The Royal Thai Embassy on Molesworth Street in Thorndon is the only Thai mission that takes visa applications from New Zealand. Its e-Visa area is New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Niue, so an applicant in Auckland, Christchurch or Rarotonga files with Wellington like everyone else.
Two things catch New Zealand applicants out. The first is the fee: Thai visa fees charged in Wellington are several times what Thai missions in Australia or Canada charge, and a temporary cut runs only until 31 December 2026. The second is the exemption. The Embassy's older "New Zealand Passport Holders" page still says 60 days, but New Zealand moved to the 30-day list on 15 September 2026, and the Embassy's own summary of the new rules says so.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington |
| Address | 110 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011 |
| Postal address | PO Box 12-247, Thorndon, Wellington 6144 |
| Phone | (04) 496 2900, from abroad +64 4 496 2900 |
| Visa email | [email protected] (visa enquiries are email only) |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 09:00–12:30 and 14:00–17:00 |
| Visa section | Monday to Friday, 09:30–12:00 |
| Other consular matters | Monday to Friday, 09:30–12:00 and 14:00–16:00 |
| Closed | Weekends and the Embassy's official holidays |
| Area covered | New Zealand, Cook Islands, Samoa, Niue |
| Visa applications | Online only, at thaievisa.go.th |
| Stated processing time | Around 5–10 working days from receipt of all required documents |
| Visa fees (NZD) | Tourist single entry $200 · Tourist multiple entry $500 · Non-Immigrant single entry $700 · DTV $1,500 (reduced rates, 5 July to 31 December 2026; read 16 Sep 2026) |
Which Areas This Mission Covers
The Embassy's visa page states that it "will only accept applications from residents of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Niue" through thaievisa.go.th.
| Covered by Wellington | Not covered by Wellington |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (all regions, including Auckland) | Australia: NSW files with the Sydney Consulate-General; all other states and the ACT with the Embassy in Canberra |
| Cook Islands | Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru: the Embassy in Canberra lists these as its own |
| Samoa | |
| Niue |
Residence is what counts, not nationality. A British or US citizen living in New Zealand files with Wellington; a New Zealander living in Sydney files with Sydney.
Do You Need a Visa?
Not for a holiday. Since 15 September 2026, New Zealand passport holders get a 30-day visa exemption. The summary of the new scheme that the Embassy posted on 2 September 2026 lists New Zealand in the 30-day group of 60 countries and territories, effective 15 September 2026. It is for tourism only; business or work is not permitted.
- One extension of up to 30 days is available at any Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB (form TM.7), so about 60 days in total. See the visa exemption extension guide.
- Land-border entries on the exemption are capped at twice per calendar year.
- Anyone who entered before 15 September 2026 keeps the stay they were granted.
- File the Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th before arrival.
The Embassy's "New Zealand Passport Holders" page (last updated July 2024) still gives the old 60-day figure. Ignore that number. The same page lists a confirmed air ticket out of Thailand and funds of at least NZ$2,000 as conditions of the exemption. Thai mission pages updated for the new rules ask for an onward ticket within the 30-day stay and funds of 20,000 THB per person (40,000 THB per family), checked at the immigration officer's discretion (Royal Thai Embassy, London; Royal Thai Embassy, Washington). Carry proof of both. More: visa exemption and the 30-day rule change.
You need the Embassy, through the e-Visa portal, for:
- A tourist visa, if a single trip will run past about 60 days, or a six-month multiple-entry tourist visa
- A Non-Immigrant visa for work, business, study, marriage or retirement (Non-Immigrant O)
- The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- A SMART or Long-Term Resident visa
- Legalisation of documents for use in Thailand (a counter service, not an e-Visa)
The visa finder points you to the right category.
How to Apply
The Embassy moved to the online system on 19 March 2024 and returned paper applications received after 15 March 2024. Everything goes through thaievisa.go.th, and you do not send your passport or visit unless the Embassy asks you to.
- Create an account on thaievisa.go.th. The Embassy strongly advises reading the portal's user manual first.
- Choose the Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington as your mission.
- Fill in the form and upload your supporting documents. The Embassy cannot edit or correct your personal details for you.
- Pay the visa fee on the website. It is non-refundable under any circumstances, approved or rejected.
- The result comes by email. Print the approved e-Visa for the airline and immigration; no sticker goes in your passport.
Respond to document requests. If you don't upload required or requested documents within 90 days of submitting, the Embassy cancels the application without notice.
DTV applicants: new documents since 31 August 2026. The Embassy posted a notice on 1 September 2026: the "document indicating current location" is replaced by proof of permanent residence, and a certificate of criminal record clearance is now required. Applications submitted before 31 August 2026 are processed under the previous requirements.
Visa fees at the Wellington Embassy (NZD)
Two schedules are in play. To mark 70 years of Thailand–New Zealand diplomatic relations, the Embassy cut its visa fees from 5 July 2026 (05:00 NZ time) until 31 December 2026. The standard schedule has applied since 19 March 2024.
| Visa | Reduced fee, 5 Jul – 31 Dec 2026 | Standard fee (since 19 Mar 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Transit (per entry) | 150 | 200 |
| Tourist, single entry | 200 | 300 |
| Tourist, multiple entry (6 months) | 500 | 1,000 |
| Non-Immigrant, single entry | 700 | 800 |
| Non-Immigrant, multiple entry (1 year) | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Non-Immigrant, multiple entry (3 years) | not listed | 3,000 |
| SMART Visa, 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 years | 1,500 / 2,000 / 2,500 / 2,800 | 2,000 / 2,500 / 3,000 / 4,000 |
| Long-Term Resident | 5,000 | 6,000 |
| Destination Thailand Visa (5 years) | 1,500 | not listed |
Why so high: the Thai-language version of the March 2024 announcement says the fees follow Thai law and regulations, inflation, the NZD–baht exchange rate and reciprocal practice with New Zealand. For comparison, a single-entry tourist visa costs AUD 60 through the Thai Consulate-General in Sydney. You still have to apply through the mission covering where you live, so this matters most for timing: if you need a long-stay visa from New Zealand, applying before 31 December 2026 saves real money.
Practical Notes
Legalisation. Signature authentication, certified translations and certified true copies each cost NZD 30 under the 2024 schedule. Legalisation queries go to [email protected]. For non-visa consular fees the Embassy takes EFTPOS or bank transfer to its ANZ account (details on its fees page); attach the payment confirmation to your paperwork.
Visa enquiries by email only. The Embassy's Types of Visas page directs visa enquiries to [email protected], marked "EMAIL ONLY". Other addresses: consular@ (consular matters), passport@ (Thai passports) and thailand@ (trade), all at thaiembassynz.org.nz.
Short visa-section window. Visa-section hours are 09:30–12:00 on weekdays only. With applications online this matters mainly if the Embassy asks you to come in.
Holidays. The Embassy posts its working hours and official holidays on its site, and occasionally announces one-off closures of the consular section on its notice board. Check before any visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Thai embassy in Auckland?
No. The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington is the Thai mission for all of New Zealand, and Auckland residents apply for Thai visas online through thaievisa.go.th under the Wellington Embassy.
Which Thai embassy covers Samoa and the Cook Islands?
The Royal Thai Embassy in Wellington. Its visa page says it accepts e-Visa applications from residents of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Niue. Fiji and Tonga are listed by the Thai Embassy in Canberra.
How long does a Thai visa take from Wellington?
The Embassy states around 5–10 working days from the date it receives all required documents. Document requests add time, and unanswered requests cancel the application after 90 days.
How much is a Thai tourist visa in New Zealand?
NZD 200 for a single-entry tourist visa from 5 July to 31 December 2026, down from the standard NZD 300. A six-month multiple-entry tourist visa is NZD 500 during the same period (standard NZD 1,000). The DTV is NZD 1,500.
Do New Zealanders need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a holiday of up to 30 days. Since 15 September 2026, New Zealand passport holders get a 30-day visa exemption, extendable once by up to 30 days at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB.
Can I visit the Thai Embassy in Wellington to apply for a visa?
No. Since 19 March 2024 all visa applications are made online at thaievisa.go.th. You only need to send your passport or visit if the Embassy specifically asks.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Official site (address, hours, contacts)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Location, phone and email
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Applying for a Visa
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Types of Visas (visa enquiries by email only)
- Royal Thai Embassy, London: Visa exemption conditions (funds, onward ticket)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Washington: Visa exemption (20,000 THB per person / 40,000 THB per family)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: New Zealand Passport Holders
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Summary of the revised visa exemption and VoA schemes, effective 15 September 2026
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Announcement 1/2569, Reduction of Visa Service Fees
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Consular Service Fees, effective 19 March 2024 (PDF)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: Fees page (payment methods)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: DTV supporting documents notice, 1 September 2026
- Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra: Visa (jurisdiction incl. Fiji, Tonga, PNG)
- TAT Newsroom: New 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September
