The Embassy of New Zealand in the United States is located in Washington, D.C., and represents New Zealand in the United States, serving New Zealand citizens who live in or visit the country.
Contact Details
| Address | 37 Observatory Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20008, United States |
| Telephone | +1 202-328-4800 |
| Fax | +1 202-667-5277 |
| Website | mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america |
| Head of Mission | Christopher John Seed, Ambassador |
Opening Hours
No opening hours are published in the Congressional Directory. Call or e-mail the embassy before visiting.
Location of the Embassy
Before your visit
- Location: The embassy is in Washington, D.C., about 3.4 km in a straight line from the White House; the nearest large airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), about 7.8 km away. The nearest Metro station is Woodley Park (about 1.2 km). (distances: OpenStreetMap, airports: FAA passenger boarding data CY 2025)
About the Embassy of New Zealand in the United States
The ambassador is Christopher John Seed, who presented the credentials on 17 February 2026, according to the State Department’s Order of Precedence. The Congressional Directory also lists 3 consular offices of New Zealand in the United States – career or honorary – in Los Angeles (California), Honolulu (Hawaii) and New York (New York); these will get their own pages in this directory. In New Zealand, the United States is represented by the U.S. Embassy in Wellington (nz.usembassy.gov), according to the Congressional Directory.
Do New Zealand citizens need a visa for the United States?
New Zealand takes part in the US Visa Waiver Program: its citizens can visit the United States for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, but they need an approved ESTA travel authorisation before travelling (Department of Homeland Security; 8 CFR 217.2).
Documents checklist
Prepare these documents before your appointment. The lists are taken from official New Zealand sources:
Renewing a New Zealand passport from abroad
- Renew online on passports.govt.nz (applicants 16 and over) – only the passport offices in London, Sydney and New Zealand issue passports
- Paper applications are possible but take longer
- Urgent processing (3 working days) is available for an extra fee
- In an emergency, a New Zealand embassy may issue an Emergency Travel Document with restricted validity
Sources: New Zealand Government – renew or replace your adult passport, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – passports and visas (checked October 2026). Requirements and fees can change and individual posts may ask for more – confirm the current list with the embassy before your visit.
Other embassies in Washington, D.C.
175 other countries are represented in Washington, D.C., among them: Nicaragua (embassy), Niger (embassy), Nigeria (embassy), North Macedonia (embassy), Norway (embassy), Oman (embassy), Pakistan (embassy), Palau (embassy), Panama (embassy), Papua New Guinea (embassy), Paraguay (embassy), Peru (embassy), Philippines (embassy), Poland (embassy), Portugal (embassy), Qatar (embassy), Romania (embassy), Russia (embassy), Rwanda (embassy), Saint Kitts and Nevis (embassy). The full list of all 176 missions is on the overview page for the United States.
Closing days
The eleven US federal holidays are New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Washington’s Birthday (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (19 June), Independence Day (4 July), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), Veterans Day (11 November), Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Day. A holiday that falls on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before, one that falls on a Sunday on the Monday after – in 2027, for example, on 18 June, 5 July and 24 December. The embassy may also close on public holidays of New Zealand.
Emergency assistance
In an emergency, New Zealand citizens should call the embassy on +1 202-328-4800. In the United States, dial 911 for an ambulance, the fire service or the police (GOV.UK travel advice). US citizens who need consular help in New Zealand can contact the U.S. Embassy in Wellington.
Diplomatic missions of New Zealand in the United States
New Zealand in the United States
- Washington – Embassy of New Zealand in the United States (this page)
- Los Angeles (CA) – consular office (page in preparation)
- Honolulu (HI) – consular office (page in preparation)
- New York (NY) – consular office (page in preparation)
Frequently asked questions about the Embassy of New Zealand in the United States
Does New Zealand have consulates in the United States?
Yes. The Congressional Directory lists consular offices in 3 US cities, including Los Angeles, Honolulu and New York.
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Details checked on 21 October 2026. Sources: Congressional Directory, 119th Congress – Diplomatic Offices (20 February 2026), U.S. Department of State – Diplomatic Corps Order of Precedence (as of 5 October 2026), U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Visa Waiver Program, U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Federal Holidays, GOV.UK foreign travel advice: USA (getting help), mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america.
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