An NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) allows citizens of certain countries to travel to New Zealand without a visa. If you are traveling on a passport from a visa waiver country to New Zealand, you can travel visa-free with an NZeTA. With an NZeTA, you can:
- Enter New Zealand without first applying for a visa if you possess a passport from a visa waiver country, are a cruise ship passenger, or are a permanent resident of Australia.
- Go through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger to or from Australia.
- Go through Auckland International Airport as a transit passenger to another country if you are from a visa waiver or transit visa waiver country.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for NZeTA?
To be granted an NZeTA, you must meet the listed eligibility requirements:
- You must be in good health.
- You must be of good character.
- You must be a national of a visa waiver country if you travel to New Zealand by plane.
- You can be of any nationality if you enter NZ on a cruise ship.
- You must be a national of a visa waiver country or transit visa waiver country if you pass through Auckland as a transit passenger traveling to another country.
- You must have enough money for living expenses.
- You must have a ticket to leave NZ.
- Your partner and children meet the exact requirements.
What Documents Do I Need to Apply for NZeTA?
To apply for an NZeTA, you need the following required documents:
- A valid passport
- A debit card or credit card (Visa or MasterCard)
- An email address
- A photo of your face and shoulders
How to Apply for NZeTA?
Since NZeTA is an electronic authorization, you must apply online to obtain it. To apply for an NZeTA, you must follow the steps below:
- Complete the application form for NZeTA. You can apply online through the link available on the New Zealand Immigration website or with the NZeTA mobile apps:
- NZeTA app — Apple Store
- NZeTA android app — Google Play
The application process is the same, whichever option you choose. It will not take long to complete the application.
- Provide your personal data. The personal information you must provide is your:
- First name, last name, and date of birth.
- Passport number and its expiry date. You must have a valid passport with a blank page for stamps to apply for an NZeTA. The passport’s expiration date must be three months from the date you plan to leave New Zealand.
- Contact information such as your email address.
- Declarations of health and character. You must state whether you are entering New Zealand for medical reasons and whether you have ever committed a crime.
- You must upload a photo of your face. The photo you upload must follow the New Zealand photo requirements for a visa. The photo must be less than 10 MB and a JPG or JPEG file. The size of the photo you upload must be 3.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm high.
- Make the required payments. You must pay the NZeTA application fee as you apply online by using a credit card or debit card. The application fee costs $23, whereas the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy costs $35.
- Submit the online application form. The processing time for an NZeTA application is about 72 hours. You will receive an acknowledgment email to confirm that your application has been processed. You can also check your NZeTA status
For How Long Is the NZeTA Valid?
The NZeTA is a Multiple Entry visa that is valid for two years. You can stay in New Zealand for 90 days within 180 days. However, British nationals can stay for six months within one year. Both the start date and the expiration date are described on the NZeTA.
Who Does Not Need an NZeTA?
You don’t need to apply for an NZeTA if you are:
- A New Zealand national who is traveling with a:
- New Zealand passport
- Foreign passport that has a New Zealand citizen endorsement
- An Australian national traveling with an Australian passport
- An individual who holds a valid visa for New Zealand
- A member of, or someone associated with, a scientific program or expedition under the Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty
- A military member, including one of its civilian employees, traveling on duty
What Is the NZeTA Fee?
To apply for an NZeTA, you must pay the following fees:
| The fee | For visiting New Zealand | For transit passengers |
| The application fee online | NZD $60 | NZD $25 |
| The application fee with the free app | NZD $50 | NZD $20 |
| IVL fee | NZD $35 | NZD $35 |
You must pay the IVL each time you request an NZeTA. IVL funds tourism infrastructure and helps protect the natural environment of New Zealand. The IVL and the application fee are not refunded if your application is rejected.
Entering New Zealand With an NZeTA
To travel to New Zealand, you need your passport and NZeTA approval. To enter the New Zealand border, you must have a:
- Passport or travel document. The passport’s expiration date is three months (six months if you’re from the UK) after you plan on leaving New Zealand.
- Passenger arrival card. You will get a passenger arrival card on the plane before you arrive. You must complete it before you get to passport control, where you will show it to the immigration officers. If you arrive and leave by cruise ship, you can stay for up to 28 days. This is called a deemed visitor visa
- Ticket out of New Zealand. You must have a travel ticket to leave New Zealand and enter a country you have the right to enter as proof that you will leave New Zealand when your stay ends. If you go with a private craft or cruise ship, you can provide a letter from the craft owner or a cruise itinerary as evidence.
- Sufficient financial means to support your stay. You can submit bank statements to prove that you have enough funds to support yourself while in New Zealand. You must have at least NZ $1,000 for each month you stay, or if you’ve already paid for your accommodation, NZ $400 for each month you stay.