International Delegates

Before 20 July 2025

(~1 month before the conference)

All visitors to New Zealand

Check whether you require an International Driving Permit or whether your driver's licence needs to be translated into English. New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs can provide certified translations. If you require a visa and have received your invitation letter

Apply for your visa

Confirm that the name in your visa matches the name in your passport. If it does not, then contact Immigration New Zealand as soon as possible.

Before 20 August 2025

(~1 month before the conference)

• Ensure that you have travel insurance
• Ensure that you have booked your accommodation
• Offset carbon emissions for your trip. The ekos: investing in nature program provides an option to directly support biodiversity projects in New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu (There is no relationship between the conference and ekos; we do not receive any sort of referral bonus or kickback for recommending them.)
• Create electronic and paper copies of relevant documents
• your travel insurance coverage letter
• the name and address of where you are staying when you are in New Zealand
• the website and phone number of your country's diplomatic mission.
• the photo page of your passport
• If you require a visa ~ It is too late for you to apply. Contact us via visa-support@rustforgeconf.com and we can discuss crediting your registration fee towards attending in another year.

Before Your Flight Departs

• Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). This a short form that many countries call the passenger arrival card.
• If you have an NZeTA — Print out the NZeTA confirmation email

When Your Flight Arrives

Entry into New Zealand is different than most countries. As well as customs, you will need to pass through an extra biosecurity check.

About the NZeTA

The NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before they travel. It should take about 5 minutes to complete, but can take multiple days to process.

When applying for your NZeTA, you will also be asked to pay the visitor levy.

Allowed work duration

If you're planning to work for an international company while travelling through the country, you're entitled to do for up to 90 days. New Zealand relaxed its rules on 27 Jan 2025 to allow this.

You're not allowed to work for a New Zealand employer unless you have a valid work visa.

Driving

List of approved driver's license translators, including the Translation Service of the Department of Internal Affairs