Arriving by cruise ship
If you plan to arrive in New Zealand by cruise ship and do not have a visa, you must hold an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).
Before you travel to New Zealand
- Protect yourself from immigration scams
- New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA)
- Check if you need an NZeTA or visa
- Travellers who do not need an NZeTA
- Arriving by cruise ship
- Transit passengers
- Visa waiver countries and territories
- Transit visa waiver countries
- Paying the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
Before you join your cruise
If you do not have a visa you must have an NZeTA before you join your cruise.
If you are flying into New Zealand to join your cruise, you must have:
- an NZeTA if you are from a visa waiver country, or
- a visa if you are from a country that requires a visa to visit New Zealand.
Visa waiver countries and territories
Explore visa options for visiting
If you have a visa, you do not need an NZeTA.
Australian permanent residents
If you are an Australian permanent resident you must request an NZeTA before you travel to New Zealand.
Who does not need a visa or an NZeTA
If you are a New Zealand or Australian citizen you do not need a visa or an NZeTA.
Travellers who do not need an NZeTA
New Zealand traveller declaration
All cruise travellers arriving in New Zealand need to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD).
The NZTD asks questions about your travel, including customs, immigration and biosecurity information. It aims to improve the safety and security of New Zealand. Find out how to complete an NZTD on the NZTD website.
New Zealand Traveller Declaration for cruise travellers — NZTD website
Checking in for your cruise
When you check in for your cruise you need to show evidence of your NZeTA or visa to check-in staff. This can be:
- your NZeTA confirmation email on your mobile phone or on a web app
- a printed copy of your NZeTA confirmation email, or
- a printed copy of your eVisa letter.
Arriving in New Zealand by cruise ship
When you arrive at your first New Zealand port you will be deemed to hold a visitor visa. This expires 28 days after the ship arrives at its first port of entry in New Zealand or when the ship leaves — whichever happens first.
We will check you meet our entry permission and good character requirements.
Good character for temporary visas
Changing your cruise plans
If you leave your cruise to fly out of New Zealand, or to stay on in New Zealand, you need to apply for a visa.
If you are flying out from New Zealand you must show evidence of your onward travel arrangements such as a flight ticket out of New Zealand.