Help from your embassy, high commission or consulate
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Looking for information about embassies, high commissions or consulates? Find out all you need to know about getting help from an embassy, high commission or consulate while you’re living in New Zealand.
About embassies, high commissions and consulates
While you’re studying in New Zealand, you may need to contact your country’s embassy, high commission or consulate for help from your government.
About 50 countries have an embassy in New Zealand. If your country is in the Commonwealth
, it may have a high commission here – for example, the High Commission of India. High commissions do the same things as embassies. All embassies and high commissions are in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.
A consulate (or consulate general) is a smaller version of an embassy. Some countries have a consulate in Auckland as well as an embassy in Wellington.
If your country does not have an embassy or consulate in New Zealand it may have one in another country, such as Australia, that can help you.
Embassies and consulates are usually closed on New Zealand public holidays and on their own country’s public holidays.
Find your embassy, high commission or consulate
You can find contact details, opening hours and other information about your country’s embassy, consulate, high commission or honorary consul in New Zealand on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) website. It also has contact information about all New Zealand embassies in other countries.
MFAT is the New Zealand government department responsible for trade and international relations.
What they can help you with
Your country’s embassy, high commission or consulate may be able to help you in these situations:
What they can not help you with
Your embassy, high commission or consulate is unlikely to be able to help in these situations:
Renewing your student visa
Most students have to renew their student visa each year, but you don’t need to visit your embassy or consulate to do it. You can renew your visa online or, depending on your place of study, on campus .
Visit Immigration New Zealand to find out more about how to renew your visa.
Honorary consuls
Honorary consuls are people who represent another government in New Zealand on a voluntary basis. They are usually New Zealanders or permanent residents who have connections to the country they represent.
They may be able to take on duties such as:
• Authenticating
signatures • Certifying translations Honorary consuls usually have another job, so they may not always be available. If you have an emergency, it’s better to contact your embassy or high commission.Related pages
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