New Zealand requires Israelis to disclose IDF service details as condition for entry
Israelis applying for a visitors visa are being asked about the dates of their service, the locations of their bases, and whether they have 'been involved in war crimes'
New Zealand’s government immigration authority requires Israelis applying for a visitors visa to report details of their military service as a condition for entry, and at least one person has been denied admission after doing so, The Times of Israel has learned.
Israelis of reserve service age who applied for tourist visas to New Zealand have been asked to report whether they had served in the Israel Defense Forces — as almost all Israeli citizens are required to do — and whether they are active reservists. Those who answered affirmatively were required to complete detailed questionnaires about their military service.
In the first questionnaire, visa applicants were asked about the dates of their military service, the location of their bases, the corps and units in which they served, the military camps where they were stationed, their rank, details of their roles, and their military ID number.
In the second questionnaire, they were asked:
- “Have you been associated with any intelligence service or group, or law enforcement agency?”
- “Have you been associated with any group or organization that has used or promoted violence or human rights abuses to further their aims?”
- “Have you committed or been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity, or human rights abuses?”
Those who can’t disclose details of their military service due to security concerns are not exempt from filling out the questionnaire; as a result, they are unable to complete it and obtain a visa.
At least one soldier who served in Gaza during the ongoing war against Hamas has been denied entry to New Zealand. He said that this was a direct result of his answers to the questionnaire, while noting that he said he had not been involved in war crimes in Gaza.
Australia has been operating a similar policy, and at least two Israelis have been denied entry as a result.
New Zealand’s Immigration Authority (INZ), reached for comment, did not deny the details of this report, but said that serving in the current war did not automatically disqualify Israelis from entering the country.
“INZ understands the difficult situation this crisis is causing for many and has great sympathy for those separated from their loved ones during this stressful time,” the authority told The Times of Israel, in response to a query.
“A visitor visa can be declined for a number of reasons, and it is difficult for us to comment on why a person’s application was declined without the details of their application. Immigration instructions do not prevent individuals who have served in this conflict from applying for or being granted a visitor visa,” the response said.
“Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas started, INZ has put in place processes to ensure consistency and priority allocation for any applications received for people living in these locations. Palestinian and Israeli nationals can apply for any visa category they meet the requirements for,” it said.
“We will continue to prioritize the processing of applications for people impacted by the conflict. However, all applicants must meet the relevant immigration requirements to be granted a visa. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis,” it added.
The authority’s response also noted the following statistics, relating to the period since October 7, 2023: “As of 14 January 2025, we have received 944 applications from Israeli nationals across both temporary and residence visa applications. Of those received, 809 have been approved, 37 declined, 69 [are] in progress and the remainder have been withdrawn.”
During the same period, the authority saw 259 applications from Palestinian passport holders, of which 177 were approved, 53 declined, 21 are in progress and the remainder have been withdrawn, it added.
Israel has been at war against the Hamas terror group in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when the group launched a brutal cross-border onslaught, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel’s subsequent campaign to eradicate the terror group and secure the release of the hostages has drawn accusations of war crimes, which Israel strenuously denies, citing consistent efforts to avoid civilian casualties.
Fighting has been stopped in the enclave since last Sunday due to a hostage-ceasefire agreement that is also seeing Israel release thousands of Palestinian security prisoners.
An analysis of INZ statistical data indicates that the rejection rate for Israeli visa applications to New Zealand during the war has been approximately four percent. This is not unusually high compared to previous years or the rejection rates for citizens of other developed countries.
About a month ago, Australia’s Sky News revealed that Australia presents a similar questionnaire to Israelis applying for entry and has rejected applications from Israelis who served in Gaza and sought to visit a relative. Additionally, former justice minister Ayelet Shaked was denied entry to Australia in November 2024, reportedly because she might “incite discord.”
This report originally appeared in Hebrew on The Times of Israel’s sister site Zman Yisrael.