The New Zealand government has decided to implement a new rule from April 1, 2025, which will require foreign cargo ship crew and passengers to obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before entering the country.
Through a recent statement, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) noted that this update brings cargo ship requirements in line with those for cruise ship passengers and crew, who have needed an NZeTA since 2019. The rule also applies to the crew of foreign vessels, which the Minister of Transport permitted to transport coastal cargo, VisaGuide.World reports.
The requirement for an NZeTA aims to promote a secure and efficient border management process for New Zealand, enhance consistency in immigration settings, and support a modern, digital approach to facilitate travel. It also enables Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to have advance notice of visa-waiver travelers, enabling better management of any immigration concerns.
Nearly 1.4 Million NZeTA Requests Were Processed Last Year
2023 was a busy year for Immigration New Zealand (INZ). This was reflected in border activity, with over 11.5 million border movements recorded and 1.4 million NZeTA requests processed, achieving an impressive approval rate of 99.89 per cent.
Our people were busy navigating the first full year of borders being open since 2019 and managed to exceed all expectations with this milestone number of visa decisions.
Another major highlight was the number of people we welcomed into our country through the Refugee Quota Programme, with 1,507 refugees now calling Aotearoa New Zealand home.
These Travelers Do Not Need an NZeTA
According to INZ, regarding crew members, they are exempt from needing a visa, NZeTA, or Crew ETA if they:
- Travel on New Zealand or Australian passports
- Arrive in New Zealand on a private or commercial aircraft not operating as a scheduled service
As for crew members aboard cargo ships coming from foreign ports, they are not required to obtain a Crew ETA or a visa before arriving in New Zealand. They are considered to have a visa when boarding their ship and are granted entry upon reaching New Zealand waters.