Traveling to New Zealand with expired Travel Document but US Green card, please help!?
Question by Spintle: Traveling to New Zealand with expired Travel Document but US Green card, please help!?
I am traveling to New Zealand, from United States with expired (Indian) passport. However, I have Travel document that will be expired one month LATER I travel. Meaning, for example if I am going on trip in June, my travel document will expire in July, I will be back in June.
Q1: So is it possible to travel New Zealand with expired Indian Passport, Travel Document, and Valid US green Card.
Q2: If my Travel Document is expired, can I still travel to New Zealand with: Expired Indian passport but valid US green card?
Please reply, if you are sure or just try your best.
Thank you!
Best answer:
Answer by Princesspea
You need a valid passport to travel to New Zealand. If it has expired it is NOT valid. I would strongly suggest you view the website below and check whether you need to apply for a visa in advance, or specific requirements about how long your passport must be valid for.
Your greencard won’t make a difference travelling to New Zealand. The one thing you may want to check though is whether it is enough for US Customs officials when you return or even if you have to get another one issued.
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Ok I had a check on the immigration website, as an Indian citizen you need to obtain a visa in advance of your travel.
link: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/visitors/quickcheck.htm
So, in addition to a valid passport, you need to apply for your visa.
Regarding your greencard, you need to make sure that either you can transfer it to a new passport or if you also have to travel with your old passport (in addition to the valid one).
Without this you may have a problem boarding your flight back to the US when you are in New Zealand. They won’t want to take the chance that you can’t travel to the US so you need to have that visa to show NZ airport officials.
What do you think? Answer below!
Check with the Indian embassy closest to you and see if they can issue you a new passport? You will need it and enjoy your trip to New Zealand it is one of the best places i have visited.
Any passport and/or travel document used to enter New Zealand must expire three months or more after your intended date of LEAVING New Zealand. (Although, I understand this can be reduced to one month if there is consular representation in New Zealand where your documents can be renewed). The ‘Green Card’ is not a valid travel document; it is simply evidence of your right to return to the USA.
It appears, therefore, that you will need to renew your expired documents before coming to New Zealand.
Additionally, I would advise that you check with the nearest New Zealand embassy regarding visa requirements. Normally, Indian passport holders require a visa to enter New Zealand. However, I am not sure whether your residence in the USA, and the fact that you hold a green card, exempts you from this requirement. I do not believe it does and I believe that you will require a visa before you depart for New Zealand. If so, you will find that the NZ embassy will not process an expired travel document.