British Visas and Passports in the coming year will not notice any change in the process whatsoever.

“This move will increase the efficiency of two of Britain’s key posts in the South Pacific. The Canberra and Wellington offices have some of the heaviest workloads globally for British Passports and Visas outside the United Kingdom.”

It is expected that all Visa applications will be dealt with in Canberra by the end of February.
For Further Information: http://ukinnewzealand.fco.gov.uk/en/visas/