Crew of planes and cruise ships
Crew of passenger airlines and cruise ships must have a Crew ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) before they leave for New Zealand.
Who needs a Crew ETA
All working and positioning crew members, regardless of nationality, need a Crew ETA unless they:
- are Australian or New Zealand citizens, or
- already hold a visa for New Zealand that allows them to work as crew.
Positioning crew can use their Crew ETA to fly to New Zealand to meet a plane or ship.
How we define crew
Your staff need a Crew ETA if they are employed by:
- a passenger airline
- a cruise operator
- a manning agent — that is, a company that recruits crew for cruise ships or other vessels
- a concessionaire that employs or engages staff on behalf of a cruise operator to provide services — for example, a musician who provides entertainment for passengers.
Crew of other vessels or private craft
Different rules apply to the crews of:
- cargo ships
- fishing vessels
- private yachts and planes
- commercial flights that are not a scheduled service.
If you are a cargo ship crew member, you will need to hold an NZeTA if you are travelling to New Zealand on or after 1 April 2025. This includes crew on ships authorised to carry coastal cargo.
Crew of cargo ships, fishing vessels, private yachts and planes
How long crew can stay in NZ if they have a Crew ETA
From the date they arrive:
- airline crew who hold a Crew ETA are deemed to hold a visa for 7 days
- cruise ship crew who travel by sea and hold a Crew ETA are deemed to hold a visa for up to 28 days.
Cruise ship crew who travel by air to join their ship at its berth in New Zealand apply for a visa and entry permission when they arrive in New Zealand. The visa we issue to them is valid for 35 days from the date they arrive.
A Crew ETA is different from an NZeTA
A Crew ETA is linked to the airline or cruise employer. It is valid for up to 5 years and costs NZD$17.00 which is paid by the employer. It is no longer valid if a crew member's employment ends before 5 years are up.
Visiting New Zealand as a tourist or for other reasons
Your crew cannot use their Crew ETA to come to New Zealand for a holiday. They will need an NZeTA or a visa, depending on what country they are from.
Explore visa options for visiting
How to request a Crew ETA
A crew member's employer or the employer’s nominated representative requests Crew ETAs using our Batch ETA system.
We accept requests to use the Batch ETA system from:
- cruise companies
- airlines
- manning agents, and
- concessionaires.
If you are a crew member and need to get a Crew ETA, ask your employer or their representative to request one for you.