What Are the New Zealand Visa Waiver Countries?
The following list consists of visa waiver countries and territories that can visit New Zealand for three months without applying first for a visa but with only an NZeTA:
- Andorra
- Macau
- Argentina
- Malaysia
- Austria
- Malta
- Bahrain
- Mauritius
- Belgium
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Monaco
- Brunei
- Netherlands
- Bulgaria
- Norway
- Canada
- Oman
- Chile
- Poland
- Croatia
- Portugal
- Cyprus
- Qatar
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- Denmark
- San Marino
- Estonia
- Saudi Arabia
- Finland
- Seychelles
- France
- Singapore
- France
- Slovak Republic
- Germany
- Slovenia
- Greece
- Spain
- Hong Kong
- Sweden
- Hungary
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Taiwan
- Ireland
- United Arab Emirates
- Israel
- United Kingdom*
- Italy
- United States of America
- Japan
- Uruguay
- South Korea
- Vatican City
- Kuwait
- Liechtenstein
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
*Individuals with a British passport are permitted to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months per year.
Eligibility Requirements for Visa Waiver Travel
To travel visa waiver, you must meet the listed eligibility requirements:
- You must hold an NZeTA.
- You must be in good health.
- You must be of good character.
- You must be a national of a visa waiver country.
- You must have enough money for living expenses.
- You must have a ticket to leave New Zealand.
- Your partner and children meet the same requirements.
- You must have complied with the conditions of your visa if you have been to New Zealand before.
- You must not have spent more than six months in New Zealand the year before your visa will expire.
What Are the Lawful Purposes for a Visa Waiver Visitor?
Lawful purposes for a waiver visitor are considered the following:
- for a holiday
- for sightseeing
- for visiting family and friends
- for amateur sports
You can’t travel visa waiver if you plan to work in New Zealand.
Note: If you haven’t respected the conditions of a previous visa to New Zealand, you may not be allowed to travel to New Zealand or refused entry permission when you enter the border.
What Documents Do I Need to Enter New Zealand Without a Visa?
You cannot enter New Zealand if you do not have a passport, the right visa, or an NZeTA. Even if you have an NZeTA, you must apply for entry permission at the New Zealand border by showing your documents to the immigration officers. The documents you must present are:
- NZeTA. NZeTA is an electronic authorization that allows you to travel to New Zealand without first applying for a visa if you are traveling on a passport from a visa waiver country, a cruise ship passenger, or a permanent resident of Australia. With the NZeTA, you can also pass through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger on the way to another country if you are from a visa waiver or transit visa waiver country.
- Completed arrival card. The Passenger Arrival Card is a form where you must provide your personal data and answer yes/no questions about customs, biosecurity, and immigration. You will get this card on the plane or ship before you arrive. You must complete the Passenger Arrival Card before you get to passport control. When you complete the arrival card on your way to NZ, you must answer truthfully whether you are traveling to New Zealand for a medical purpose.
- Passport or travel document. The passport must not expire until three months (six months if you’re from the UK) after you plan on leaving New Zealand. You must have the passport that you used to request your NZeTA.
- Travel ticket. You must have a travel ticket out of New Zealand to a country you have the right to enter. You must pay for your ticket before you travel.
- Bank statements. You must prove that you have enough funds to support yourself while in New Zealand. You must have at least NZ $1,000 for each month of your stay, or if you’ve already paid for your accommodation, NZ $400 for each month of your stay.
How Do I Provide Evidence of Good Character?
When you complete the Passenger arrival card, you have to answer the questions about your character. You don’t meet the good character requirements if:
- you have been convicted
- you have been deported, removed, or excluded from another country
- you may be dangerous to New Zealand’s security
Do I Need to Pay a Fee to Apply for a Waiver Visitor Visa?
You don’t need to pay a fee when you are granted a waiver visitor visa on arrival in New Zealand.
When Is the Visa Waiver Granted?
Your visa is granted when you travel to New Zealand. Once you arrive in New Zealand, your visa waiver is granted and you are legally staying in the country.
What Is the Duration of NZeTA?
NZeTA is valid for two years. You can stay with an NZeTA in New Zealand for up to three months within a six-month period. However, British citizens can stay for up to six months within a year.
Do I Need a New Zealand Transit Visa?
If you are from a country that offers Transit visa waivers, you do not need a Transit visa for New Zealand. The following countries are Transit visa waiver countries:
- Bahamas
- Ecuador
- Nauru
- Paraguay
- Samoa
- Tuvalu
- Bermuda
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Palau
- Peru
- Solomon Islands
- Vanuatu
- Bolivia
- Indonesia
- Panama
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Venezuela
- Costa Rica
- Kiribati
- Papua New Guinea
- Republic of Marshall Islands
- Tonga
Note: If you are passing through Auckland International Airport to another country, you do not have to apply for a Transit visa.
Do I Need a Visa to Move to New Zealand?
You need a visa to move to New Zealand unless you are a permanent resident or a citizen of Australia. You can move to New Zealand by applying for a resident visa or a work visa that leads to residence after working in New Zealand for two years.
What Are the Conditions of a Visa Waiver Visitor?
You must meet the following conditions when you obtain your visa waiver visitor visa:
- You must apply for entry permission when you enter the NZ border.
- You will be issued single-entry travel conditions.
- You must have a travel ticket to leave NZ and enter a country you have the right to enter.
- You must have sufficient funds to support yourself in NZ.
- You can’t work in NZ with a visa waiver visitor visa.
- You can study in NZ for three months in any one-year period.
- You must leave NZ when your visa expires.
Can I Study in New Zealand on a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa?
You can study for three months in any 12-month period in New Zealand with a visa waiver visitor visa. To study in a longer course (such as university), you have to apply for the relevant New Zealand study visa.
Can I Work on a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa in New Zealand?
You can’t work with a visa waiver in New Zealand. If you want to work in New Zealand, you must apply for a work visa.
Can I Bring My Family on a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa?
You can bring your family if they meet the visa waiver travel requirements. If your partner and dependent children don’t meet the requirements to travel visa waiver, they should apply for a visa to visit New Zealand. Your family must meet the same eligibility requirements as you to travel visa waiver. They must:
- be healthy
- be of good character
- be applicants with genuine intentions
- be citizens of a visa waiver country
- have enough funds to live in New Zealand
- have a ticket out of New Zealand to a country they have the right to enter