Travelers from many Asian and African countries are to face an extra 120 NZ dollars (97 U.S. dollars) charge for flying through New Zealand, after the government announced new transit visa requirements, the New Zealand Herald daily reported on Thursday.

People from those countries flying through New Zealand to get to the Pacific Islands already have to obtain a transit visa, under rules due to expire at the end of this month.

Under the new rules, to be effective from Friday, thousands of people spending just a few hours in New Zealand before heading anywhere else in the world will require the correct visa.

The New Zealand government has cited concerns about security and people smuggling for the move, but critics say it will create an unnecessary bureaucratic nightmare for travelers from third world countries.

The 57 countries which already have visa-free status with New Zealand are unaffected by the initiative, as are citizens of 15 other countries. Passengers with a valid visa allowing them to travel onward to Australia or to come to New Zealand will also not be affected.

However, citizens of some of the world's most populous countries-- such as China, India, and Indonesia -- will be caught up by the regulations.

Transit visas will be required for all travel via New Zealand except for people from countries exempted under immigration policy.

Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove said all travelers, regardless of what country they were traveling from or going to, would have to get the visas unless they were from exempted countries.

Until now, transit visas for people in New Zealand for less than 24 hours who will not leave the transit area of an airport were only required for people traveling to and from the Pacific.

Cosgrove said the change, made as previous transit visa regulations expired, reflected increased security requirements and changing travel patterns.

"In the present global security environment and with new air routes continually opening up, the government considered it prudent to introduce this new policy, which will strengthen our risk management and future proof our border control relating to people transiting through New Zealand," he said.

The opening of new air travel routes, which in recent years have seen New Zealand added as a stop-off point for flights to and from Asia and South America, were also a factor in the rule changes, Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2008)