Travellers are warned to check their visa and passport requirements well before travel. Photo / Getty Images
Travellers are warned to check their visa and passport requirements well before travel. Photo / Getty Images
Inexperienced travellers aren’t the only Kiwis who ruin their holidays by making simple visa and passport mistakes.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has received many claims from Kiwis denied travel because of damaged or expired passports or forgotten visas. In the two years between July 2022 and June 2024, SCTI declined 75 claims related to visa and passport issues that customers could have avoided.
“The claims and declinatures are spread across all ages – they do not appear to be confined to inexperienced travellers,” SCTI told the Herald.
What issues are most common?
Most claims (40) were for travel disruptions caused by travellers without visas because they were unaware it was required or didn’t allow time to obtain one. This was particularly common for travellers visiting Vietnam, SCTI noted.
Twenty claims related to visa refusals because of incorrect information such as birth dates, passport numbers or flight details. Two were because people had fallen for scam websites pretending to sell ESTAs.
Thirteen claims were for travel disruptions caused by passport issues.
SCTI warn Kiwis ahead of new UK requirement
The frequency of visa-related claims has SCTI urging travellers to check visa requirements well before departure, especially ahead of the UK’s new requirement.
The online application system opened on November 27 and costs £10 ($21). Similar to America’s Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA), travellers are advised to apply 72 hours before departure.
On social media platform Reddit, travellers claim they have received approval for ESTAs and ETAs within minutes but SCTI’s chief customer officer Jess Strange said it’s not worth the gamble.
“If you’re scrambling to apply at the airport while you’re standing in the check-in line, you might be stuck waiting with your fingers crossed hoping for a miracle,” she told the Herald.
Kiwis reminded to check passports months before travel
Strange said travellers should also check the condition and expiration date of their passport months before travelling. Many destinations require travellers’ passports to be valid for six months after the date of travel while damage such as water stains, torn and worn pages can cause issues at border security upon arrival.
If a traveller is denied entry or travel because of these issues, it’s “highly likely any insurance claim will be declined,” Strange said.
This can be especially expensive as travellers can lose money spent on missed bookings and last-minute transport or accommodation.
“Check and double-check that all your travel documents are in good order to avoid dramas at the airport, extra costs and disappointment,” Strange concluded.
Common requirements for Kiwi travellers
The black passport is a good one to have as Kiwis have visa-free or visa-on-arrival agreements with more than 150 countries and territories for durations between 30 to 90 days, SCTI stated.
However, many of these countries require travellers to complete documentation ahead of departure or meet certain eligibility criteria.
In the US, Kiwis can visit without a visa but must have an ESTA before their flight to the US, even if they are only transiting through to another country.
Other countries, such as South Africa, require travellers to have empty pages in their passport for entry stamps. It is also common for countries to require travellers to have a minimum of six months left on their passport before expiration.
Travellers can use online platforms such as IATA Travel Centre to check passport and visa requirements for a country ahead of travel. Some airlines such as Air New Zealand also provide general information for travellers according to destination and travel agents typically provide comprehensive information to clients before travel.
People should check passports months ahead of travel to avoid issues. Photo / 123rf
Auckland man refused entry to Australia
An Auckland couple recently learned the importance of understanding visa rules and eligibility requirements first-hand. The pair arrived in Brisbane on November 21 to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary but were separated by Australian Border Force officers after the husband declared a criminal record. The 72-year-old served prison time 53 years ago after what he described as bar brawl-like fights as a teenager. Several hours later, he was denied entry and flown home, leaving his wife in Australia.
