New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)

Most travellers need either an NZeTA or a visa to travel to New Zealand. This depends on the passport you are travelling on, and if you will be a visitor or a

You can find out if you need a visa or an NZeTA by using our 'Check If you need a visa or an NZeTA' tool, or you can read through the information on this page.

Check if you need a visa or an NZeTA

You may be able to get an NZeTA if you are:

• a citizen of a visa waiver country or territory
• a citizen of China or a Pacific Islands Forum country and are travelling to New Zealand from Australia with an eligible Australian visa
• arriving on a cruise ship or cargo ship as a passenger
• an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or
• transiting through New Zealand to another country.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Some people, including Australian citizens, do not need a visa or an NZeTA.

Travellers who do not need an NZeTA

Travelling to New Zealand for medical treatment

If you want to travel to New Zealand for medical treatment you must apply for a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa.

Medical Treatment Visitor Visa

Crew member of a cruise ship, cargo ship or commercial airline

You must get a Crew ETA through your employer if you are a crew member of a:

• cargo ship or a foreign ship authorised under the Maritime Transport Act 1994 to carry coastal cargo
• cruise ship — this includes if you are flying in to join the ship in New Zealand, or
• commercial airline.

Your employer must request a Crew ETA through the Batch ETA system, not the NZeTA website or app. You can learn more about the Crew ETA and how to request one on our Crew of planes, cruise ships and cargo ships page.

Crew of planes, cruise ships and cargo ships

If you are flying into New Zealand to join your ship you must also have a Crew ETA.

Employers can contact us for information about how to register for the Batch ETA system.

Contact us

How long you can visit for

When you arrive in New Zealand with your NZeTA we may give you:

• a visitor visa to stay up to 3 months at a time — or 6 months if travelling on a United Kingdom (UK) passport, or
• an Australian Resident Visa to stay in New Zealand, if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Visa Waiver Visitor Visa

Australian Resident Visa

Your visa expires at the end of the time we give you, or if you leave earlier. When you arrive in New Zealand next time with an NZeTA, we may give you a new visa.

When you arrive in New Zealand on an NZeTA you must gain entry permission. Check the 'When you arrive' section on this page, for more information about entry permission.

When you arrive

Reusing your NZeTA

You can use your NZeTA to travel to New Zealand multiple times while it is valid. An NZeTA is valid for 2 years for travellers, or 5 years for crew members.

You can only be in New Zealand for up to 6 months within any 12-month period. This period is the 12 months counting back from your intended departure date (the date you plan to leave New Zealand).

How long you can transit for

As a you can stay up to 24 hours when transiting through Auckland International Airport. You must stay in the transit area of the airport at all times.

To get an NZeTA you must also:

• be in good health
• have a good character
• have a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand
• have enough money to pay your expenses, and
• have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of your stay.

There are also different requirements for the NZeTA, depending on if you are:

• visiting New Zealand, or
• transiting through New Zealand.

Health

If you are visiting, you must be in good health. 

When you request your NZeTA we will ask if you are coming to New Zealand for medical consultation or treatment.

If you are coming to New Zealand for medical treatment or consultation, you must apply for a Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, not an NZeTA.

Medical Treatment Visitor Visa

Character

When you request your NZeTA, we will ask you some questions about your character.

You may not meet our character requirements if:

• you have a criminal conviction
• you have been deported, removed or excluded from another country, or
• we have reason to believe you may be a risk to New Zealand's security, public order or public interest.

Character requirements for New Zealand visas

If you are visiting New Zealand, you must meet all the requirements to get a visa and enter New Zealand.

Australian citizens and permanent residents must meet the character requirements of the Australian Resident Visa.

Australian Resident Visa

If you do not meet our character requirements

If we believe you do not meet our character requirements:

• you will not receive an NZeTA
• we can stop you from travelling to New Zealand at check-in, and
• we can refuse you  when you get here.

If you are not sure you will meet our character requirements, you should apply for a visa and have one before you travel.

Genuine intentions

You must be a genuine visitor to New Zealand and intend to leave at the end of your visit.

When we decide if your intentions are genuine, we will consider all the information that:

• you declare in your NZeTA request
• we have about your personal circumstances, and
• you have previously provided to us.

Genuine intentions to visit or work in New Zealand

Have enough money to live on

If you are visiting New Zealand, you must have at least NZD $1,000 a month, or NZD $400 a month if you have already paid for your accommodation.

At check-in or when you arrive in New Zealand, you may be asked to show that you have enough money for your stay. Evidence can include:

• proof of accommodation pre-payment, like hotel pre-paid vouchers or receipts
• bank statements or credit card statements
• bank drafts or traveller's cheques.

Paying for health care

You will need to pay for any health care or medical assistance you may need in New Zealand.

We recommend you have full medical insurance for your stay.

If you are pregnant, there are additional requirements.

If you are pregnant

Some people may be eligible for public health care.

Who can get public health care

Family or group members

If you use the online form, you must request a separate NZeTA for each member of your family or group.

If you use the NZeTA app, you can request NZeTAs for up to 10 people at the same time.

Each person must meet the requirements for an NZeTA.

If your child is endorsed on your passport, we will accept this as the child's travel document when they travel to New Zealand — but they must still meet all relevant requirements, including having an NZeTA. When you apply for your child's NZeTA, you will need to enter your own passport details.

Leaving New Zealand

At check-in for your flight to New Zealand, you must be able to show that you intend to leave the country at the end of your stay.

You can do this by showing:

• your ticket for travel out of New Zealand at the end of your stay to a — the ticket must be already paid for, or
• the cruise itinerary or a letter from the craft owner that shows you will leave New Zealand — if you will be leaving on a cruise ship or private craft.

Your departure date must be within 3 months of your arrival, or within 6 months if you are from the UK.

If you will be travelling out of New Zealand to a country that also has an onward travel requirement, you may be asked to see that ticket too.

When you request an NZeTA

When you request an NZeTA, you will need:

• your passport
• 1 acceptable photo or a device that can take one.

Visa and NZeTA photos

When you check-in and arrive

When you check in for your flight or cruise, you must have:

• your passport
• your NZeTA confirmation email, and
• proof of your travel out of New Zealand.

At check-in or when you arrive in New Zealand, you may be asked for proof that you have enough money to cover your living expenses while you are in New Zealand.

If you are a transit passenger

You must stay in the transit area of Auckland International Airport for the whole time and for no longer than 24 hours.

As a you cannot collect your bags at Auckland International Airport. When you check in for your flight to New Zealand, ask the airline to transfer your bags to your connecting flight. If they cannot do this, go to the International Transit Desk when you arrive in New Zealand to get your bags transferred.

There is no accommodation in the transit area. If you will need accommodation while you wait for your flight, you will need to request an NZeTA as a visitor or get a visitor visa before you travel. 

Entry requirements for visitors

As part of New Zealand’s entry requirements, everyone entering New Zealand must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD). This form collects information about your travel, including customs, immigration, and biosecurity details.

When you can submit your NZTD depends on how you are travelling:

• By air: You can submit it from 24 hours before your journey begins.
• By sea: You can submit it from 24 hours before your ship leaves its last overseas port heading to New Zealand.

If you have an NZeTA, you can specify in your declaration that you are applying for a visa on arrival.

A paper declaration form is available for travellers who cannot complete it online.

New Zealand Traveller Declaration

New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements. 

Arriving in New Zealand

While you are in New Zealand

If you are visiting New Zealand and we decide you meet the requirements, we will give you a visa at the border. What you can and cannot do while you are in New Zealand depends on the visa we give you — check the following visa details.

Australian citizens and permanent residents may get an Australian Resident Visa.

Australian Resident Visa

If you are a citizen of a visa waiver country, we may give you a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa to stay up to 3 months — or 6 months for UK citizens.

If you are a citizen of China or a Pacific Islands Forum country and are travelling to New Zealand from Australia with an eligible Australian visa we may give you a Visa Waiver Visitor Visa to stay up to 3 months.

Visa Waiver Visitor Visa

If you are arriving by cruise ship you are considered to hold a visitor visa.

Before you travel to New Zealand

If you plan to visit for longer than 3 months — or 6 months for UK citizens — you need to apply for an appropriate visa and have it before you arrive.

Find and choose a visa

If you are in New Zealand now and need more time for a genuine reason, you must apply for a visa not an NZeTA.