New Zealand
Last update 13 September 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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New Zealand
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have an embassy in New Zealand. The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Canberra, Australia is accredited for New Zealand.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Australia
Address: 29 Pindari Crescent, O’Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606
Mailing address: P.O. Box 6096 Mawson, ACT 2607, Canberra, Australia
Tel.: +6102 62869711; +6102 62869700
Fax: +6102 62869600
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:30
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/australia
Embassy of New Zealand in Belgium (accredited for Bulgaria)
Address: Square De Meeûs 1, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 512 1040
Fax: +32 2 513 4856
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nzembassy.com/belgium
General information
Security level:
The level of crime in New Zealand is relatively low. The main threats come from natural disasters such as earthquakes, etc.
Healthcare:
The healthcare system is highly-developed. Since the beginning of 2019, there has been some increase in measles (smallpox) cases in Australia and New Zealand. While the risk is relatively low in these two countries, the situation is considerably more serious in other countries in the region, especially in Samoa, where a state of emergency has been declared. A sudden increase in measles cases has also been recorded in Tonga and Fiji. The Solomon Islands authorities have introduced a number of requirements for travellers to the country in order to prevent the spread of the disease within its territory. More information on this topic can be found at the following link: https://www.mfa.bg/bg/situationcenter/23742
Specifics of the legislation:
New Zealand legislation is built upon the so-called Common Law system, developed in the UK. The main difference between the above system and the civil law, applied in Europe, is that judges decide on cases based on previous similar cases (precedence).
Customs requirements:
New Zealand customs requirements can be found HERE., and in the New Zealand Customs website at http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/prohibited/Pages/default.aspx.
Road traffic:
In New Zealand, vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road. Some of the traffic rules are different and you should familiarise yourself with them before arriving in the country. In New Zealand, heavy fines are imposed for breaking traffic rules, irrespective of whether you are a local or a foreign citizen.
Climatic characteristics:
New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. The far North has subtropical weather during summer. The inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10 °C in winter, but the temperatures in the other parts of the country are milder. Typical for the country is the sudden change of weather.
Local currency:
New Zealand Dollar (NZD).
1 UER =1 NZD.
Travel papers and visas
An international passport valid for at least 3 months past the date of departure from New Zealand is required for travelling to New Zealand. Bulgarian citizens travelling to New Zealand for short-term stays of up to 90 days do not need visas, but as of 1 October 2019 all citizens from countries exempt from the requirement for a visa for short stays (including Bulgaria) must hold in advance a travel authorisation from the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) was introduced on the same date. The measure affects all travellers whose entry to New Zealand shall be on or after 1 October 2019.
Applications for NZeTA are submitted online or via a mobile app. IVL is paid concurrently with the NZeTA application. The total fee is NZD 44 if the application is submitted via a mobile application and NZD 47 if submitted online. More information can be found HERE and as well as at: www.immigration.govt.nz/nzeta.
Bulgarian citizens travelling to New Zealand via Australia should note that an Australian airport transit visa is required for stays of 8 to 72 hours. For stays of up to 8 hours without leaving the transit lounge, Bulgarian citizens are exempt from the requirement of a transit visa. For transit stays of up to 8 hours in Australia, we recommend that you ensure that your luggage will be transferred to the plane to New Zealand in Australia without having to leave the transit lounge. Your luggage may not be automatically transferred if, for example, you have purchased a separate airline ticket for the Australia-New Zealand section.
A visa is required for stays of more than 90 days in New Zealand and Bulgarian citizens should apply to the New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC) in London.
New Zealand Visa Application Centre
TT Visa Services Ltd
Address: 2nd Floor, Mimet House, 5A Pread Street, London, W2 1NJ, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207262 0489
Fax: +44 20 7262 2316
Opening hours: Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 16:00
Hotline: Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 16:00
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ttsnzvisa.com
General information about visas for New Zealand can be found at the following internet address: www.immigration.govt.nz
Competitive service
Issuing of ID documents:
Since 01 June 2012 the Embassy in Canberra has been equipped with a biometric station. The Embassy accepts applications for issuance of passports, identity cards, driving licences and Emergency Travel Documents. Upon acceptance of documents for the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document or identity card to minors and under-aged children, both parents are required to sign the application in person. If one of the parents is absent, the attending parent must present a power of attorney from the absent one consenting to the issue of the child's identity document. If either parent is deprived of parental rights, a court order shall be presented.
Civil status:
A document issued by New Zealand must be legalized with an ‘Apostille’ as per the 1961 Hague Convention for Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents in order to be recognized in Bulgaria.
Certifications and legalizations:
The Bulgarian Embassy in Canberra carries out standard legalization of copies of documents and of signatures as well as contents of documents in Bulgarian language to serve before the relevant authorities in Bulgaria. Legacy documents shall also be drawn up prepared at a preliminary scheduled appointment. The Embassy shall also certify the signatures of the sworn translators registered with the Embassy.