Crew of cargo ships, fishing vessels, private yachts and planes

Some crew of cargo ships, fishing vessels and private craft must have an NZeTA or visa before they can come to NZ. They do not need a Crew ETA.

Airlines, cruise operators, aircraft and ships

Who does not need a visa, an NZeTA or a Crew ETA

Crew do not need a visa, an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) or a Crew ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) if they:

  • are travelling on New Zealand or Australian passports
  • coming to New Zealand on a private or commercial aircraft that is not a scheduled service.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Crew working on cargo ships

Crew members on a cargo ship travelling from a foreign port to New Zealand, regardless of nationality, do not need a Crew ETA or a visa if they are travelling to New Zealand before 1 April 2025. If they will arrive in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2025, they will need a Crew ETA.

Passengers and Crews of Cargo Ships (INZ 1089) PDF 237KB

Cargo ship crew members who travel by air before 1 April 2025 to join their ship at its berth in New Zealand must hold:

Information about NZeTA

Crew joining a Ship or Plane Visitor Visa

Cargo ships that will arrive in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2025

Cargo ship crew members will need to hold a Crew ETA if they are arriving in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2025. This includes crew on ships authorised to carry coastal cargo and crew travelling to New Zealand by air to join their ship.

For more information about Crew ETA for cargo ship crew members:

Crew ETA for cargo ship crew arriving in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2025

Crew working on fishing vessels

The crew of fishing vessels working in New Zealand waters must have a work visa. People who hold a visa for New Zealand do not need an NZeTA or Crew ETA.

Fishing Crew Work Visa

Crew on private yachts

Crew of private yachts cannot apply for a Crew ETA, but they must have:

  • an NZeTA if they are from a visa waiver country
  • a visa if they are from another country.

Visa waiver countries and territories

Private Yacht or Plane Visitor Visa

Crew arriving by private aircraft

Crew arriving in New Zealand on a private aircraft are deemed to hold a visa. They do not need an NZeTA or a Crew ETA.

Crew of passenger planes and cruise ships

Most crew of commercial passenger planes and cruise ships need a Crew ETA before they travel to New Zealand. Their employer requests this for them.

Crew of planes and cruise ships

Commercial vessels that do not fall into any other categories

All travellers on a commercial vessel travelling to New Zealand, which does not fit into another listed category, must have either:

  • an NZeTA if they are from a visa waiver country
  • a visa if they are from another country

Unless they already hold a New Zealand visa or New Zealand or Australian passport.

If crew members intend to undertake work in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), they must hold a visa to do so.